Coal mine provides setting for official team photo
06.07.2009
Hard work is the motto of FC Schalke 04 under Felix Magath. The Royal Blues have now documented this by shooting their official team photo for the 2009/2010 season inside the ROM coal storage building at Prosper-Haniel Colliery in Bottrop.
The team coach pulled up at the Bottrop coal mine shortly before half past three on Sunday. On disembarking, the first-team squad filed into the 29,000 metric ton capacity facility behind their new manager. The only players missing were under-21 European champions Manuel Neuer and Benedikt Höwedes and the injured David Loheider, while physiotherapist Karl-Heinz Ohland was ruled out at short notice by illness.
"Prosper-Haniel is a name I'm familiar with. My uncle worked there, though that was in Aschaffenburg", said Magath, who seemed to enjoy the ambience from the word go. The 32-man delegation, comprising players, coaches and backroom staff, then took up their positions on the specially erected podium. Jermaine Jones made his way over on crutches and was immediately allocated a seat by his new boss.
The Royal Blues lined up first for the press photographers before posing for a "mixed team photo" with the miners from Prosper-Haniel. Marcelo Bordon promptly borrowed a helmet from one pitman to underscore the close ties between the Royal Blues and the coal industry.
The miners then had an opportunity to chat to the players and have their helmets signed as they posed for individual photos.
