Germany's Schalke FC Opens Exclusive Cemetery

Having been wowing fans since 1904, one of Germany's most popular football clubs Schalke-O4 has recently opened its very own cemetery, where dedicated fans can continue to support their favourite club from beyond the grave.

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5 months ago

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SCRIPT: A miniture football pitch - in a cemetery. Reserved exclusively for supporters of Schalke, Germany's legendary football club which has trained the likes of Real Madrid star Mesut Özil. For 5,400 euros fans can have an eternal resting place barely a stone's throw from the club's training ground. Soundbite 1 Schalke-04 Supporter (German, 6 secs): "It's great! Schalke lives beyond the grave! We've come to reserve our spots." (In German: "Das ist eine super sache. Schalke bis dem Tot hinaus. Und dann, hier hin gefahren und reserviert") 1,904 burials are planned - the same number as the year when the club was established, in 1904. But there will be no number 9, that's the number of Borussia Dortmund FC, Schalke's arch rival. And at this cemetery, every last detail has been catered for… Soundbite 2 , Ender Ulupinar, Project Manager of the Schalke Cemetary (German, 18 secs): "We wanted to emphasise our love of football which characterises us. We decided to put two goals in the middle, flags and plants in club colors, basically all the elements of the sport! That way, anyone who visits us won't be able to say that they are at Hertha Berlin!" (In German:"Wir haben blau weiss Zaune, wir haben Fanmeister blau weiss, die Bepflanzung ist blau weiss, wir haben Elements des Sport, Elements des Fussball… Also, denen die wird vorbeikommen, den wird nicht sagen, das ist das Feld von Hertha Berlin.") Officials stress the cemetery will not become an extension of the stadium- And supporters seem just as faithful to their team, even beyond the grave Soundbite 3 Schalke-04 Supporter (German, 8 secs): "My children won't have to think about a thing. And that's really important - here you're in good company, even after death!" (In German:"Meine Kinder brauchen sich um nicht zu kümmmern. Das war den Ausschlag geben eigentlich. Wir haben Betreuung nach dem Tod!" The club already has a parish and now with the arrival of the cememtery, Schalke fans can enjoy football the whole of their lives and beyond. SHOTLIST: GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY. DECEMBER 2012. SOURCE: AFPTV/SID - VAR of cemetery - Shot of a tomb stone - Shot of footballer Mesut Özil training during Euro 2012 (GDANSK, POLAND, JUNE 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV) - VAR of Schalke football team training (SOURCE: SID) SOUNDBITE 1 - VAR of cemetery - VAR of Dortmund football team training (SOURCE: SID) SOUNDBITE 2 - VAR of cemetery - VAR of a wreath and flowers - VAR of cemetery SOUNDBITE 3 - VAR of cemetery