• FSF Euro 2012 Website »
• City Guides »
• Ukraine - Donetsk

Donetsk, where England will play two group games, serves as the administrative capital for the region and this interesting city is one of the most beautiful and fruitful cities in Ukraine. Home to some 990,000 people, it is the fifth largest city in the country.

The city began as a small Cossack village that was established during the late 17^th century. Initially, the inhabitants sustained themselves by raising cattle and farming but by the 1820's a small coal mining operation had begun. This quickly started to grow and, in 1869, the New Russia Company was formed in order to improve the process of coal, to smelt iron, to build a steel mill, to make rails for railroads and to operate a rail station.

Skilled workers were brought in from Britain and a fresh settlement was quickly formed around the old one. The new settlement was named Yuzovka after John Hughes, a Welshman whose mining expertise led to the growth of the industry in the area. 

In 1924 the town was renamed 'Stalino' under central orders from Moscow, and in 1961, it was given the name 'Donetsk' in a process of de-Stalinisation. Today it's known as  the 'City of a Million Roses', and it continues to be a thriving industrial, scientific and cultural centre for the region. 

STATIONARY FANS' EMBASSY

As part of the UEFA-backed "RESPECT Fan Culture" programme, Football Supporters Europe are providing a fans' embassy in Gdansk to welcome fans of all nations who come to the city. Like the FSF's own fans' embassy service, this will operate on a "by fans, for fans" basis, and will be staffed by volunteers drawn from the local fan scene. There will also be an English-language service provision.

The fans' embassy will provide all the usual sort of information that a tourist office might offer, such as available accommodation, local transport timetables and routes, sightseeing opportunities, etc.

Crucially, though, it will also provide fan-specific information and advice such as ticket availability, viewing facilities, stadium regulations and matchday arrangements.

For more information, visit the FSE's 2012 Fanguide website.