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4,289-kilometre journey to HSV happiness

Rene Preuß travelled by car from Florida to the Red Shorts' test match and crossed seven states in the USA to do so.

Road trips are a popular form of travel. Especially in the USA. HSV has also given its tour to California the motto "HSV Route 87". Around Los Angeles, the Red Shorts will not only visit the training grounds of the Orange County Soccer Club, but also schools, sporting events and other well-known places. But the longest and at the same time craziest route was taken by an HSV fan: Rene Preuß is one of more than 60 supporters accompanying the team these days. He covered an incredible 2665 miles, or the equivalent of 4,289 kilometres by car, to visit the Hamburgers in Los Angeles and watch the test match against OSCS (1:0). If you were to start from Hamburg, that mileage would take you all the way to the North Pole. This means that Preuß probably took on one of, if not the longest, away journeys in the club's history.

Preuß, who comes from Erkelenz near Mönchengladbach, has been moving his residence from Germany to the USA during the winter months for eight years. More precisely, to Fort Myers in Florida. From there, the 55-year-old set off by car for Los Angeles last Friday together with his girlfriend Kerstin. "When I first read about the trip to the USA, it was immediately clear to me that I was going here. That's what I've always been waiting for," Preuß remembers the beginning of his planning.

Rene Preuß mit seiner Freundin Kerstin. Selbst das Kennzeichen seines Autos ist unverwechselbar.

Season ticket and passion for all-round driving

He had to cross seven federal states to do it. In the end, 37 hours of driving time were on the clock. "We only spent one night in a motel and otherwise only took short sleep breaks in the car," reports Preuß, who is used to long distances for his favourite club. In Germany, too, "the Gladbacher", as he is also called in fan circles, attends almost every game. Equipped with a season ticket in block 28B, visits to the Volksparkstadion are just as much a must for him as the away matches in the 2. Bundesliga, despite the long distance from Erkelenz. Preuß was also on hand to support the team at the game in Fürth eight days ago. After that, it was only a short trip home and the very next morning he was on the plane to Florida. His girlfriend has got used to Rene's "all-driving passion". "She tolerates it," he says warmly.

His heart started beating for HSV back in the early 1980s. "I was a huge fan of Franz Beckenbauer. When he moved to HSV for the 1980/81 season, I also started to love the club." Countless ups and downs followed. Titles, tears and triumphs. Preuß could certainly write several books with his stories. It was clear to him from the very beginning that he would remain loyal to the club in the 2nd Division. Now he has confirmed this once again with an incredible journey and his very own "HSV Route 87".