FC Spaeri v Torpedo Kutaisi
Georgian FA Cup
Round of 16
Stadion Spaeri
Tbilisi, Georgia
7 Sep 23
This encounter was a Round of 16 tie in the Georgian Cup between FC Spaeri of Erovnuli 2 and Torpedo Kutaisi who play in the top tier of Georgian football, the Erovnuli Liga. Torpedo are the current champions
FC Spaeri was founded in 2017 by members of the SSPS (Special State Protection Service) with the team mostly consisting of members of the organisation. The team currently play in the second tier after narrowly missing promotion to the top flight in season 21-22 after losing on penalties to Gagra in the play offs after finishing runners up in the league.
The Spaeri Stadium is located in an eastern suburb of Tbilisi and to gain access to the 3000 capacity stadium you have to go through the main gate of the SSPS Barracks. The officer on duty clicks you in and out. No access until 30 minutes before kick off and strictly no photos
This was the final day of our vacation to Tbilisi and was unplanned until I consulted Futbology for local fixtures
Day 1 - Arrival in Tbilisi. After narrowly making our connection from Istanbul to Tbilisi following a long delay at Stansted Airport for the outbound Istanbul flight we were relieved to arrive on time. We were then greeted by a cheery driver from the Hotel Communal who took us there for 40 GEL (£12)
After one night in the Communal Hotel we arrived at our Airbnb at around 1200. Our digs were just around the corner in Sololaki in a typical Georgian 'gated yard' community
After receiving the brief on the property from our wonderful host Tatiana, Sue finally relaxes in her new home
The kitchen space
After sorting ourselves out we had down to Sololaki and the first thing we experience is the Georgian Bakery and traditional Shotus Puri
The street graffitti is everywhere and full of Anti Russian Pro Ukraine sentiment. Hardly surprising since Georgia were also invaded by the Russians in 2008
The lamp cleaner near the Old Town Wall
The Leaning Clock Tower in the Old Town
Peace Bridge crosses the Mtkvari river, it symbolises the future path of Georgia
View from the Bridge of Peace
Day 2 - The Sulphur Baths: The majority of the Tbilisi bathhouses are located in Abanotubani
There are about 10 bathhouses in the area, front of picture is the dome of one of the bathhouses with the Narakali fortress in the background
Gulo's Thermal Spa is the one that we opted for, it had a hot pool at 38 C, a cold plunge pool and sauna. Sadly we didn't realise that the massage scrub (Kisi) would cut so deeply into our time there but it was very relaxing indeed
After the baths it was beer time
Khinkali (Georgian dumplings stuffed with herbs and meat)
Kachapuri (Imeretian style) is the most popular form and is filled with white Imeritian salted cheese
A Georgian flag in the Ukrainian colours
The Big Wheel on Mt Mtatsminda (Holy Mountain)
Big Wheel keeps on turning
Graffiti on the wall near the funicular sends out a strong message to Russian speakers
TV Tower sighted at the top of the 770m Mt Mtatsminda, the restaurant by the funicular served gorgeous cream doughnuts ("Ponchiki - Soviet style doughnuts)
Views of Dynamo Tbilisi's Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Day 3 - Excursion to Kazbegi
From Rose Revolution Square we head to Zhinvali Resevoir
Next stop on the Georgian Military Highway was the Ananuri Fortress which dates back to the 16th -18th Century
Rafting on the Rioni River
On the river
The Rafting Team
The Russian Georgian Friendship monument celebrates the combined history and cultures of Georgia and Russia
Walking around the not so friendly monument
Team Photo with stray dog
The Cliff
Gergeti Trinity Church located on the right bank of the river Chikheri under Mount Kazbegi (5074 m) and at an elevation of 2170m. It was built in the 14th century and in times of danger, important relics from Mtskheta, including St Nino's Cross were brought here for safekeeping
Inside the church
Final stop at the Rooms Hotel Kazbegi in Stepantsminda - Sundowners in front of Mt Kazbegi
Day 4: Narikala Fortress and Dynamo Tbilisi. We spent a whole morning clambering over the ruins to the cross at the highest point
The Mother of Georgia Statue shows her offering a bowl of wine to those who come in peace and a sword to those who are enemies
In the afternoon we took the metro to Station Square from Liberty Square, walked through a market and made our way to Dynamo Tbilisi
Sue in Ultra mode, 1925 is the year the club were formed
Elita is the main Dinamo Tbilisi ultra group formed in 2018 who control the Lower Block (sector 17) of the stadium which is not accessible to anyone outside of the group
Home strip on sale
Dinamo merchandise
The stadium is a typical Soviet Style bowl with a capacity of 54,202 but the best thing about it is the stadium's restaurant
The monument outside the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena is Boris Paichadze the former Dynamo Tbilisi and Soviet Union international player who played from 1936-51
Having a beer in Sololaki with our street dog
Day 5: Stalin's museum, home and railway carriage in Gori and the cave city at Uplistsikhe
Live from inside the home of Joseph Stalin
Enshrined in a Greek style pavilion is a small wooden hut which was the birthplace of Joseph Stalin in 1879
Stalin's personal railway carriage which is armoured plated and weighs 83 tons, it was used by him from 1941 onwards including the Yalta and Tehran conference
Exploring Georgia's oldest cave city and UNESCO sight at Uplistsikhe just 10Km East of Gori
The Church of the Prince created in 6 BC with the stone and brick church being added in the 9th C
Views from the church at Uplistsikhe across the ancient kingdom of Kartli from 1st century BC
Back in Tbilisi for the afternoon and a boat trip down the Mtkvari river with our Mafia skipper
The steep banks of the Mtkvari river
River life
Streetwise street dogs
The Sulphur Baths at night (Abanotubani)
Last orders at the NaturAle Bar in Sololaki with Gregory; a singer, song writer and poet hoping for a Free Belarus
Main entrance to the Special State Protection Service (SSPS). The stadium is within the barracks - no photos please
The Spaeri Stadium
Only one stand in the stadium
Warming up
Main stand video
Entrance to the main stand from above
Lining up for the national anthem of Georgia
FC Spaeri group huddle
Bombed in this main stand selfie😆
We are in the block to the left, 5 rows from the front
Water break for Torpedo in temperatures of 40 degrees C
FC Spaeri do the same
The game ends in a 2:0 win to Torpedo Kutaisi so were off to the nearest watering hole for a post match drink
On the busses
Back to the yard for a glass of wine, pack cases and an early flight to Poland, but really love this country
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