These days, there’s an increasing number of Fethiyespor supporters and those with a general interest who don’t originally hail from Fethiye or even Turkey, for that matter. Let’s face it, Fethiyespor are not exactly one of the biggest teams within the Turkish football leagues so, naturally, there’s no big shiny media scene around them. But, between the club and the supporters, they are getting there. Fethiyespor is all about the community and the effort the supporters put in is what makes this club so special. The thing about Fethiyespor is, yes, they’re far from the biggest football club in Turkey (they are no Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe or Beşiktaş, for example) but, when it comes to a foreign support base, we can’t help but think Fethiyespor have easily got to be up there with the big clubs, especially for numbers going through the turnstiles on match days. The atmosphere at these games is second to none, loud horns, lots of whistling and lots of Turkish football chants really bring the stadium to life! The official name of the club is Fethiye Spor Kulübü, which translates to Fethiye Sports Club. The club was founded in 1933 you will find this number on the club logo. Many fans cherish this date and you will often see supporters posting on social media, the words ‘Aşk Zamanı’, which translates to ‘Love time’ they usually post this at exactly 19:33.
Fethiye Şehir Stadyumu (Fethiye City Stadium) isn’t owned by a mega rich millionaire with their company name plastered all over the outside of it, but compared to other lower league football stadiums around Turkey the stadium really stands out. There are 3 stands at the stadium for the home supporters.
Betonarme – This is the ‘posh’ concrete stand where the VIP seats are, too. Tickets for this stand are the most expensive.
Maraton – This is the covered stand opposite Betonarme and is where the Apaçiler (the die-hard Fethiyespor fans) make their noise.
Kale Arkası – This is the cheapest stand as it’s behind the goals. It’s also not covered so if it starts raining while you’re at the match then hopefully you brought an umbrella.
The most exciting thing about Fethiyespor, besides the fans, is the Tribün Lideri (The stand leader). For Fethiyespor, the current tribün lideri is Muammer Beylem, he never lacks energy and you will very rarely see him sat down. Muammer Beylem stands on a metal platform on the halfway line in front of the Maraton stands, wıth drummers either side of him going along wıth the football chants, he really is the life of the party!
So, if you ever find yourself wondering what to do on the weekends, then Fethiye Şehir Stadyumu is the place to be. Parking is available at the stadium, kebabs and Aryan are served at half time, the atmosphere is second to none, win or lose and it really is a great day out!