VfL Klafeld-Geisweid 08

Football club infobox
clubname = VfL Klafeld-Geisweid


fullname = VfL 08 e. V. Klafeld-Geisweid
nickname = "Sovereigns"
founded = 1908
ground = Hofbachstadion
capacity = 10,000
chairman = flagicon|Germany Ulrich Jochum
manager = flagicon|Germany Matthias Janke
league = Bezirksliga Westfalen-Staffel 6 (VIII)
season = 2007-08
position = 12th
pattern_la1=_black_stripes|pattern_b1=_thinblacksides|pattern_ra1=_black_stripes
leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=FFFFFF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_thinblacksides|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=008B45|body2=008B45|rightarm2=008B45|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

VfL Klafeld-Geisweid 08 is a German football club playing in the Klafeld-Geiswald district of Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia.

History

The club has its roots in the village teams of "SG Sigambria Geisweid", founded in 1908, and "SpVgg Klafeld". In 1927 these two sides merged to form "SpVgg Klafeld-Geisweid". This club was joined by "Turngemeinde Friesen" in 1946 to form "VfL Klafeld-Geisweid". The gymnastics department would separate the following year to become "Turngemeinde Friesen Klafeld-Geisweid 1889".

After World War II in 1946 the footballers began play in the Berzirksliga Siegerland (V) and won promotion to the Landesliga Westfalen (IV) in 1952. They played at that level, with the exception of a single season demotion, until they advanced to the Verbandsliga Westfalen-2 (III) for the first time in 1964. A seventeenth place finish saw the club quickly relegated, but they returned to third tier football in 1967. Just four years later, despite losing the overall division championship 0:1 to "Arminia Gütersloh", the team earned promotion to the second division Regionalliga West for the 1971-72 season, which was the high point of the club's history. The team was well-supported in spite of its poor performance in the Regionalliga, drawing nearly 4,000 spectators a game. Part of the club's success through these years was based on the support of Hans Elbracht, head of the Edelstahlwerke Südwestfalen GmbH steelworks in Geisweid, who made jobs available for the players, a critical contribution in an era of still largely amateur football in Germany.

The side fell quickly after their single season turn in the Regionalliga, through Verbandsliga to the fourth division Landesliga within two years. On October 13, 1974 "VFL" lost a friendly to Bundesliga side "Eintracht Frankfurt" by a score of 0:9.

The club recovered itself and returned to third division play on the stength of a Landesliga title in 1978. "VfL" acquitted itself well finishing in the upper half of the table in five of the next seven seasons before being sent down again in 1984. During this stretch the club made its first German Cup appearances in 1981 and 1982 losing 1:2 to "Rot-Weiß Frankfurt" and 0:4 to "VfB Stuttgart II".

Entering the District League (1985 – today)

The season 1984/85 league-season was the previously last associations for the society. One descended beginning of the '90s's even into the district league. Out of this, one climbed however middle of the 90s undefeated back into the country league. After some positionings in the upper tables third, it protected could establish itself, as the team of the at that time trainer Thomas Lichtenthäler there over longer time, but at the end of the season 1999/00 one climbed sang and toneless with just once 14 points into the district league off.
Based on the bad financial situation of the society, one was no longer able to get real good players and so it was inevitable to fall down From this day on, one focussed on own young players and the success came back One concluded the last three years all in the upper tables third. In the season 2004/05, one became yet vice master after a brilliant back series. One became 2003/04 second of the DFB-cup on circle plain and qualified for the Westenfalenpokal. There one reached the 2nd head round. An own young player Sezgin Karismaz, who stroke actually 90 times, was the winner Westfalenpost. He was goal hunter of the district league Westfalen group.

The society controls today 2 seniors teams, older former players and several youth teams of the A-youth up to the Bambinis. The 1st team plays in the season 2006/07 in the Bezirksliga, the 2nd senior team in the Kreisliga

Stadium

The club plays is home matches in the Hofbachstadion which has a capacity of 10,000 spectators making it the second largest stadium facility in Siegen. It is also one of only two natural grass football pitches in the city.

During their Regionalliga season in 1971-72 the team played in the Leimbachstadion which was at the time the home stadium of their largest rival Sportfreunde Siegen.

Regional League Team 1971/72

Trivia

* For the past 27 years the club has printed a free programme for each home game which includes team photos, a profile of their opponent, youth department reports, and an introduction by senior chairperson and programme editor Ulrich Jochum.
* In the 70s "VfL" played against the first team of rival Sportfreunde Siegen, against the second team side in the 90s, and the third team in the in 2002-04.

External links

* [http://abseits-soccer.com/clubs/klafeld.html The Abseits Guide to German Soccer]
* [http://www.toor.de/art/artikel.php?id=328 Results of the Regional League Season 1971/72]
* [http://www.toor.de/art/artikel.php?id=329 Final Table of the Regional League Season 1971/72]
* [http://www.klafeld-geisweid-online.de.vu/ fan page of the VfL Klafeld with large tables archive]
* [http://www.klafeldgeisweid-d1.de.vu/ Homepage of Youth Team]
* [http://www.sporttabellen.westfalenpost.de/wp/wp.sporttabellen.ergebnis.php?id=f04200&x=0&y=0 Current Results and Table of the District League of Westfalen Group 6]