Sochaux

FC SOCHAUX-MONTBELIARD – STADE AUGUSTE BONAL – CAPACITY: 20,000 ALL SEATER

About the Stade Auguste-Bonal
The stade Auguste Bonal is the current home to Sochaux, and is the largest ground in the region. The stadium is built as part of the Peugeot factory which dominates the whole town. It is a very smart arena that has been completely rebuilt since its original opening in 1931 as the home of the car company’s works team. The original stadium held 1,000 but was soon expanded to over 10,000 as the team became more successful. In 1935 the club won their first honour, winning the French Championship by beating Marseilles.

The stadium was redeveloped in the late 1990’s, with each stand demolished and rebuilt in turn, along the lines of the stadium in Caen. The stadium was finished in time for the start of the 2000/01 season. It is very similar in design to new built stadiums in the UK such as Darlington’s new stadium, The Earth Stadium in Doncaster as Swansea’s Liberty stadium. It is a two tiered affair, completely wrapping around to form an arena that is quite uncommon in France. Views are excellent from all parts of the stadium, with the first row of seats set 5 foot above the pitch to ensure that everyone can see the action going on.

Who plays there?
The stadium is home to Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard – or FCSM. The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux. With investment from Peugeot the club won the French championships in 1935 and 1938. In the post-war era, the FCSM saw its stature in French soccer steadily diminish from a league heavyweight to a middle-of-the-table performer relying more on its excellent youth development program than on the substantial budgets of yore. Although rarely relegated to the second division, Sochaux would not hoist a major trophy until 2004’s Coupe de la Ligue.

The current renaissance of les lionceaux (“the lion cubs”) has seen the club finish in the top half of the Ligue 1 table three years running and compete in the UEFA Cup, as well as winning the French Cup in 2007. It is recognized as one of the very best sources of young talent in France, with players like Benoît Pedretti and Pierre-Alain Frau finding their way to top clubs and the French national team.

How to get there
The stadium is located half way between the towns of Sochaux and Montbéliard in the Peugeot factory. The nearest stadium is Gare de Montbéliard which is located no more than a 10 minute walk away. To find the stadium turn left out of the station until you reach the Avenue d’Helvétie. Turn left onto the N463 and at the next roundabout you will see the stadium straight ahead.

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Getting a ticket
With an average attendance of less than 15,000, getting a ticket on the day of the game from the club shop at the stadium is not a problem. Tickets are also on sale at local Auchan, Carrefour, FNAC and Hyper stores in the region. Peugeot subside the price of the tickets and so watching Sochaux is one of the cheapest teams to watch in Europe. A ticket for the lower or upper tiers behind the goal are just €5, with the most expensive ticket in the stadium in the Presidentielle costing just €10 for most games. Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.billetfcsochaux.fr.

Getting around
The town is very small, and apart from the car factory, there is little in the way of attractions that would hold a visitors imagination. There are a few local buses that you can use to get around but most visitors here for the football or for Peugeot arrive by train, and leave by train.

Nearest Airport – Basel Mulhouse Airport (BSL)
Telephone: +41 61 325 31 11
Website: http://www.euroairport.com

The city is located close to the Swiss border and the nearest airport is Basel Mulhouse which is 40 miles to the south east. Now this is a strange concept. An airport that can lay claim to being in two different countries. Basel (Swiss) Mulhouse (French) Airport has been designed to allow customs and immigration into both countries – once you find yourself in the baggage reclaim hall you will see clear signs either directing to towards French (and German) customs, or Swiss customs. If you are heading for Basel city centre then follow the Swiss signs. You can then pick up a train from Mulhouse to Sochaux every hour.

Currently the main budget airline serving the airport is Easyjet with daily flights from London Luton and Stansted. British Airways fly here from London Heathrow on a daily basis, and Swiss Airlines from London City.