SV 1919 Bernbach

Football club infobox
clubname = SV 1919 Bernbach


fullname = Sportverein 1919 Bernbach e.V.
nickname =
founded = 1 September 1919
ground = Stadion an der Birkenhainer Straße
capacity =
chairman = Thomas Börner, Jörg Franz, Freddy Giera, Hans Schilling
manager = Marco Roth
league =
season = 2007-08
position = Landesliga Hessen-Süd (V), 17th (relegated)
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leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=ffffff|body2=ffffff|rightarm2=ffffff|shorts2=ffffff|socks2=ffffff

SV 1919 Bernbach is a German football club in Bernbach, a village in Freigericht, Hesse. The club was founded in the autumn of 1919 as "Fußballclub Germania Bernbach". The club suspended its activities with the onset of World War II and after the conflict was re-established as "Sportgemeinde Bernbach" out of which came "Sportverein 1919 Bernbach" in 1954. [Grüne, Hardy (2001). Vereinslexikon. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag ISBN 3-89784-147-9]

After many years in lower tier football the team first ascended to the Landesliga Hessen-Süd (V) in 1990 on the strength of a Berzirksliga Frankfurt/Ost championship. They finished in second place in their debut Landesliga season and the capture of a division title in 1995 advanced the club to the Oberliga Hessen (IV). "Bernbach" earned a vice-championship there in 1998 and took part in promotion playoff for the Regionalliga Süd (III), but missed advancing when they finished second to "SC Pfullendorf". [* [http://www.f-archiv.de/ Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv] historical German domestic league tables (in German)]

The club soon ran into financial difficulty and by 2001 were facing bankruptcy. They were initially refused a license for Oberliga play and faced relegation, but after long negotiation and the adoption of a tight budget were able to stay up. "Bernbach" was eventually relegated after a poor result in 2005, and has since become an elevator club moving frequently between fourth and fifth tier competition. After re-claiming a place in the Oberliga in 2006-07, "SV" finished in 14th place and were again relegated to play in the Landesliga Hessen (V).

"SV Bernbach" is notable as having been one of the ten smallest clubs in the country playing at the Oberliga level.

Honours

*Bezirksoberliga Frankfurt/Ost champions: 1990
*Landesliga Hessen-Süd champions: 1995, 2006

External links

* [http://www.sv-bernbach.de Official team site]
* [http://www.eufo.de/football/ger/2006/sv_bbach.htm eufo.de] European club profiles and current rosters

References