Transcript Document

Football Supporters’ Federation Wales
FSF Cymru fans’ embassy ,Issue 33
World Cup 2014 Qualifier.
Macedonia v Wales
Friday, September 6th, 2013
Kick off 8 pm
Philip II Arena, Skopje
Information for the fans by the fans. FSF Help line number is
+447905 861 848
Welcome to Issue 33 of our FSF Cymru information booklet for Welsh fans. It has been an interesting campaign
to date, albeit disappointing in terms of results but the trips following the Welsh team have been enjoyable and
diverse, this is our third visit to the Balkans during this tournament; on this occasion we find ourselves in the
historical city of Skopje , the capital city of Macedonia. We are not anticipating any problems during the trip but
if you do run into any difficulties please contact us on our 24 hour hot line and we will try to assist you.
HELP LINE +44905 861848
Neil Dymock
Vince Alm
Tommie Collins
FSF Cymru representatives will be on duty throughout the trip and based in the centre of Skopje, we will be around
and about the city based at the Duvet Hotel, Naum Naumovski Borce 40, Skopje 1000.
We have contact with the British embassy and Welsh police…please ring our help line if you need assistance.
FSF CYMRU HELP LINE +44905 861848
FSF CYMRU - by Wales fans, for Wales fans - an independent organisation, committed to helping Wales
supporters. FSF Cymru are proud members of FSE (Football Supporters Europe)
MISSION STATEMENT
To help and support Wales fans who travel away. Our role is to provide accurate and objective
information, including a Risk Assessment: we convey what other agencies, such as police forces,
government departments, and football authorities are recommending: we publish a comprehensive guide
which is distributed free of charge to all travelling supporters: we operate and publicise a 24 hour Hotline
for fans in difficulties: we arrange a Football embassy operation, at venues abroad, where we can offer
advice, guidance and support as necessary.
To work with the Football Association of Wales in all aspects affecting the fans, to ensure that the
supporters voice is heard.
A continuous, running dialogue is held with Mr Mark Evans, Head, International Affairs, we take
supporters complaints, views to the FAW for discussion
“To take every possible action to eradicate any inter club rivalry when fans are following the Welsh
national team”
Before you travel anywhere in the world outside of the United Kingdom please
visit the Know before you go website http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/ Foreign and
Commonwealth office
Philip II Arena, Skopje
When the stadium opened in 1947,it was known as the Skopje City Stadium, it was renamed the Philip 11 arena
in 2009. The project for the south stand was designed in 1977 and construction of the stadium in its present form
began in 1978, with the building of the south stand which took two years to finish.
There then followed a long delay with in continuing the re building until finally work began on expansion and
improvements in January 2008 and the North stand was finished in time for the Macedonian national team to
play a friendly against world champions Spain during August 2009.
The southern stand was then reconstructed in 2009 and finally the Eastern and western sides were developed
and completed by July 2012, The total cost to re develop the stadium including the running tracks amounted to
60 million Euros since 2008. Two club sides use the stadium; they are FK Vardar and FK Rabotnički. The stadium
has a capacity of 33,460 all seated.
How to get there
The football stadium is located about 1 km west of the centre of Skopje, along the river Vardar and next
to the City Park. It is in easy walking distance from the city centre and is clearly visible from quite a
distance. Taxis are also an option and relatively cheap.
Wales fans will be housed in Block 6 or 7 of this modern stadium where all area are relatively newly built
with great views of the pitch. It is a leisurely twenty minute walk from the City centre
Airport and transport in Skopje
Above we see the Alexander the great airport that serves Skopje, it is a fair distance out of the city centre and
above right we can see the bus times and prices from the airport to the city centre. It is difficult to recommend
the cheap option of the bus because sometimes it is just a 15 seated minibus and there is not much space for
luggage, they are not the cleanest either, if you do opt for the bus when you come out of arrivals there is a booth
dead ahead from Vardar Express selling bus tickets. Next to the booth is an ATM. Cost of tickets is 150 denar (£2).
On the way out the bus was full (a minibus). Make sure you buy the tickets from the booth and not after boarding
the bus in case all of the tickets have already been sold, A taxi should not cost you more than 1220 den (£17) into
the centre and surrounding areas.
The renaming of the airport in 2006 caused a diplomatic argument with neighbouring Greece , both countries
claim Alexander the Great has their heritage and there is already an Alexander the great Airport in the Greek
airport of Kavala which is in the Greek region of Macedonia.
Public transport in the city is usually provided by buses or taxis, it is an easy city to navigate by foot.
Getting around the city
Unless you have your own vehicle the most practical way of getting around the city is by Taxi. Starting rate is 4050 denar for the first two Kilometres ; after that you pay an extra 20-25 denar per Kilometre. The rates are the
same at night and waiting is charged at 300 denar per hour. Many taxi operators speak English . British embassy
staff have recommended the following five companies (please us the pre fix 00 389 2 before the taxi number if
you are calling from a UK mobile. It is also possible to pay for some Taxi’s in Euros
Plava Laguna : call 15192
Nashe Taxi: call 15152
Lotus Taxi call : 15157
Bel Mercedes call : 15183
Elite taxis call : 15199
Useful facts about Skopje
Currency and temperatures during September
The currency in Skopje is the Denar. Exchange rate in August was £1 = 72 Denar. We changed money in the UK
sterling to denar and had 69 to a £1,it was roughly the same from a cash point but we had a £1.50 charge
You can use all established international credit cards (American Express, Visa, Diners, MasterCard/Euro Card) as
well as Euro cheques in most hotels, shops and restaurants.
There are plenty of ATMs where you can withdraw money with cheap commission rates, although there are also
plenty of banks and exchange booths where you can easily change money. Do not change money on the street.
Important phone numbers
Police: 192
Fire Department: 193
Medical Emergency: 194
Correct Time: 185
Information desk / Directory Assistance: 188
Ticket information Lucy – 07827 157874, Lynsey – 07788 310355, FSF Cymru reps 07905 861848
Temperature during trip
Based on research gathered over the last twenty years by the Met office The month of September is
characterized by falling daily high temperatures, with daily highs decreasing from 28°C to 23°C over the course of
the month, be aware that on some days temperatures could be exceeding 34°C or dropping below 17°C
Please respect the local customs
Taking photographs of any military installation, establishment or site of government or strategic importance is
prohibited.
Do not swim or mess about in any of the City fountains or monuments.
Foreign visitors should know that when visiting a church to show respect to the house of worship. Do not wear
miniskirts or short pants, shorts etc. Same rules when visiting a mosque, but leave your shoes at entrance.
The river running through the city is quite fast flowing so swimming is not advised.
Health matters
Check with your insurance company that you are fully insured for your trip to Macedonia, this is very important
and would prove very costly if ignored and problems occurred during trip. There is a reciprocal healthcare
agreement for British nationals, which entitles you to free emergency treatment in Macedonia. You will need to
present your passport and an European Health Insurance Card as proof of entitlement. The health system in all
parts of Macedonia is suffering from widespread shortage of medicines and other essentials and you may need to
pay some of the initial costs (usually between 50 and 100 Euros). If the treatment is not deemed an emergency
then you will have to pay the full cost yourself. Make sure you have adequate travel and medical insurance.
Mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile virus are present in Macedonia
Local time
Local time is equal to GMT +1 hours. Same time zone all over the country Daylight saving time in
Macedonia +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Electricity in Skopje
220V/50Hz (European plug).
Weights and Measures
Metric and Kilo system.
Water in Macedonia
Safe to drink in all cities since it has been chlorinated, and there are public drinking water fountains in most
public places. If you prefer bottled, easily to find in the local shops.
Foreign Newspapers in Macedonia
Available in Skopje and the tourist areas.
British Embassy information for Welsh fans in Macedonia
What a Consul can do:
Contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets
Advise on how to transfer funds
Refer you to local Social Services
Help you to get in touch with Local Lawyers or provide information on legal aid.
Arrange for next of kin to be informed of accident or a death and advise on procedures
Contact and visit British Nationals under arrest or in a Serbian Prison and, in certain circumstances,
arrange for messages to be sent to relatives or friends
Give guidance on organisations experienced in tracing missing persons
Make representations on your behalf to the local authorities in certain circumstances
But a Consul cannot:
Intervene in court proceedings
Get you out of prison
Give legal advice or instigate Court proceedings on your behalf
Get better treatment for you in hospital or prison than is provided for Serbian nationals
Investigate a crime
Pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills
Pay for travel tickets for you
Undertake work more properly done by travel representatives, airlines, banks or motoring organisations
Obtain accommodation, work or work permit for you
British Embassy
Salvador Aljende No. 73
Skopje 1000, Macedonia
Email [email protected]
Telephone +389 (2) 3299 299
Fax +389 (2) 2 3179 726
Embassy opening hours
Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4.30pm
Friday, 8am to 1pm
Consular opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 8am to 12pm
Medical care whilst visiting Skopje
Welsh fans in need of medical treatment should head for the ReMedika Hospital
Open 08:00-21:00.
Emergency services open 24 hours. Address: 16-ta Makedonska Brigada 18 Phone:260 31
00
or one of the polyclinics. These are open 24 hours for emergencies.
Before you travel anywhere in the world outside of the United Kingdom please visit the
Know before you go website http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/ Foreign and Commonwealth
office
British Embassy information for Macedonia
Please contact us at the FSF if possible before seeking Embassy assistance, we will be able to guide you
through the process.
The address of the British embassy is Salvador Aljende No. 73 Skopje 1000
FSF Cymru help line number is +447905 861848
What to do if your British Passport is lost or stolen whilst in Macedonia
It is vital you report a lost or stolen passport as soon as possible to the local police and to the British
Embassy ,even if you don't want to replace your passport immediately. This will reduce the risk of
someone using your passport or your identity.
When you report the loss or theft to the Embassy, they will give you a Lost or Stolen (LS01) Notification
form to fill in and sign. They will record the loss or theft of your passport and forward the information to
Identity and Passport Service. The IPS will then cancel your passport to reduce the risk of someone else
using your identity. You need to use form LS01 to report any loss or theft of your passport whether
applying for a replacement passport or not.
Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is electronically cancelled. If you find it, you will not
be able to use it as a proof of identity, nationality, or for any other legal purpose. You must not use it as
a means of identification as this may be detected as a potentially fraudulent act.
You will also not be able to use it for travel. Doing so may cause the passport to be impounded by the
Borders and Immigration Authority at UK ports or airports. If travelling overseas, you could face
deportation or arrest.
If your passport is lost or stolen the British Embassy in Skopje can issue an emergency travel
document that will get you home at a cost of approximately £95
An emergency travel document allows you to leave the country you’re in and travel to your destination via a maximum
of 5 countries.
The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the country you’re applying from.
An emergency travel document doesn’t guarantee entry to every country. You may also need a visa. Check with the
embassy or consulate of the country or countries you’re intending to travel to or through.
2 identical recent photographs of yourself - make sure they meet the rules for passport photo or your application will
be delayed
details of your intended travel plans - where and when you intend to travel (including countries you will travel through)
a completed application form
a police report if your passport has been lost or stolen
You will have to pay a fee, equivalent to £95. Embassy or consulate staff will tell how much this is in local currency
when you apply.
Getting your emergency travel document
The embassy or consulate staff will check that you’re eligible for an emergency travel document. If you’re not, they will
tell you why. Please contact FSF Cymru we will try to assist with this process
You may get the document on the day you apply if your circumstances are straightforward. If your circumstances are
more complex, it can take longer. You may need to change your travel plans.
Using your emergency travel document
The emergency travel document will only be valid for the journey that you specified when you applied and for a specific
period of time. This will be shown on the document.
Your existing British passport will be cancelled in most cases.
Immigration authorities may keep your emergency travel document when you arrive at your destination.
You will need to get a replacement passport when back in the UK if you intend doing anymore travelling and pay the
full costs, any fees that you paid for an emergency travel document will not be taken into account
Foreign and commonwealth information for Macedonia
Macedonia travel advice, travel insurance
It is even more important that fans get comprehensive travel insurance when travelling to countries outside the
European Union, The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Macedonia
Your credit card accident cover, home insurance, and private health cover is not always sufficient. An emergency
abroad can be extremely expensive. If you need to be returned to the UK it could cost you thousands of pounds, unless
you are adequately insured
Remember: the British Embassy or High Commission will not pay for this.
What your travel insurance policy should cover
• Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad
• 24-hour emergency service and assistance
• Personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property
• Lost and stolen possessions cover
• Cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover
• Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as jet skiing
• The policy should cover the whole time that you’re away. Multi-trip policies may specify a maximum number of
days’ travel.
Your policy may also have
• Personal accident cover
• Legal expenses cover
• Financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip
• Many insurers will extend cover if you ask them. If not, shop around for a specialist policy.
• Common travel insurance policy exclusions
• Most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents
• 60% of travel insurance policies now cover terrorism. Where possible, ensure that your policy does not exclude
terrorism
• You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you
Safety and security
Crime
Personal attacks against foreigners are extremely rare. Organised criminal groups are active, particularly in the
north west of the country. Shooting incidents, including in Skopje do sometimes occur, but are not targeted at
foreigners. Gunfire can also be heard as part of a celebration. You should be vigilant at all times.
There have been several cases of pick pocketing by gangs of children and bag snatches in the main shopping and
entertainment areas late at night. Foreign nationals appear to have been specifically targeted. Make sure your
personal possessions are secure.
Credit card fraud is widespread. Take care when using your card.
Acts of intimidation and harassment against nationals of western countries have been reported. In the event of
civil disorder, stay indoors as much as possible, especially after dark, and avoid crowds and demonstrations.
Keep your passport in a secure place and carry other photo ID plus a copy of your passport data page for
identification. If your passport is lost or stolen report it immediately to the local police and the British Embassy in
Skopje
FSF Cymru Fans Embassy help line
+ 44 7905861848
Eating out
There is a huge selection of great food outlets throughout the city, the
British embassy has kindly recommended a few below, but explore the
city and you won’t be disappointed. Try the local dishes such as Tavče
gravče (pic. Right.) which is considered the national dish of
the Republic of Macedonia.
The most popular eating areas will be found around the central area of
the city, city square, Makedonija St. and Vardar Quay
Pelister restaurant ( pic below ) is a great place to start especially if
you like Pizza, it is rated the best pizza in town and don’t miss it’s salad
bar
Makedonija Street is the place to find many coffee bars and you will
also find a fantastic Mexican bar here called “Amigos”
Irish Pubs yes there are always Irish pubs but they are
more expensive than the fantastic local bars where you
should not have to pay more than £1 a pint. A
pub/restaurant that has a great atmosphere, food and
A variety of quality beers is the Piazza del Toros, which
also shows live football matches.
From the holiday Inn or the city square running parallel
with the river Vardar you will find a huge shopping centre
called GTC with plenty of food outlets but in particular
try the Italian dishes out on the terraces. If you are
looking for a classy, intimate restaurant try the Amica,
which is opposite the Irish pub and finally if you fancy a
taste of Arabia try the Aladin which is on the second
floor of the GTC where you will find nice views of the
main city square
Debar Maalo is a popular part of town where you will
find Chinese restaurants plus plenty of small local café
and restaurants serving fine inexpensive local meals.
House Koliba is the place to go for large American style
steaks and various international dishes.
Old Bazaar is a must visit location during your visit and
there are plenty of newly opened cafes and bars in this
area, do not miss the Kebabs in Pcela or the grilled lamb
in Turist and for the finest wines stop at the Vinoteka.
There are lots of food outlets and cake shops in the
Bazaar area if you have a sweet tooth.
The City Park is another area where you will find some
great places to eat including the Anja City Park, the
Tomce & Sofka and the Marakana restaurant famous for
its Jazz and rock music and fine foods.
These are just some of the many delights of Skopje
Skopje Sight seeing and places of Interest
Most football fans are only in a city for a few days at most and like to try out the local bars and clubs but there is
always the opportunity during the day to visit some interesting places and there are quite a few in Skopje.
Although there is not much left , what does remain of the fortress Kale is worth a visit and its positioning on the
top of the hill and its wide green space inside make it an interesting destination for a relaxing walk. The walls
outside have been well restored and reinforced .The intern is a few old walls now surrounded by grass and
nothing more but remains interesting as it is very close to the Old Bazaar which has plenty of sights and bargains
within its walls.
Any visit to Skopje and Macedonia Square is a must see. Huge statues and sculptures with fountains and more
being built. Although work is on going it is still fantastic to visit. Bars around the edge make this a great place to
sit and people watch too.
The Millennium cross is a sight that you will want to visit and the public bus from Skopje costs 50p to the park on
Mount Vodna from where you can get a return trip in a cable car to the top for 100 denar (£1.50p). Fantastic
value, great sights from the top of Skopje, you can also chose to walk.
Skopje is full of galleries and museums if you like culture and a place you must visit would be the Daut Pasha
Hamam, the former bath house has been transformed into a National gallery and it can be found between the
famous stone bridge and the old Bazaar
Skopje city centre map
News for Supporters and the Welsh football fans’ charity Gol
14 Wales fans will be departing from Cardiff the week before the game to embark on a charitable drive
for Gôl to Macedonia. Four cars will make the journey and a number of orphanages will be visited on
the way with gifts donated to the children at these homes. An orphanage in Skopje will also benefit,
with a visit planned for the morning of match day in Skopje. If anyone would like to attend the visit or
donate some gifts such as toys, football shirts etc. in Skopje, can you please ring the FSF Helpline prior
to departure. Like wise if anyone is interested in watching or playing in the supporters game in Skopje,
get in touch, the kick off has yet to be confirmed but its likely to be on the Thursday evening. All
abilities welcome, so if you ever wanted to play for Wales come along.
Wear Red for Wales
Before you travel anywhere in the world outside of the United Kingdom
please visit the Know before you go website
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/ Foreign and Commonwealth office
Join the FSF for free please visit http://www.fsf.org.uk/
FSF Cymru Fans Embassy help line
+ 44 7905861848