The original club was founded in 1947 through a merger of VfL Kassel and Kasseler Sportverein. By 1950 they had qualified for the new Zweite Liga Sud, and by 1953, they achieved promotion to the Oberliga Sud, which was then the highest division. 1964 saw Hessen qualify for the Bundesliga promotion playoffs, but they were unable to make the final leap. After a few up and down years, by the mid 1980s, they had established themselves as a strong 2nd division club. Indeed, in 1984/85, promotion to the Bundesliga was again close, and only a last day defeat in Nuernberg knocked them out. Things started to go downhill slowly, and the financial woes began to snowball. In 1993, KSV Hessen Kassel declared bankruptcy. Luckily the soccer division declared themselves independant as FC Hessen Kassel and was able to qualify for the new Regionalliga structure that had just been introduced for the 3rd division. Life in the tougher 3rd division proved to be difficult, and the financial crisis continued.
Lights went out momentarily on January 13, 1998: After the line-of-credit expired, Hessen Kassel was forced to declare bankruptcy. The DFB then declared all of Kassel's games in the Regionalliga Süd for null and void, thereby relegating the club.
In February of 1998, the club was refounded as Kasseler Sport Verein Hessen. Same as the old name. How they pulled that off, is anybody's guess...
The new KSV Hessen was forced to start back in the 8th division Kreisliga A, and all player contracts were dissolved. However, the youth program was rescued, and enough firepower remained loyal to the club that one can expect a return to higher divisions within a few years. Things started out nicely, as the new club was unbeaten in league play for two years, winning promotions along the way. By 2002/03, they had made it all the way back to the Oberliga, and in less than 10 years, they were back in the Regionalliga!
Fullname | Kasseler Sportverein Hessen e.V.
City |
Kassel (Hessen). Pop:
195,000 (2002)
| Address |
Belgische Str. 21, 34121 Kassel | Phone: (0561) 25474. This is also the location of the Fan-Shop. e-mail: info@ksv-hessen.de Colors |
Basically all red with white trim.
| Stadium |
Auestadion. Capacity: 26,000 (4,500 seats) | Built in 1953. They packed in 37,000 for the Bundesliga promotion round in 1964 against Hannover. Tickets |
Very reasonable, at 6-8 euros (2004).
| Supporters |
Averaged 2,064 in 2004 (Oberliga).
A few fans clubs are listed on the Lowen-Online page, including one in
Midland, Texas. They drew about 1,500 when they dropped down to the 8th
division, which is pretty amazing. See official site for detailed
descriptions of fan-clubs.
| Friends |
Leyton Orient. Well, maybe. However, there is a German Leyton
Orient home page, which links to the Hessen Kassel page with the comment
"the only German club worth following." |
Heroes |
German international Karl-Heinz "Gala" Metzner (2 caps, 1952-53)
| Zeroes |
| Foes |
Most likely Hessen rivals, like Darmstadt and Kickers Offenbach.
| Beer |
Kasseler Premium Pils and Martini
Weissbier from the Martini
Brewery in Kassel. (How do you brew a Martini?)
|
Pub Grub |
| The Net |
The official site disappears after each bankruptcy. It's now back as www.ksv-hessen.de . Look quick!
Oops too late. But if
they're bankrupt again, don't despair: Frank Rudolph runs an excellent fan
page
at www.ksv-hessen-kassel.de
He deserves kudos because
he kept them alive in the web all along.
| |
Recent History:
--------------
1963-64 (II) Regionalliga Süd 1st
1964-65 (II) Regionalliga Süd 5th
1965-66 (II) Regionalliga Süd 6th
1966-67 (II) Regionalliga Süd 8th
1967-68 (II) Regionalliga Süd 8th
1968-69 (II) Regionalliga Süd 10th
1969-70 (II) Regionalliga Süd 7th
1970-71 (II) Regionalliga Süd 3rd
1971-72 (II) Regionalliga Süd 4th
1972-73 (II) Regionalliga Süd 10th
1973-74 (II) Regionalliga Süd 16th
1974-75 (III) Amateurliga Hessen 3rd
1975-76 (III) Amateurliga Hessen 3rd
1976-77 (III) Amateurliga Hessen 3rd
1977-78 (III) Amateurliga Hessen 6th
1978-79 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 2nd
1979-80 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 1st
1980-81 (II) 2.Bundesliga Süd 4th
1981-82 (II) 2.Bundesliga 8th
1982-83 (II) 2.Bundesliga 4th
1983-84 (II) 2.Bundesliga 4th
1984-85 (II) 2.Bundesliga 4th
1985-86 (II) 2.Bundesliga 5th
1986-87 (II) 2.Bundesliga 19th
1987-88 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 2nd
1988-89 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 1st
1989-90 (II) 2.Bundesliga 17th
1990-91 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 1st
1991-92 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 3rd
1992-93 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 5th
1993-94 (III) Am.Oberliga Hessen 6th
1994-95 (III) Regionalliga Süd 13th
1995-96 (III) Regionalliga Süd 10th
1996-97 (III) Regionalliga Süd 12th
1997-98 (III) Regionalliga Süd 18th (bankruptcy: results annulled)
1998-99 (VIII) Kreisliga Hessen, A 1st
1999-00 (VII) Bezirksliga Kassel 1st
2000-01 (VI) Bezirksoberliga Kassel 1st
2001-02 (V) Landesliga Hessen/Nord 1st
2002-03 (IV) Oberliga Hessen 2nd
2003-04 (IV) Oberliga Hessen 2nd
2004-05 (IV) Oberliga Hessen 10th
2005-06 (IV) Oberliga Hessen 1st
2006-07 (III) Regionalliga Süd 10th
2007-08 (III) Regionalliga Süd 14th
2008-09 (IV) Regionalliga Süd
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany