ATS Kulmbach
Encyclopedia
The ATS Kulmbach is a German association football club
from the city of Kulmbach
, Bavaria
.
ATS, in its better days, played in the third division
and reached the first round of the German Cup in 1975–76
. The club has declined since then, to the point that its first team plays in tier eleven, the lowest level in its region.
After the end of the Second World War, on 3 March 1946, the ATS Kulmbach was formed out of this club.
ATS first made an appearance on the Bavarian football scene when they won the local Oberfranken championship in 1948 and took part in the promotion round to the Landesliga Bayern
(II), where it came last, without a win. Kulmbach made another attempt at Landesliga promotion the year after but was equally as unsuccessful.
The club finally succeeded in 1951 in earning promotion to Bavaria's highest league, which was now the tier-three Amateurliga Bayern.
Kulmbach finished its first Bayernliga season in 13th place, three points away from a relegation rank. The club dramatically improved the following season, taking out the league title thanks to an unbeaten run at home. The team then took part in the promotion round to the tier-two 2nd Oberliga Süd
but finished last out of six teams and FC Hanau 93
and Bavarian runners-up FC Wacker München earned promotion instead.
The Bavarian league was split into a northern and a southern division from 1953 to 1963 and ATS was grouped in the northern league, where it finished fourth in 1953–54. The club remained a mid-table side until 1957–58, when a 14th place meant relegation to what was now the 2nd Amateurliga Oberfranken (IV).
ATS took until 1960 to recover from this, when it won the eastern division of the Oberfranken league and beat western champions ASV Gaustadt to earn promotion back to the third division.
The club achieved an impressive third place in its first year back in the Amateurliga Bayern but then fell back into the mid-table regions again. In 1963, with the introduction of the Fußball-Bundesliga
, the Amateurliga in Bavaria reverted to a single-division format again and ATS, finishing tenth, missed the qualifying requirements clearly.
The club now became part of the new tier-four Landesliga Bayern-Nord
, where the club spent a number of average seasons, escaping further relegation in 1966–67 very narrowly. From there, Kulmbach improved, finishing in the top-five for the next three seasons. In 1971 and 1972, the club declined somewhat but a second place in 1972–73 showed, the club was improving. The year after, it won the league and returned to the Amateurliga.
Kulmbach performed well at this level, improving every season from 1974 to 1977, culminating in a runners-up finish in 1977. The club earned the right to take part in the German amateur football championship
, where it bowed out in the semi-finals to the reserve team of Fortuna Düsseldorf
. It also took part in the DFB-Pokal 1975–76
, were it lost to Sportfreunde Siegen
in the first round. ATS continued to enjoy good performances in the Amateurliga, finishing sixth, fifth and fifth. From 1980 onwards, the performance of the club declined and in 1982 it was relegated once more from what was now the Amateur Oberliga Bayern, a league it would not be able to return to.
The club experienced three good Landesliga seasons but then, in 1986, it was relegated again more, to the Bezirksliga. It made a return for one season from this league but then became part of the new Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
. In 1991, it earned promotion for one season from this league again but then did not return to this level until 1998, spending its time in the Bezirksoberliga.
For two seasons, ATS played in the Landesliga once more but, after suffering relegation once again in 2000, the club was unable to return to this level. In 2004, after a number of good years in the Bezirksoberliga, the club had to withdraw from the league.
The clubs development after that remains sketchy, resurfacing in the A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 3 (X) in 2005–06, where it took out the title. After a good result in the Kreisklasse Bayreuth 2 (IX) in 2006–07, it disappeared again, to once more return to the A-Klasse in 2008. ATS managed to reenter a football team into competition in the 2008–09 season after it was unabale to do so in 2007–08.
The clubs name is at times mentioned as one of the foundations of a possible FC Oberfranken, a merger of local Oberfranken powerhouses like ATS, SpVgg Bayern Hof, FC Lichtenfels and FC Kronach. The goal, to bring professional football back to the region, was tried and failed by the SC Weismain and its main sponsor, Alois Dechant, in the past.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
from the city of Kulmbach
Kulmbach
Kulmbach is the capital of the district of Kulmbach in Bavaria in Germany. The town is famous for Plassenburg Castle, which houses the largest tin soldier museum in the world, and for its famous sausages, or Bratwürste.-Location:...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
ATS, in its better days, played in the third division
Oberliga Bayern
The Fußball-Bayernliga, commonly referred to as the Bayernliga, is the highest football league in the state of Bavaria and the Bavarian Football League System. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German football league system...
and reached the first round of the German Cup in 1975–76
DFB-Pokal 1975–76
The DFB-Pokal 1975–76 was the 33rd season of the competition. It began on 1 August 1975 and ended on 26 June 1976. 128 teams competed in the tournament of seven rounds...
. The club has declined since then, to the point that its first team plays in tier eleven, the lowest level in its region.
History
The club was formed as a gymnastics club in 1861, under the name of Turnverein 1861. It took TV until 1911, to form a football department. In 1931, the TV merged with local side Turnerbund Kulmbach to form Kulmbacher Turnerschaft.After the end of the Second World War, on 3 March 1946, the ATS Kulmbach was formed out of this club.
ATS first made an appearance on the Bavarian football scene when they won the local Oberfranken championship in 1948 and took part in the promotion round to the Landesliga Bayern
Landesliga Bayern
In the Bavarian football league system, the Landesliga Bayern is the second hightest level, below the Fußball-Bayernliga and organised in three regional divisions. The current Landesligas were formed in 1963, when the Fußball-Bundesliga was established...
(II), where it came last, without a win. Kulmbach made another attempt at Landesliga promotion the year after but was equally as unsuccessful.
The club finally succeeded in 1951 in earning promotion to Bavaria's highest league, which was now the tier-three Amateurliga Bayern.
Kulmbach finished its first Bayernliga season in 13th place, three points away from a relegation rank. The club dramatically improved the following season, taking out the league title thanks to an unbeaten run at home. The team then took part in the promotion round to the tier-two 2nd Oberliga Süd
2nd Oberliga Süd
The 2nd Oberliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1950 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
but finished last out of six teams and FC Hanau 93
FC Hanau 93
FC Hanau 93 is a German association football club based in Hanau, Hesse.-Early history:Founded in 1893, the club is Hesse's oldest. In its first year, the club was winless in a half dozen matches, but the next season emerged as south German champion and earned an appearance in a national...
and Bavarian runners-up FC Wacker München earned promotion instead.
The Bavarian league was split into a northern and a southern division from 1953 to 1963 and ATS was grouped in the northern league, where it finished fourth in 1953–54. The club remained a mid-table side until 1957–58, when a 14th place meant relegation to what was now the 2nd Amateurliga Oberfranken (IV).
ATS took until 1960 to recover from this, when it won the eastern division of the Oberfranken league and beat western champions ASV Gaustadt to earn promotion back to the third division.
The club achieved an impressive third place in its first year back in the Amateurliga Bayern but then fell back into the mid-table regions again. In 1963, with the introduction of the Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, the Amateurliga in Bavaria reverted to a single-division format again and ATS, finishing tenth, missed the qualifying requirements clearly.
The club now became part of the new tier-four Landesliga Bayern-Nord
Landesliga Bayern-Nord
The Landesliga Bayern-Nord is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system....
, where the club spent a number of average seasons, escaping further relegation in 1966–67 very narrowly. From there, Kulmbach improved, finishing in the top-five for the next three seasons. In 1971 and 1972, the club declined somewhat but a second place in 1972–73 showed, the club was improving. The year after, it won the league and returned to the Amateurliga.
Kulmbach performed well at this level, improving every season from 1974 to 1977, culminating in a runners-up finish in 1977. The club earned the right to take part in the German amateur football championship
German amateur football championship
The German amateur football championship was a football competition in Germany, existing from 1950 to 2000, organised by the German Football Association, the DFB.-Overview:...
, where it bowed out in the semi-finals to the reserve team of Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
. It also took part in the DFB-Pokal 1975–76
DFB-Pokal 1975–76
The DFB-Pokal 1975–76 was the 33rd season of the competition. It began on 1 August 1975 and ended on 26 June 1976. 128 teams competed in the tournament of seven rounds...
, were it lost to Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen is a German association football club based in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1899 as the football department of the gymnastics club Turn Verein Jahn von 1879 Siegen...
in the first round. ATS continued to enjoy good performances in the Amateurliga, finishing sixth, fifth and fifth. From 1980 onwards, the performance of the club declined and in 1982 it was relegated once more from what was now the Amateur Oberliga Bayern, a league it would not be able to return to.
The club experienced three good Landesliga seasons but then, in 1986, it was relegated again more, to the Bezirksliga. It made a return for one season from this league but then became part of the new Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
The Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken is currently the 7th tier of the German football league system in the Bavarian Regierungsbezirk of Upper Franconia...
. In 1991, it earned promotion for one season from this league again but then did not return to this level until 1998, spending its time in the Bezirksoberliga.
For two seasons, ATS played in the Landesliga once more but, after suffering relegation once again in 2000, the club was unable to return to this level. In 2004, after a number of good years in the Bezirksoberliga, the club had to withdraw from the league.
The clubs development after that remains sketchy, resurfacing in the A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 3 (X) in 2005–06, where it took out the title. After a good result in the Kreisklasse Bayreuth 2 (IX) in 2006–07, it disappeared again, to once more return to the A-Klasse in 2008. ATS managed to reenter a football team into competition in the 2008–09 season after it was unabale to do so in 2007–08.
The clubs name is at times mentioned as one of the foundations of a possible FC Oberfranken, a merger of local Oberfranken powerhouses like ATS, SpVgg Bayern Hof, FC Lichtenfels and FC Kronach. The goal, to bring professional football back to the region, was tried and failed by the SC Weismain and its main sponsor, Alois Dechant, in the past.
Current
In 2008–09, ATS Kulmbach was playing in the A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 4 (XI), winning the league and earning promotion. ATS since plays in the Kreisklasse Bayreuth-Kulmbach 5 as a mid-table side.League
- Amateurliga Bayern (III)
- Champions: 1953
- Landesliga Bayern-NordLandesliga Bayern-NordThe Landesliga Bayern-Nord is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system....
(IV)- Champions: 1974
- Runners-up: 1973
- Oberfranken championship (III-IV)
- Champions: 1948, 1960
- 2nd Amateurliga Oberfranken Ost2nd Amateurliga BayernThe 2nd Amateurliga Bayern was a set of eleven regional leagues in Bavaria existing from 1951 to 1963 as the fourth tier of football in the state....
(IV)- Champions: 1949, 1951
- Bezirksoberliga OberfrankenBezirksoberliga OberfrankenThe Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken is currently the 7th tier of the German football league system in the Bavarian Regierungsbezirk of Upper Franconia...
(V-VI)- Champions: (2) 1991, 1998
- A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 3 (X)
- Champions: 2006
- A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 4 (XI)
- Champions: 2009
Recent seasons
The recent season-by-season performance of the club:| Season | Division | Tier Bavarian football league system The Bavarian football league system of the Bavarian Football Association ranks within the German football league system. Its highest division, the Fussball-Bayernliga, is currently the 5th tier of German football. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the 4th tier of the league system... |
Position |
| 1999–2000 | Landesliga Bayern-Nord Landesliga Bayern-Nord The Landesliga Bayern-Nord is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.... |
V | 16th ↓ |
| 2000–01 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | VI | 8th |
| 2001–02 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 8th | |
| 2002–03 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 4th | |
| 2003–04 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 4th | |
| 2004–05 | did not compete | ||
| 2005–06 | A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 3 | X | 1st ↑ |
| 2006–07 | Kreisklasse Bayreuth 2 | IX | 4th |
| 2007–08 | did not compete | ||
| 2008–09 | A-Klasse Bayreuth/Kulmbach 4 | XI | 1st ↑ |
| 2009–10 | Kreisklasse Bayreuth-Kulmbach 5 | X | 4th |
| 2010–11 | Kreisklasse Bayreuth-Kulmbach 5 | 9th | |
| 2011–12 | Kreisklasse Bayreuth-Kulmbach 5 | ||
- With the introduction of the BezirksoberligasBezirksoberligen BayernThe seven Bezirksoberligas Bayern are the third highest level of the Bavarian football league system, below Oberliga and Landesliga. They are the 7th tier of the German football league system.-Overview:...
in 1988 as the new fifth tier, below the LandesligasLandesliga BayernIn the Bavarian football league system, the Landesliga Bayern is the second hightest level, below the Fußball-Bayernliga and organised in three regional divisions. The current Landesligas were formed in 1963, when the Fußball-Bundesliga was established...
, all leagues below dropped one tier. With the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 and the 3rd Liga3rd LigaThe 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
in 2008 as the new third tier, below the 2nd Bundesliga2. Fußball-Bundesliga- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, all leagues below dropped one tier.
Sources
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897–1988 History of Southern German football in tables, author: Ludolf Hyll
External links
- Official team site
- Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables