The abandonment of the match between FC Schalke 04 II and Preußen Münster was also experienced by a former star of the Königsblauen: Christian Pander.

For a few weeks now, Christian Pander has been working for SC Preußen Münster in an advisory capacity – without, however, holding an official post. But the former Schalker Bundesliga professional, who lives just a kilometre away from the Preußen stadium, wants to help lead the Preußen into a good future.

In his youth, the 39-year-old moved from the youth department of the SCP to the “Knappenschmiede” of the Königsblauen and made his breakthrough there. It was clear that the former left-back did not want to miss the game of his two former clubs. But he is not really a stadium-goer. The former international, who made a lasting impression with his famous left stick in the DFB jersey in 2007 when he scored the 2:1 winner at Wembley Stadium, only goes to the arena once a year on average. Mostly when the S04 organises its alumni reunion. Nevertheless, he was “as happy as a little kid that we’ve been promoted again.

He goes to Preußen Münster quite regularly because of the proximity. “I have a connection to both clubs, so it made sense to go and have a look on Saturday,” he told RevierSport. “But I also expected different conditions, I have to be honest. Even before the game, I was thinking about parking my car in the car park or in the multi-storey car park.” From the adjacent arena car park, there is a wide but definitely relatively unobstructed view of the Park Stadium.

After just under half an hour, however, the pleasure was already over. But he fully understood why the game had to be abandoned. “I had heard before the game that there was a thunderstorm warning system here. And if there is something like that, then of course you have to stick to it.

There has been a euphoria – also due to the close second place in the last season. The club and the city of Münster, which now has a population of 320,000, definitely deserve at least third-division football.

Christian Pander

Together with Münster’s managing director Peter Niemeyer and supervisory board member Christoph Mangelmans, he had retreated to a lounge with many other people as the downpour began. Although Pander, who was denied an even greater career due to knee problems, has actually experienced everything in professional football, the abandonment was also new territory for him: “I once had a game that was interrupted, but I can’t remember a game being abandoned.” On the other hand, his first ever Bundesliga match for the S04 was curious, as it did not start until hours later due to a technical defect in a floodlight mast caused by a power failure in Bremen’s Weserstadion.

But he is currently more concerned about Preußen Münster: “The whole region and the whole city is rooting for SCP,” said Pander. “There is a sense of euphoria – also due to the close second place in the last season. The club and the city of Münster, which now has 320,000 inhabitants, definitely deserve at least third-division football.” What still needs to be worked on is the stadium structure, which still needs to be improved. But they are working on it.