The cries you hear around the terraces while they try to slay Bundesliga's finest teams. There is terracing on three sides and seating on the remaining side of the ground. This is the Union Way and tradition is the way it will always be. Situated in a forest, fans take a walk through the wood until they see the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.

The atmosphere builds with fans gathering at food and beer stalls outside, you can feel the energy for the game is high. The stadium is almost free of commercialisation and only the team and football is important here. You can feel the togetherness here. No music at halftime or when a goal is scored there is no other noise apart from the cries of the fans supporting the team.

The team were originally nicknamed "Schlosserjungs" (metal workers), and this then became the popular cry of "Eisern Union! (Iron Union). The Bundesliga became a dream for the Union fans when they beat Stuggart in the relegation playoff of 2019. The away leg for Union finished 2-2, the home leg finished 0-0 which meant Union won on goal difference which then led to scenes of fans entering the pitch in celebration and tears of joy. The players and the fans spent hours on the pitch singing together and drinking in celebration showing the closest of the fans and players and the solidarity of a member controlled club.

The following week turned into a party for fans and players alike. Being promoted to the Bundesliga was the biggest achievement of the club’s history and not one I think fans thought was going to be a reality, after so many near misses. For the first Bundesliga game, the fans printed photos of members that had passed away before they could witness Union playing in the Bundesliga. Family members held up their family members’ photos, weeping while the famous song from Nina Hagen 'Eisern Union' rang round the stadium and the players entered the field.

These are the golden years of Union many will feel, but it was not always like this for Union. When World War Two finished, Germany was split into two countries: East and West Germany. The Soviets controlled East Germany and the West was allied with the UK, France and the United States. In 1961, the Soviets split Berlin in two by building a wall.

Union Berlin is from the East so played in the Eastern German divisions until the reunification of the country in 1990. In 2008, the club risked losing its stadium when the old terraces were crumbling and safety concerns were high. But 2500 fans decided to volunteer and rebuild the ground themselves, and it is estimated that they collectively gave 140,000 hours of free labour to their club. The fans brought the club back from the brink of existence and built their own home.

You can feel the belief that the stadium is their home when you go to a game and the fans are there one hour prior to kick-off, already in their positions. When the club was on the brink of bankruptcy, the fans looked at ideas on how to save it. This is where the 'Bleed for Union' idea was born. In Germany, people get paid for donating blood so Union fans donated their blood and gave the funds from that to keep the club alive. Is there any better way to support your club than to say you 'Bleed for your club'? This shows what the fans would do for their club and you feel the passion for the club within the fans and the players.

Traditions are what bind Union fans together. A group of Union supporters broke into the stadium one night to drink and sing Christmas songs together on the field. The club found out, but instead of punishing them they decided to create a tradition from it. Now, every year 28,000 Union fans gather to sing Christmas songs and drink together in the stadium. Union Berlin is seen as a rebellious club in a rebellious city and long mayit continue.

We are a group of Welsh Union Berlin supporters called the 'Welsh Union Kings' we proudly sponsor Leon Jones. The Berliners became interested in 1876 due to the fact the fans have decided to work together to create a club that they can be proud of and build it themselves. The Berliners believe football is about community and supporting what you believe in.

In Germany, Red Bull Leipzig are seen by many as killers of football tradition. When Union Berlin visited Leipzig, the away fans of Union protested and even did a football tradition funeral as they believe Red Bull are killing football traditions and passion. The Berliners who are part of the 'Welsh Union Kings' own a 1876 snood, hat and shirt to show support for 1876 fans creating their own club and starting up their own traditions. Traditions make football and football clubs such as Bangor 1876 have taken a huge step towards creating footballing happiness and establishing new traditions.