VfL Neckarau


The long suffering, forgotten third club of Mannheim - but not by Abseits!

Soccer started seriously for Neckarau in 1907, when FC Germania 1904 joined forces with FC Alemannia to form FVgg 1907 Neckarau. Some crummy gymnasts spoiled the party in 1921, when they joinded up and the new club was called VfL Neckarau. One of the gymnastics clubs, TV 1884 gave the club it's older pedigree. In a clever move, in 1967 the gymnasts were kicked out, but VfL still claims 1884.

Results on the field were modest. VfL was usually upper table in the Gauliga Baden of the 1930s. They finished 1st in 1941 and qualified for the German championship. However they had a tough time, seeded in a strong group. They suffered 0-7 and 1-8 defeats to eventual champion Rapid Wien, but at least managed to win a game from 1860 München and the Stuttgarter Kickers.

After WW-II they bounced around, playing in the Oberliga Süd from 1950-52, but then dropped down to amateur status. Except for a solitary Regionalliga appearance in 1968, they've haven't ventured out. (Oddly enough, despite relegation in 1969, VfL actually outdrew rivals Waldhof and VfR Mannheim in attendance. This was probably their last hurrah.) By the time the 1990s rolled around, they began the descent into the depths of Kreisliga football, where they remain mired to this day.

Full Name Verein für Leibesübungen 1884 e.V. Mannheim-Neckarau
City Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg). Pop: 308,000 (2002).
Address Neckarauer Waldweg 91, 68199 Mannheim
Phone: 0621-851609
Colors Blue and white
Nickname
Stadium Waldweg-Stadion. Capacity: 6,000
When built in 1951, it was claimed to have room for 20,000, plus seating. Now it is dilapidated, all the seating is gone and apparently the "E" has been missing for years from the stadium sign. From 1919-50, VfL played at the Altriper Fähre (capacity: 12,000), which has long since been torn down.
Tickets
Supporters "Cell phone plan" (friends and family). Most of the noise comes from the German Sheepdog Federation, which is next door to the stadium.
Friends
Foes Local rivals Waldhof and VfR Mannheim.
Heroes Fritz Balogh, German international (1 cap, 1950). He was killed in a train crash that year returning from a game in München. Neckarau held the "largest funeral in memory". Also the Rohr family. In 1971, the coach was Philipp "Fips" Rohr. In one game he had 5(!) of his sons (Günter, Rüdiger, Hans, Volker, Gernot) play for VfL in a match. Gernot went on to a decent career, with Bayern München and Girondins Bordeaux.
Zeroes
Beer
Pub Grub The Vereinshaus is the Gaststätte: "Da Sandro", with "German-Italian" cuisine. Open except Mondays.
The Net Official site: www.vflneckarau.de

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

1963-64	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		15th
1964-65	(IV)	Landesliga Rhein-Nord, St. A	1st
1963-64	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		12th
1963-64	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		11th
1963-64	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		1st
1968-69	(II)	Regionalliga Süd		16th
1969-70	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		2nd
1970-71	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		4th
1971-72	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		4th
1972-73	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		15th
1973-74	(IV)	2.Amateurliga Rhein-Neckar-2	16th
1974-75	(V)
1975-76	(V)
1976-77	(IV)	2.Amateurliga Rhein-Neckar-2	2nd
1977-78	(III)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		10th
1978-79	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		3rd
1979-80	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		14th
1980-81	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		7th
1981-82	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		13th
1982-83	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		4th
1983-84	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		4th
1984-85	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		9th
1985-86	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		2nd
1986-87	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		2nd
1987-88	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		1st
1988-89	(III)	Am.Oberliga Baden-Württemberg	18th
1989-90	(IV)	Amateurliga Nordbaden		16th

1998-99	(VII)	Bezirksliga Mannheim
1999-00	(VIII)	Kreisliga Mannheim
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04	(VII)	Kreisliga Mannheim
2004-05	(VIII)	Kreisklasse Mannheim, A-1
2005-06	(VII)	Kreisliga Mannheim		4th
2006-07	(VII)	Kreisliga Mannheim		7th
2007-08	(VII)	Kreisliga Mannheim		7th

(c) Abseits Guide to Germany: www.abseits-soccer.com