From West London to ‘The Old Lady’

Hertha fans are everywhere: Anna Dragicevic lives the Hertha way of life from the London town of Brentford. The 26-year-old is a die-hard fan of the club and has been a season ticket holder since the start of the 2019/20 season.

Berlin – It all started with a trip to Berlin back in 2013. Anna Dragicevic visited the capital along with some friends from England to see a concert by the band ‘3 Doors Down’. The city was love at first sight for the 26-year-old, who then returned for another trip just a year later, lasting several days. “I walked all around the city and learnt a lot about the history of Berlin,” tells the security guard who works at a London airport. At the time she was watching the World Cup match between Germany and Algeria in the fan park at the Brandenburg Gate, however that wasn’t to be her last footballing endeavour in the capital city. Her love for the game actually originated from her father; she began kicking a ball around from a young age and was often taken by her father to play in her hometown of Wellingborough.

A home debut shared with her favourite player

Her love for the city, coupled with her passion for the beautiful game inevitably lead Anna Dragicevic to the Olympiastadion. She visited the home of the Blue-Whites for the first time back in September 2015 for a 2-1 win against VfB Stuttgart, and the rest was history. The game was made even more special for the then 21-year-old, as Vedad Ibisevic also pulled on the Hertha jersey for the first ever time. “He’s my favourite player and very important both as a person and as a sportsman for people with Bosnian backgrounds,” explains Dragicevic, who also has Yugoslavian roots. The Londoner has now seen her favourite team play over 30 times, including this season’s exhilarating 3-3 draw in Düsseldorf, “That was crazy! I was very proud of the team’s desire and the comeback in the second half,” she said after the game. However, the semi final of the DFB Pokal against Borussia Dortmund in 2016 has the most unforgettable experience for Dragicevic as a Hertha fan so far. “It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced,” she said enthusiastically.

Supporting a team in another city isn’t always easy for the Herthaner, despite her affection for ‘The Old Lady’. “After a defeat I often ask myself on the flight back: Why am I doing this to myself?” she admits with a smile. “But then I remember my friends and I know why!” Dragicevic has made numerous friends throughout her five years as a Hertha fan. “My best friends are in Berlin. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today,” explains the 26-year-old. Three years ago she was going through a difficult time, with lots of pressure at work and in her studies. “Being in the stadium at the weekend with my friends saved me, so to speak. Even if we lost, I didn’t care. When Hertha were playing I was able to get away from the pressure of every day life,” says Dragicevic.  

She is particularly thinking of her friends from the capital in these unprecedented times; especially those who run fan pubs in Berlin. She is determined to make sure that these places stay popular among fans. “They do important work and bring people together,” explains the Hertha fan who is a key supporter of the Herthakneipe campaign, which aims to support these places. “It’s about supporting the people who have been there for the fans for such a long time!”