Being a supporter of the Bayer 04 Leverkusen football club was never easy, and certainly not glorious – until this season. Confessions of an already very grateful fan.
It was an unusual sight, all these German fans with their rimless glasses and functional jackets, their Jako shirts and black and red scarves, crammed into the packed Jubilee Line towards Finchley Road. It was November 2, 2016, a good four months after the British Brexit vote, and Bayer 04 Leverkusen had just beaten Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League group first leg, with a goal from Kevin Kampl in the 65th minute. It remained quiet in the subway, the Leverkusen supporters who were traveling with us didn’t bother anyone with their triumphant songs.