SC Opel Rüsselsheim
Encyclopedia
The SC Opel Rüsselsheim is a German association football club
from the city of Rüsselsheim
, Hesse.
Apart from its association with the company Opel
, the club achieved notability by playing in Germany's second division
from 1965 to 1972.
In 1932, the club took out its first local second-division championship, beating FSV Mainz 05 but it took until 1935 to earn promotion to the first division in the region, the Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen
. SC Opel spent five seasons in this league until the collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945, mostly as an elevator team.
After the end of the Second World War, the club became part of the tier-two Landesliga Hessen, which was then staged in two regional groups. Upon the merger of the two leagues into one in 1947, the club had to step down one level. SC OPEL managed to return to Hesses highest league, which was now the tier-three Amateurliga Hessen, in 1950. The club stayed at this level until 1954, when it was relegated once more.
After a decade in the lower levels of amateur football, the club experienced a revival in 1964, earning promotion back to the Amateurliga. In this league, it won the championship convincingly, beating second placed Westend Frankfurt by eleven points. The champions of Hesse, alongside the Bavarian champions, were directly promoted to the Regionalliga Süd, one of Germany's regional second division below the Fußball-Bundesliga
at this stage. The club also qualified for the DFB-Pokal 1965–66
where it lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach
1–5 in a qualification round. The club was then mostly listed as SC Rüsselsheim as it was seen as illegal advertising to carry a sponsors name in its title.
Despite support from Opel, the club was always financially struggling at this level, never drawing sufficient attendances for this level of play. A tenth place in the first of seven second-division seasons remained the best result archived in this era. In 1972, relegation ended the clubs time in the Regionalliga and almost also its existence; in debt with DM 500,000, the club was only saved from folding by an administrative error when applying for insolvency. The club played a good Amateurliga season in 1972–73 nevertheless, finishing third, but was relegated the year after.
SC Opel spent its next couple of season's stabilising its finances but declined rapidly on the field, dropping to the lower amateur levels. In the late 1980's, another attempt was made to rise through the ranks and in 1989, the Bezirksoberliga, the fifth tier, was reached but another financial collapse was only narrowly avoided.
In the new millennium, the club has stabilised itself financially as well as on the field, spending its time in the tier-seven Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West.
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 Rüsselsheim
Rüsselsheim
Rüsselsheim is the largest town in the Groß-Gerau district in the Rhein-Main region of Germany. It is one of seven special status towns in Hesse and is located on the Main, only a few kilometres from its mouth in Mainz. The suburbs of Bauschheim and Königstädten are included in Rüsselsheim...
, Hesse.
Apart from its association with the company Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
, the club achieved notability by playing in Germany's second division
Regionalliga Süd (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system. It existed in the south of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974. It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen....
from 1965 to 1972.
History
The club was formed on 12 August 1906 as SC Borussia 06 Rüsselsheim. In the 1920's, the club merged with a local gymnastics club, the Turngesellschaft and took its current name in reference to the fact that many of its members were employed at the local Opel factory. However, the club was never directly connected with or dependent on the company.In 1932, the club took out its first local second-division championship, beating FSV Mainz 05 but it took until 1935 to earn promotion to the first division in the region, the Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen
Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen
The Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen was the highest football league in the German state of Hesse,the Bavarian province of Palatinate, the Saarland and some parts of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1933 to 1941. From 1941, it also included parts of the occupied French region of Lorraine...
. SC Opel spent five seasons in this league until the collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945, mostly as an elevator team.
After the end of the Second World War, the club became part of the tier-two Landesliga Hessen, which was then staged in two regional groups. Upon the merger of the two leagues into one in 1947, the club had to step down one level. SC OPEL managed to return to Hesses highest league, which was now the tier-three Amateurliga Hessen, in 1950. The club stayed at this level until 1954, when it was relegated once more.
After a decade in the lower levels of amateur football, the club experienced a revival in 1964, earning promotion back to the Amateurliga. In this league, it won the championship convincingly, beating second placed Westend Frankfurt by eleven points. The champions of Hesse, alongside the Bavarian champions, were directly promoted to the Regionalliga Süd, one of Germany's regional second division below 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...
at this stage. The club also qualified for the DFB-Pokal 1965–66
DFB-Pokal 1965–66
The DFB-Pokal 1966 was the 23rd season of the competition. It began on 22 January 1966 and ended on 4 June 1966. 32 teams competed in the tournament of five rounds...
where it lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
1–5 in a qualification round. The club was then mostly listed as SC Rüsselsheim as it was seen as illegal advertising to carry a sponsors name in its title.
Despite support from Opel, the club was always financially struggling at this level, never drawing sufficient attendances for this level of play. A tenth place in the first of seven second-division seasons remained the best result archived in this era. In 1972, relegation ended the clubs time in the Regionalliga and almost also its existence; in debt with DM 500,000, the club was only saved from folding by an administrative error when applying for insolvency. The club played a good Amateurliga season in 1972–73 nevertheless, finishing third, but was relegated the year after.
SC Opel spent its next couple of season's stabilising its finances but declined rapidly on the field, dropping to the lower amateur levels. In the late 1980's, another attempt was made to rise through the ranks and in 1989, the Bezirksoberliga, the fifth tier, was reached but another financial collapse was only narrowly avoided.
In the new millennium, the club has stabilised itself financially as well as on the field, spending its time in the tier-seven Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West.
Current
In 2008–09, the club played in the Kreisoberliga, the former Bezirksliga, Darmstadt-West (VIII). In this season, SC Opel was struggling against relegation, finishing just above the relegation ranks.Recent seasons
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1999–2000 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West (VII) | |
| 2000–01 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | |
| 2001–02 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | |
| 2002–03 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | |
| 2003–04 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | |
| 2004–05 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | 6th |
| 2005–06 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | 9th |
| 2006–07 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | 14th |
| 2007–08 | Bezirksliga Darmstadt-West | 10th |
| 2008–09 | Kreisoberliga Darmstadt-West (VIII) | 14th |
| 2009–10 | Kreisoberliga Darmstadt-West |
Sources
- Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897–1988 History of Southern German football in tables, author: Ludolf Hyll
- 50 Jahre Fussball in Nord-Baden 1945–99 50 Years of football in North Baden, author: Ludolf Hyll & Dieter Zimmermann