TuS Celle FC
Encyclopedia
TuS Celle FC is a German association football club
based in Celle
, Lower Saxony
. The club is currently a member of the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
, the sixth tier of German football. Home matches are played at the Günther-Volker-Stadion.
as part of the process of denazification
, and the worker's club Freie Turnschaft Celle, established in 1899, and shut down under the Nazis in 1933 like other left-leaning or faith-based clubs as politically undesireable.
From 1949 until 1962, the club played in the Amateurliga Niedersachsen-Ost (III), before switching to the western division. In 1964, the two leagues were unified as the Amateurliga Niedersachsen
, then the third tier. They were promoted to the Regionalliga Nord
(II) in 1968. They finished 15th, one place clear of relegation in their first season, but consolidated to finish eleventh and then tenth twice between 1970 and 1972. However, in the 1972–73 season they finished 17th, and were sent back to the Amateurliga. In 1980–81 they won the division, but were not promoted as they lost in the play-offs.
After winning the Verbandsliga again (the renamed Amateurliga) in 1990, the club was promoted to the Oberliga Nord
(IV). In 1992, the footballers became independent of parent club TuS Celle, and added the suffix FC to distinguish themselves.
When the Regionalliga Nord
(III) was re-established in 1994, TuS were amongst the founder clubs. They finished third in 1995–96, and twice finished sixth. In 1996, the club recorded its record attendance of 13,500 for a game against Bayern Munich
. When the Regionalligen were reduced from four to two in 2000, TuS were sent down to the Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen
. They were relegated again to the Verbandsliga
in 2002 after finishing bottom of the division. They slipped to Landesliga play in 2003, but returned to the Verbandsliga immediately after winning the league. At the end of the 2009 season the club were relegated to the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
(VI).
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 Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. The club is currently a member of the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
The Landesliga Lüneburg, called the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
, the sixth tier of German football. Home matches are played at the Günther-Volker-Stadion.
History
The club was established on 23 August 1945 through the merger of SpVgg Celle 1921, which, like sports and football clubs across the country, was dissolved by occupying Allied authorities following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as part of the process of denazification
Denazification
Denazification was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of any remnants of the National Socialist ideology. It was carried out specifically by removing those involved from positions of influence and by disbanding or rendering...
, and the worker's club Freie Turnschaft Celle, established in 1899, and shut down under the Nazis in 1933 like other left-leaning or faith-based clubs as politically undesireable.
From 1949 until 1962, the club played in the Amateurliga Niedersachsen-Ost (III), before switching to the western division. In 1964, the two leagues were unified as the Amateurliga Niedersachsen
Oberliga Niedersachsen
The Niedersachsenliga, sometimes referred to as Oberliga Niedersachsen, is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony . Since 1994, the league was split into a western and an eastern group. From 2010, it returned to a...
, then the third tier. They were promoted to the Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nord (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Nord was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the north of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
(II) in 1968. They finished 15th, one place clear of relegation in their first season, but consolidated to finish eleventh and then tenth twice between 1970 and 1972. However, in the 1972–73 season they finished 17th, and were sent back to the Amateurliga. In 1980–81 they won the division, but were not promoted as they lost in the play-offs.
After winning the Verbandsliga again (the renamed Amateurliga) in 1990, the club was promoted to the Oberliga Nord
Oberliga Nord
The Oberliga Nord was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany. It covered the states of Niedersachsen, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein...
(IV). In 1992, the footballers became independent of parent club TuS Celle, and added the suffix FC to distinguish themselves.
When the Regionalliga Nord
Regionalliga Nord
The Regionalliga Nord is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the northern and eastern part of Germany. It covers ten of the sixteen states of Germany...
(III) was re-established in 1994, TuS were amongst the founder clubs. They finished third in 1995–96, and twice finished sixth. In 1996, the club recorded its record attendance of 13,500 for a game against Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. When the Regionalligen were reduced from four to two in 2000, TuS were sent down to the Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen
Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen
The Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany, existing from 1994 to 2004. It covered the states of Lower Saxony and Bremen...
. They were relegated again to the Verbandsliga
Oberliga Niedersachsen
The Niedersachsenliga, sometimes referred to as Oberliga Niedersachsen, is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony . Since 1994, the league was split into a western and an eastern group. From 2010, it returned to a...
in 2002 after finishing bottom of the division. They slipped to Landesliga play in 2003, but returned to the Verbandsliga immediately after winning the league. At the end of the 2009 season the club were relegated to the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg
The Landesliga Lüneburg, called the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg until 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony...
(VI).
Honours
- Verbandsliga NiedersachsenOberliga NiedersachsenThe Niedersachsenliga, sometimes referred to as Oberliga Niedersachsen, is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony . Since 1994, the league was split into a western and an eastern group. From 2010, it returned to a...
- Champions 1980–81, 1989–90
- Landesliga Lüneburg
- Champions 2003–04