In the series “My First Place”, prominent footballers (inside) return to their roots. This time Joachim Hopp to VfvB Ruhrort/Laar.

Everyone has that one club where it all began. For former MSV professional Joachim Hopp, it is VfvB Ruhrort/Laar.

“I spent my entire childhood here at the VfvB Ruhrort/Laar grounds. I lived about 100 metres from the pitch as the crow flies,” Joachim Hopp recalls of his early days.

Even then, he had to overcome hurdles: “After school, my friends and I climbed over the fence to play football. In the beginning we had black ash, then came the red. I could hardly fall asleep at night because of all the scrapes. Nevertheless, I felt so good that I didn’t switch to the amateurs of MSV Duisburg until I was 22.”

Only once did Hopp get into real trouble on his home pitch: “An opposing player elbowed me in the face. Then I grabbed a shovel from the equipment shed and ran after the whole team. But they all ran away. “