Year in Review: More than 20,000 cardboard cut-outs in BORUSSIA-PARK

With “Stay at home. Be in the stands,” the FPMG Supporters Club ran a unique campaign in which Borussia fans had the chance to put a cardboard cut-out of themselves in the stadium. The games held behind closed doors saw 20,000 of the cut-outs in BORUSSIA-PARK.

Most of the games in 2020 took place behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. But fans of the Foals managed to be in the stadium anyway – at least in a sense. With “Stay at home. Be in the stands,” the FPMG Supporters Club ran a unique campaign in April that let Borussia fans put cardboard cut-outs of themselves in the stadium. Fans could send in a photo showing head and upper body, and a replica figure would be created and put in the stands.

BORUSSIA-PARK filled up. The last home game of the 2019/20 season against Hertha BSC saw the Foals play in front of more than 20,000 of the figures. “Even though they obviously can’t replace the real fans, it’s a cool initiative that’s only got benefits,” said head coach Marco Rose at the time. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer also liked the campaign: “It’s a great idea! It gives you the feeling that the fans are with us and that it’s important that they can support us, which really drives us on at this tricky time.” The cut-outs also attracted great international attention and some even copied the idea.

But that wasn’t enough: The FPMG Supporters Club also raised money for charitable causes. The cut-outs cost €19, with €2.50 going to the FPMG and €2 going to the campaign “Borussen helfen Borussen” (Foals helping Foals) as well as the Borussia Foundation. They raised over €40,000, with the landmark being reached with the spokesperson of the project, Dirk Kramer, in BORUSSIA-PARK. The money has gone towards charitable endeavours in Mönchengladbach and the local area.