Ahead of West Ham’s trip to Backa Topola, SportsLens takes a deep dive into the Hammers’ Europa League opponents.
Who are Backa Topola?
Backa Topola, also known as Fudbalski Klub TSC or FK TSC, are a Serbian football club based in the town of Backa Topola. Formed in 1913, they are the second-oldest club in the Serbian SuperLiga.
The club have experienced a remarkable ascent through the leagues in recent years after spending considerable time in the lower divisions of Serbian football.
In 2014, FK TSC competed in the third tier before securing promotion to the Serbian First League (the second tier) in 2017. Following a stint in this league, they continued their upward trajectory, achieving promotion to the SuperLiga for the first time in 2019.
Interestingly, they have nurtured some of Serbia’s most promising talents, with former Southampton and Ajax midfielder Dusan Tadic being a notable product of their youth system.
Led by young manager Zarko Lazetic, their Europa League campaign this season is the club’s first time in European competition in their history. They claimed a place in the competition’s qualifiers in 2020 but failed to make the group stage.
SportsLens have previously taken a deep dive into the market value of the squad compared to West Ham’s.
Where Is Backa Topola Located?
The town of Backa Topola is located in the North Bačka District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. The province borders Hungary, and it is common to hear both Serbian and Hungarian being spoken.
Where Are Backa Topola Positioned In The Serbian League?
Backa Topola are currently third in the Serbian SuperLiga with 29 points after 15 games. At the time of writing, they are 11 points behind league leaders Partizan Belgrade and eight points behind second-placed Crvena Zvezda.
Backa Topola’s Links To Hungarian Government
The club’s fairytale rise up the Serbian football leagues has primarily been funded by Viktor Orban, the Hungarian right-wing prime minister.
Football holds a special place in the heart of the longstanding conservative leader. Over a decade spanning from 2011 to 2021, the Hungarian treasury allocated a generous €2.5 billion to sports clubs. This financial support was facilitated through a corporate tax relief scheme implemented at the beginning of this period.
One of the notable recipients of this funding are Puskas Akademia FC, situated in Orban’s hometown of Felcsut. Established just 18 years ago as an academy club for Fehervar FC, Puskas Akademia FC have ascended to the pinnacle of Hungarian football. The club boasts a stadium that accommodates nearly double the village’s population.
The Hungarian government have extended similar financial support to clubs with a significant ethnic Hungarian presence in Slovenia, Romania, and Slovakia, showcasing Hungary’s soft power. According to Balkan Insight, Orban’s government have invested €49.5 million in this initiative, although none have achieved the level of success seen by Backa Topola.
How Are West Ham Fans Getting To Backa Topola?
Backa Topola is not exactly a place where you’d think to spend a few days; it’s not a big tourist hotspot. Plus, the vast majority of Serbian taxi drivers do not speak English or have very little grasp of the language.
The stadium is a nine-minute taxi ride from the town’s main train station, roughly a half-hour’s walk. However, security and safety measures are likely to mean buses and police escorts to the stadium for West Ham supporters.
Given the unique setting for the game, some West Ham fans have stayed in Belgrade and headed north only for the game. Additionally, there is a safety aspect to consider for this fixture.
With such a small number of travelling fans, it will be better to stay in bigger groups, as is the case for many Euro away days. The club have liaised to provide coaches for fans from Belgrade.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
