VfB Leipzig - Lok Leipzig

GERMAN CHAMPION 1903, 1906, 1913
GERMAN CUP 1936

Founded in 1893, Leipzig has about 950 members divided into Soccer, Women's handball and...chess. Very civilized, although the Germans are the only folks I know that play serious chess and drink beer at the same time. The club itself is a "traditional" one, based on early success and large fan support.

Actually, the roots for the club go back to 1845, when a gymnastics club was founded. The soccer section became independent in 1896.

VfB won the first official German championship in 1903. They defeated DFC Prague 7-2 easily. Ironically, Prague had made it to the title match by "winning" questionable forfeits, but was no match for the Saxon wizards. Led by the Friedrich and Riso brothers, VfB would win the "Viktoria" again in 1906 and 1913. Adalbert Friedrich appeared in all the endround matches in the pre-WWI period.

During the Weimar Republic, success was not as forthcoming. The only success was a 0-1 loss in the final in 1922 to Guts-Muts Dresden. The Nazi period also saw no outstanding results, as VfB finished near the top almost every year in the Gauliga Sachsen, but failed to win the title.

After the war, the members formed SG Probstheida to get things going again. By 1955, the club had been merged in SC Rotation Leipzig. Results in the DDR-Oberliga were mediocre for the most part through the 1950s.

In 1965, with the reorganization of GDR soccer, the club became known as 1.FC Lokomotive Leipzig. (Not to be confused with SC Lokomotive Leipzig, as rivals Chemie/Sachsen was known 1955-63). With the exception of one year (1969), when the club went down, Lokomotive did reasonably well in the DDR-Oberliga. Although they never won the title, they were almost always in the top 5.

The first year of reunification started off poorly, as Lokomotive could only finish 7th in the eastern Oberliga, but they surprised by winning the qualification and gaining promotion to the 2.Bundelisga-Süd. At this time, the members attempted to reclaim the old glory, and the club reverted to the name VfB Leipzig. Success was soon forthcoming, as in 1993 VfB finished 3rd in the new combined Zweite Liga, and gained promotion to the Bundesliga. The season was not successful, finishing dead last. The only minor plus was that attendance averaged around 10,000, which marked a high in post-reunification.

VfB put together a decent 98-99 camapaign, but have to be disappointed that the goal of champions was not achieved. However, what followed was even worse: VfB failed to make the cut in the crucial "combined Regionallaiga" qualifying year, and to rub salt in the wounds, crosstown rivals Sachsen did qualify. For the first time in recent memory, VfB was the lower Leipzig club. Critical points were lost as fan pitch invasions resulted in forfeits. But perhaps they should count their blessings, as the club was on the verge of bankruptcy, and only a last minute stay of execution allowed VfB to survive.

However, in 2004, the luck, and more importantly, the money, ran out. Despite struggling in desperation to raise cash, the club was declared insolvent and went into administration. The results in the Oberliga Nordost/Süd would be annulled, and VfB would be forcibly relegated. All players would be released from their contracts, although a few first teamers decided to stay for honorium of 165 euros a month. The hope was a drop to the 5th division (Landesliga), assuming the court appointed administrator was able to get things straightened. Alas, things didn't work out. A new club was formed, taking the old name 1.FC Lokomotive Leipzig, and was seeded down to the 10th division. Still, there was a lot of interest, as they drew 12,500 fans for a 10th division match, a 8-0 win against Eintracht Großdeuben II. Not surprisingly, the new Lok Leipzig proved too powerful for the lower divisions, and immeidately started climbing the league ladder with both hands.

Fullname Verein für Bewegungsspiele Leipzig e.V.
City Leipzig (Sachsen). Pop: 493,000 (2002)
Address Connewitzer Straße 21, 04289 Leipzig.
Phone: (0341) 86 99 90

Colors Blue shirt with white trim, blue shorts and socks.

Nickname

Stadium Bruno-Plache-Stadion. Capacity 13,000 (2,800 seats).
Occasionally, some big matches are played in Leipzig's massive Zentralstadion, which held approx. 100,000 during GDR days. In 2004, a complete refurbishment modernized the facility, limiting attendance to 45,000.

Tickets

Supporters Pretty much normal. Best environment is a match (including indoor tournaments) against Sachsen Leipzig.
Friends Long time standing with Wuppertaler SV, hooray!

Foes Sachsen Leipzig. This is a fierce rivalry that goes back to GDR days, and the city is pretty much split down the middle.

Heroes 26 GDR internationals. Among the more famous are Henning Frenzel (56 caps), who played for both Leipzig teams. Ronald Kreer is the record holder, with 65 caps in the 1980s. Olaf Marschall (4 GDR caps) went on to play for the DFB squad after 1989. Torsten Kracht capped twice through 1990, stayed with the team in bankruptcy of 2004.
Zeroes

Beer Reudnitzer, from the local brewery.
Grub and Pub

The Net The official site is www.lok-leipzig.com

Recent History:
--------------

		1.FC Lokomotiv Leipzig

1965-66	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1966-67	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1967-68	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1968-69	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		14th
1969-70	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. Sud	1st
1970-71	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		10th
1971-72	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		8th
1972-73	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		4th
1973-74	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1974-75	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		8th
1975-76	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		4th
1976-77	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1977-78	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		4th
1978-79	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1979-80	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		6th
1980-81	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		6th
1981-82	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1982-83	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		4th
1983-84	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1984-85	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1985-86	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1986-87	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		3rd
1987-88	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		2nd
1988-89	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		5th
1989-90	(*)	DDR-Oberliga		8th
1990-91	(*)	NOFV Oberliga Nordost	7th

		VfB Leipzig

1991-92	(II)	2.Bundesliga		7th
1992-93	(II)	2.Bundesliga		3rd
1993-94	(I)	Bundesliga		18th
1994-95	(II)	2.Bundesliga		13th
1995-96	(II)	2.Bundesliga		9th
1996-97	(II)	2.Bundesliga		8th
1997-98	(II)	2.Bundesliga		15th
1998-99	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost	2nd
1999-00	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost	9th
2000-01	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	2nd
2001-02	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	4th	
2002-03	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	4th
2003-04	(IV)	Oberliga Nordost/Sud	17th	bankruptcy; results annulled

		1.FC Lokomotive Leipzig

2004-05	(X)	3.Kreisklasse, Staffel-2	1st
2005-06	(VII)	Bezirksklasse, Staffel-2	1st
2006-07	(VI)	Bezirksliga Leipzig		1st
2007-08	(V)	Landesliga Sachsen

Fullname	Verein für Bewegungsspiele Leipzig e.V.
City	Leipzig (Sachsen). Pop: 493,000 (2002)
Address	Connewitzer Straße 21, 04289 Leipzig. Phone: (0341) 86 99 90
Colors	Blue shirt with white trim, blue shorts and socks.
Nickname
Stadium	Bruno-Plache-Stadion. Capacity 13,000 (2,800 seats). Occasionally, some big matches are played in Leipzig's massive Zentralstadion, which held approx. 100,000 during GDR days. In 2004, a complete refurbishment modernized the facility, limiting attendance to 45,000.
Tickets
Supporters	Pretty much normal. Best environment is a match (including indoor tournaments) against Sachsen Leipzig.
Friends	Long time standing with Wuppertaler SV, hooray!
Foes	Sachsen Leipzig. This is a fierce rivalry that goes back to GDR days, and the city is pretty much split down the middle.
Heroes	26 GDR internationals. Among the more famous are Henning Frenzel (56 caps), who played for both Leipzig teams. Ronald Kreer is the record holder, with 65 caps in the 1980s. Olaf Marschall (4 GDR caps) went on to play for the DFB squad after 1989. Torsten Kracht capped twice through 1990, stayed with the team in bankruptcy of 2004.
Zeroes
Beer	Reudnitzer, from the local brewery.
Grub and Pub
The Net	The official site is www.lok-leipzig.com