FC Hanau 93
Encyclopedia
FC Hanau 93 is a German association football club
based in Hanau
, Hesse
.
of the German Football Association
formed in 1900.
In those early days of German football Hanau laid a 23–1 drubbing on a hopelessly green Kickers Offenbach
side. The club managed a series of unsuccessful appearances in the local league final between 1902 and 1905 and were "robbed" of a title through bureaucratic machinations in 1907, before finally taking the local title in 1909. It became a founding member of the Nordkreis-Liga
in 1909, where it played until the outbreak of the war. After the First World War, the club played in the Kreisliga Nordmain
without any real success. In 1926, Hanau found itself in a legal squabble with FSV Frankfurt
and the league that led to its exclusion from play for a short time. Through the late 1920s and into the 30s the team played in the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen
of the Süddeutschland Verband.
, under the Third Reich in 1933. Playing in the Gauliga Hessen
Hanau captured three more regional titles in the late 30s (1935, 1936, 1938) and advanced to the quarter finals of the inauguaral Tschammerpokal, predecessor of today's DFB-Pokal
, in 1935. The Gauliga Hessen was broken up into two divisions in 1941 with the club going to the Gauliga Hessen-Nassau where they played consistently good football until the collapse of football leagues in Germany at the end of World War II. In spite of their play they were not granted entry to the local upper tier leagues once re-established after the war, being bypassed for clubs from larger towns, and losing their ground to the American military.
. After a 17th place finish, they returned to the Oberliga Hessen (III) where they played until 1987. The club had a brush with financial failure in the mid 90s that included the loss of their grounds, and considered a merger with Progres Frankfurt. They were able to recover themselves and today Hanau plays in Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost (VII) with a renewed focus on its youth teams.
. BFC Viktoria 1889 and Hanau were scheduled to contest the country's championship in Berlin, but Hanau could not afford to make the trip and so forfeited the match, leaving Viktoria national football champions. In 2007 (113 years later) the final was finally played after enthusiastic support from the President of the German Football Federation (DFB), Theo Zwanziger
. The first leg was won by Viktoria 3–0 and the second leg on 28 July ended as a draw at 1–1. The final was played with the heavy leather balls used in the late 19th century.
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 Hanau
Hanau
Hanau is a town in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany. It is located 25 km east of Frankfurt am Main. Its station is a major railway junction.- Geography :...
, Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
.
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 championship match. Hanau was one of the founding clubsFounding 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 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...
formed in 1900.
In those early days of German football Hanau laid a 23–1 drubbing on a hopelessly green Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach
Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun...
side. The club managed a series of unsuccessful appearances in the local league final between 1902 and 1905 and were "robbed" of a title through bureaucratic machinations in 1907, before finally taking the local title in 1909. It became a founding member of the Nordkreis-Liga
Nordkreis-Liga
The Nordkreis-Liga was the highest association football league in the German Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1909 to 1918...
in 1909, where it played until the outbreak of the war. After the First World War, the club played in the Kreisliga Nordmain
Kreisliga Nordmain
The Kreisliga Nordmain was the highest association football league in parts of the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1919 to 1923...
without any real success. In 1926, Hanau found itself in a legal squabble with FSV Frankfurt
FSV Frankfurt
FSV Frankfurt is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hesse and founded in 1899. The club plays in the shadow of larger and much more successful Eintracht Frankfurt, which has recently returned to 2nd tier football...
and the league that led to its exclusion from play for a short time. Through the late 1920s and into the 30s the team played in the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen
Bezirksliga Main-Hessen
The Bezirksliga Main-Hessen was the highest association football league in the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1927 to 1933...
of the Süddeutschland Verband.
Play under the Third Reich
German football was reorganized into sixteen top-flight divisions, or GauligenGauliga
A Gauliga was the highest level of play in German football from 1934-45. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the Sports office of the Third Reich.-Name:...
, under the Third Reich in 1933. Playing in the Gauliga Hessen
Gauliga Hessen
The Gauliga Hessen was the highest football league in the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1933 to 1945. From 1941, it was renamed Gauliga Kurhessen...
Hanau captured three more regional titles in the late 30s (1935, 1936, 1938) and advanced to the quarter finals of the inauguaral Tschammerpokal, predecessor of 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...
, in 1935. The Gauliga Hessen was broken up into two divisions in 1941 with the club going to the Gauliga Hessen-Nassau where they played consistently good football until the collapse of football leagues in Germany at the end of World War II. In spite of their play they were not granted entry to the local upper tier leagues once re-established after the war, being bypassed for clubs from larger towns, and losing their ground to the American military.
Post war football
However, the club pressed on, playing in improvised uniforms on temporary grounds. Through the next two decades they bounced up and down between what was then second and third division play in Hesse. Their play improved enough to earn the side regular appearances in the Oberliga Hessen (III) through the late 60s and into the 70s, and in 1978–79 they enjoyed the adventure of a break through into the 2nd Bundesliga Süd2nd Bundesliga Süd (1974-81)
The 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1974 until the formation of the single-division 2. Fußball-Bundesliga in 1981...
. After a 17th place finish, they returned to the Oberliga Hessen (III) where they played until 1987. The club had a brush with financial failure in the mid 90s that included the loss of their grounds, and considered a merger with Progres Frankfurt. They were able to recover themselves and today Hanau plays in Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost (VII) with a renewed focus on its youth teams.
National Championship Final (1894/2007)
In 1894 the club qualified for the national championship final organised by the Deutscher Fußball- und Cricketbund (German Football and Cricket Association), a predecessor of the German Football AssociationGerman 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...
. BFC Viktoria 1889 and Hanau were scheduled to contest the country's championship in Berlin, but Hanau could not afford to make the trip and so forfeited the match, leaving Viktoria national football champions. In 2007 (113 years later) the final was finally played after enthusiastic support from the President of the German Football Federation (DFB), Theo Zwanziger
Theo Zwanziger
Dr. Theo Zwanziger is a German lawyer and sports official. He is the current president of the German Football Association . For his contributions to German football, he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 2005.- Career :...
. The first leg was won by Viktoria 3–0 and the second leg on 28 July ended as a draw at 1–1. The final was played with the heavy leather balls used in the late 19th century.
Honours
- Nordkreis-LigaNordkreis-LigaThe Nordkreis-Liga was the highest association football league in the German Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1909 to 1918...
(I) champions: 1916 - Gauliga HessenGauliga HessenThe Gauliga Hessen was the highest football league in the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1933 to 1945. From 1941, it was renamed Gauliga Kurhessen...
(I) champions: 1935, 1936, 1938 - Oberliga Hessen champions: 1953, 1961, 1978
- Landesliga Hessen-Süd champions: 1973, 1976
- Hesse CupHesse CupThe Hesse Cup is one of the 21 regional cup competitions of German football. The winner of the competition gains entry to the first round of the German Cup.-History:...
winners: 1950, 1978
Recent seasons
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1999–2000 | Kreisliga A Hanau (VIII) | 1st ↑ |
| 2000–01 | Bezirksliga Hanau (VII) | 5th |
| 2001–02 | Bezirksliga Hanau | 4th |
| 2002–03 | Bezirksliga Hanau | 1st ↑ |
| 2003–04 | Bezirksoberliga Frankfurt-Ost (VI) | 4th |
| 2004–05 | Bezirksoberliga Frankfurt-Ost | 5th |
| 2005–06 | Bezirksoberliga Frankfurt-Ost | 18th ↓ |
| 2006–07 | Bezirksliga Hanau (VII) | 3rd |
| 2007–08 | Bezirksliga Hanau | 2nd ↑ |
| 2008–09 | Gruppenliga Frankfurt Ost (VII) | 15th ↓ |
| 2009–10 | Kreisoberliga (VIII) | 1st ↑ |