Alemannia Wacker Berlin
Encyclopedia
BFC Alemannia 90 Wacker is a German football club
based in northern Berlin
. Today's club has its origins in the predecessor sides BFC 90 Alemannia and SC Wacker 04 Berlin.
which, alongside football and rugby
, were English sports becoming popular in continental Europe at the time. A football department quickly developed, and the team played in Berlin's earliest leagues, becoming one of the founding clubs
of the DFB (German Football Association
) in Leipzig
in 1900.
From 1903 to 1911 the team played in the Märkischer Fußball-Bund
where they captured league titles in 1905 and 1907. Through the 1920s Allemannia played in the first division Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg
, winning the division in 1924 by defeating Norden-Nordwest Berlin
, and then losing their defence of their title to Hertha BSC the following year. The club advanced to the German championship rounds in both seasons, only to be put out in the early going. By 1929 their performance had slipped, and they were relegated.
In 1933, Allemannia became Alemannia. They did not qualify to play in the new first division Gauligen formed that year in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich and remained out of top-flight competition for the duration of World War II. After the war, occupying Allied authorities ordered most organizations in the country disbanded, including sports and football clubs. The formation of new clubs was permitted late in 1945, and the membership of Alemannia was re-organized as SG Prenzlauer Berg West. This team appeared in the new Oberliga Berlin (I) and by 1947–48 was once again playing as Alemannia 90 Berlin. They played out their turn in the first division as a mid-table side until relegated in 1956, followed by a single season re-appearance that ended in a last-place finish in 1957–58. The club slipped briefly to fourth division play before playing in the Regionalliga Berlin (II) and Amateurliga Berlin (III) from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. By the time of their merger with Wacker in 1994, Alemannia had fallen to the fifth tier Landesliga Berlin
.
(I) following the reorganization of German football under the Third Reich in 1933, but were immediately relegated. They returned after a single season absence, were sent down for the 1939–40 season, and after again being promoted in 1940, played in the first division until the end of the war.
Through the 1930s Wacker made a number of cup appearances. They were beaten 6–0 by Tennis Borussia Berlin
in the final of the Berliner Landespokal in 1931 and made three appearances in the Tschammerspokal, predecessor to today's DFB-Pokal
, with their best turn coming in 1935 when they advanced to the third round by defeating Altona Hamburg and Victoria Hamburg
before being eliminated by SV Werder Bremen
.
After the end of the war in 1945, Wacker resumed first division play in the Oberliga Berlin, initially as SG Reickendorf-West, but were sent down after a last place finish in 1956. They returned to the Oberliga a season later and stayed in first division football until the 1963 formation of the Bundesliga
, Germany's new professional league. Wacker went on to play second tier football in the Regionalliga Berlin and the 2. Bundesliga Nord
where they did quite well on the field despite limited resources. Through the early 1970s the club earned three second and one first place Regionalliga finishes. The club's experience in the 2.Bundesliga in the middle of the decade was more difficult, finally leading to their relegation to the Amateurliga Berlin (III) in 1977. After one more season in the 2. Bundesliga Nord, Wacker slipped to third and fourth division play where they toiled for a decade and a half before finally going bankrupt in 1994.
as a mid-table side until its relegation in 2008. They currently play in the Landesliga Berlin
(VII).
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...
based in northern Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Today's club has its origins in the predecessor sides BFC 90 Alemannia and SC Wacker 04 Berlin.
Alemannia 90 Berlin
Berliner Thor- und Fussball Club Alemannia was founded early in 1890 as SV Jugendlust 1890 Berlin before becoming BTuFC in February. They were also briefly partnered with Tambour-Verein Wanderlust that year. Sometime in the 1890s they adopted the name BFC Allemannia 90 Berlin. Initially the club played cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
which, alongside football and rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, were English sports becoming popular in continental Europe at the time. A football department quickly developed, and the team played in Berlin's earliest leagues, becoming one of the founding clubs
Founding Clubs of the DFB
The DFB was formed January 28, 1900 in Leipzig. The commonly accepted number of founding clubs represented at the inaugural meeting is 86, but this number is uncertain. The vote held to establish the association was 62:22 in favour . Some delegates present represented more than one club, but may...
of the DFB (German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
) in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
in 1900.
From 1903 to 1911 the team played in the Märkischer Fußball-Bund
Brandenburg football championship
The Brandenburg football championship was the highest association football competition in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, including Berlin, established in 1898...
where they captured league titles in 1905 and 1907. Through the 1920s Allemannia played in the first division Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg
Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg
The Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg was the highest association football competition in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, including Berlin, from 1923 to 1933...
, winning the division in 1924 by defeating Norden-Nordwest Berlin
Norden-Nordwest Berlin
SV Norden-Nordwest is a German association football club from Berlin. It was established as Berliner Fußball Club des Nordens on 16 October 1898 and in 1906 merged with Berliner Fußball Club Norden-West, also established in 1898, to play as FC Norden-Nordwest Berlin...
, and then losing their defence of their title to Hertha BSC the following year. The club advanced to the German championship rounds in both seasons, only to be put out in the early going. By 1929 their performance had slipped, and they were relegated.
In 1933, Allemannia became Alemannia. They did not qualify to play in the new first division Gauligen formed that year in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich and remained out of top-flight competition for the duration of World War II. After the war, occupying Allied authorities ordered most organizations in the country disbanded, including sports and football clubs. The formation of new clubs was permitted late in 1945, and the membership of Alemannia was re-organized as SG Prenzlauer Berg West. This team appeared in the new Oberliga Berlin (I) and by 1947–48 was once again playing as Alemannia 90 Berlin. They played out their turn in the first division as a mid-table side until relegated in 1956, followed by a single season re-appearance that ended in a last-place finish in 1957–58. The club slipped briefly to fourth division play before playing in the Regionalliga Berlin (II) and Amateurliga Berlin (III) from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. By the time of their merger with Wacker in 1994, Alemannia had fallen to the fifth tier Landesliga Berlin
Landesliga
The Landesliga is the 7th tier of football in most of Germany, one division below the Verbandsliga. In Bavaria, Sachsen, Thüringen, Bremen, Lower Saxony and Hamburg the Landesligas are set right below the Oberliga and therefore are the 6th tier...
.
SC Wacker 04 Berlin
Wacker was founded 25 July 1904 as Reinickendorfer FC West and in 1908 merged with Tegeler FC Hohenzollern 1905 to form SC Wacker 04 Tegel. Like Alemannia, the club played in the top-flight Oberliga Berlin through the 1920s, remaining a solid mid-table side throughout the years, never claiming a title of their own, but also never being relegated. Wacker remained in the top-flight, joining the Gauliga Berlin-BrandenburgGauliga Berlin-Brandenburg
The Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg was the highest football league in the provinces of Brandenburg and Berlin in the German state of Prussia from 1933 to 1945...
(I) following the reorganization of German football under the Third Reich in 1933, but were immediately relegated. They returned after a single season absence, were sent down for the 1939–40 season, and after again being promoted in 1940, played in the first division until the end of the war.
Through the 1930s Wacker made a number of cup appearances. They were beaten 6–0 by Tennis Borussia Berlin
Tennis Borussia Berlin
Tennis Borussia Berlin is a German football club based in Berlin-Westend.- History :The team was founded in 1902 and takes its name from its origins as a tennis and ping-pong club. "Borussia" is a Latinised version of Prussia. In 1903 the club took up football and quickly developed a rivalry with...
in the final of the Berliner Landespokal in 1931 and made three appearances in the Tschammerspokal, predecessor to today's DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
, with their best turn coming in 1935 when they advanced to the third round by defeating Altona Hamburg and Victoria Hamburg
SC Victoria Hamburg
SC Victoria Hamburg is a German association football club from the city of Hamburg. The football team is part of a larger sports club that has departments for badminton, handball, hockey, athletics, tennis, table tennis , gymnastics, baseball , and softball .-History:The club was founded 5 May 1895...
before being eliminated by SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen
SV Werder Bremen is a German sports club best known for its association football team playing in Bremen, in the northwest German federal state of the same name. The club was founded on 4 February 1899 as Fußballverein Werder by a group of sixteen vocational high school students who had won a prize...
.
After the end of the war in 1945, Wacker resumed first division play in the Oberliga Berlin, initially as SG Reickendorf-West, but were sent down after a last place finish in 1956. They returned to the Oberliga a season later and stayed in first division football until the 1963 formation of the 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...
, Germany's new professional league. Wacker went on to play second tier football in the Regionalliga Berlin and the 2. Bundesliga Nord
2. 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...
where they did quite well on the field despite limited resources. Through the early 1970s the club earned three second and one first place Regionalliga finishes. The club's experience in the 2.Bundesliga in the middle of the decade was more difficult, finally leading to their relegation to the Amateurliga Berlin (III) in 1977. After one more season in the 2. Bundesliga Nord, Wacker slipped to third and fourth division play where they toiled for a decade and a half before finally going bankrupt in 1994.
Fusion in 1994
Wacker's financial collapse saw many of the club's members join Alemannia, leading to the formation of Alemannia-Wacker Berlin. The newly combined side played in the Landesliga Berlin (V) and enjoyed a brief surge of success, moving from the lower half of the table to two consecutive second place finishes. However BFC has since faded but continued to play in the Verbandsliga BerlinVerbandsliga Berlin
The Berlin-Liga is the highest league for football teams exclusively in the German capital. Since German reunification in 1990, it is the highest level of domestic football in Berlin, replacing the Oberliga Berlin in this position...
as a mid-table side until its relegation in 2008. They currently play in the Landesliga Berlin
Landesliga
The Landesliga is the 7th tier of football in most of Germany, one division below the Verbandsliga. In Bavaria, Sachsen, Thüringen, Bremen, Lower Saxony and Hamburg the Landesligas are set right below the Oberliga and therefore are the 6th tier...
(VII).
Trivia
- Thorball or Torball was a German word in use in the 1890s and early 1900s for the sport of cricket. Several early clubs playing the new "English" games of football, rugby, and cricket incorporated it into their name. The term never caught on and did not enter into common usage, soon being abandoned by sports clubs. Today torball may be used to refer to a form of football played by the blind or vision-impaired.