FK Pirmasens
Encyclopedia
FK Pirmasens is a German association football club
in Pirmasens
, Rhineland-Palatinate. The team was formed as the football section of the gymnastics and sports club TV Pirminia Pirmasens in 1903 and became independent in 1914. They took on their current name in 1925. FK is one of the few teams that uses the German Klub in their name as opposed to the commonly affected English-style term Club.
in 1919 but then moved to the Kreisliga Pfalz
in 1920. From 1930 to 1933 the team made three consecutive appearances in the final of the Southern German championship, on the strength of four Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
titles, and between 1934 and 1936 were three times vice-champions of the Gauliga Südwest, one of sixteen top flight divisions formed in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich. World War II was hard on the club: following a 0:26 beating at the hands of 1. FC Kaiserslautern
in 1942 they withdrew from competition until after the conflict. After the war the club played in the Oberliga Südwest
and captured league titles there in 1958, 1959 and 1960 while finishing as vice champions in 1954 and 1962. The club was so popular at the time that they often had to abandon their home ground in favour of the stadium in nearby Ludwigshafen in order to accommodate crowds of up to 65,000 spectators.
After the formation of the Bundesliga, Germany's new professional league, in 1963 Pirmasens found themselves in the second division Regionalliga Südwest
where they consistently finished in the upper half of the league table over the course of the next decade. While they had several opportunities to advance to the Bundesliga through the promotion rounds they were unsuccessful. By the mid-70's the club was faltering. They narrowly missed relegation in 1977, only staying up because rival SV Völklingen
was denied a license. However, by 1980 they found themselves in the Amateur Oberliga Südwest
(III), slipped to the Verbandsliga Südwest
by 1993, and just two seasons later were playing in the Landesliga Südwest (VI). The club has recovered nicely and today plays in the third division Regionalliga Süd
.
In 2006, the club stunned German football when they defeated Werder Bremen in the first round of the DFB Cup in a penalty shootout.
, played for West Germany's 1954 World Cup
winning Miracle of Bern
side.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
in Pirmasens
Pirmasens
Pirmasens is a district-free city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, near the border with France. It is famous for the manufacture of shoes. The surrounding rural district was called Pirmasens from 1818 until 1997, when it was renamed Südwestpfalz....
, Rhineland-Palatinate. The team was formed as the football section of the gymnastics and sports club TV Pirminia Pirmasens in 1903 and became independent in 1914. They took on their current name in 1925. FK is one of the few teams that uses the German Klub in their name as opposed to the commonly affected English-style term Club.
History
The club developed into a strong amateur side in southwestern Germany. In post-First World War play, the club was grouped in the tier-one Kreisliga SaarKreisliga Saar
The Kreisliga Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the Prussian Rhine Province from 1919 to 1923...
in 1919 but then moved to the Kreisliga Pfalz
Kreisliga Pfalz
The Kreisliga Pfalz was the highest association football league in the Bavarian region of Palatinate from 1919 to 1923...
in 1920. From 1930 to 1933 the team made three consecutive appearances in the final of the Southern German championship, on the strength of four Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar
The Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
titles, and between 1934 and 1936 were three times vice-champions of the Gauliga Südwest, one of sixteen top flight divisions formed in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich. World War II was hard on the club: following a 0:26 beating at the hands of 1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern, also known as 1. FCK, FCK or simply Kaiserslautern, is a German association football club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. On 2 June 1900, Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern merged to create FC 1900...
in 1942 they withdrew from competition until after the conflict. After the war the club played in the Oberliga Südwest
Oberliga Südwest (1945-63)
The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
and captured league titles there in 1958, 1959 and 1960 while finishing as vice champions in 1954 and 1962. The club was so popular at the time that they often had to abandon their home ground in favour of the stadium in nearby Ludwigshafen in order to accommodate crowds of up to 65,000 spectators.
After the formation of the Bundesliga, Germany's new professional league, in 1963 Pirmasens found themselves in the second division Regionalliga Südwest
Regionalliga Südwest (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Südwest was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
where they consistently finished in the upper half of the league table over the course of the next decade. While they had several opportunities to advance to the Bundesliga through the promotion rounds they were unsuccessful. By the mid-70's the club was faltering. They narrowly missed relegation in 1977, only staying up because rival SV Völklingen
SV Röchling Völklingen
SV Röchling Völklingen is a German association football club that plays in Völklingen, part of the greater Saarbrücken, Saarland.-History:The club was founded as FC Völklingen on 26 April 1906 and re-named SV Völklingen in 1912 before folding in 1916 as a consequence of the fighting along the...
was denied a license. However, by 1980 they found themselves in the Amateur Oberliga Südwest
Oberliga Südwest
The Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
(III), slipped to the Verbandsliga Südwest
Verbandsliga Südwest
The Verbandsliga Südwest is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.-Overview:...
by 1993, and just two seasons later were playing in the Landesliga Südwest (VI). The club has recovered nicely and today plays in the third division Regionalliga Süd
Regionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
.
In 2006, the club stunned German football when they defeated Werder Bremen in the first round of the DFB Cup in a penalty shootout.
Honours
- Oberliga SüdwestOberliga Südwest (1945-63)The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
(I) champions: 1958, 1959, 1960 - Oberliga Südwest (I) vice champions: 1954, 1962
- Bezirksliga Rhein-SaarBezirksliga Rhein-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
(Saar division) (I) champions: 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933 - Regionalliga SüdwestRegionalliga Südwest (1963-74)The Regionalliga Südwest was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
(II) champion: 1966 - 2nd Bundesliga Süd2nd Bundesliga Süd (1974-81)The 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1974 until the formation of the single-division 2. Fußball-Bundesliga in 1981...
(II) runners-up: 1975 - Oberliga SüdwestOberliga SüdwestThe Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system...
(IV) champions: 1999, 2006 - Verbandsliga SüdwestVerbandsliga SüdwestThe Verbandsliga Südwest is currently the 6th tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga it was the 5th tier of the league system.-Overview:...
(V) champions: 1997 - South West CupSouth West CupThe South West Cup is one of the 21 regional cup competitions of German football. The winner of the competition gains entry to the first round of the German Cup. It is limited to clubs from the Rheinhessen-Pfalz region of Rhineland-Palatinate, however, teams from the Fußball-Bundesliga and 2nd...
winners: 1999, 2006
Recent seasons
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1999–2000 | Regionalliga West/Südwest Regionalliga West/Südwest The Regionalliga West/Südwest was the third tier of the German football league system in the states of Saarland, Rheinland-Pfalz and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1994 to 2000.- Overview :... (III) |
17th ↓ |
| 2000–01 | Oberliga Südwest Oberliga Südwest The Oberliga Südwest is the highest regional football league for the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland state of Germany. It is the fifth tier of the German football league system. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German Football, the 5th tier of the German football league system... (IV) |
8th |
| 2001–02 | Oberliga Südwest | 7th |
| 2002–03 | Oberliga Südwest | 13th |
| 2003–04 | Oberliga Südwest | 12th |
| 2004–05 | Oberliga Südwest | 10th |
| 2005–06 | Oberliga Südwest | 1st ↑ |
| 2006–07 | Regionalliga Süd Regionalliga Süd The Regionalliga Süd is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany... (III) |
17th ↓ |
| 2007–08 | Oberliga Südwest (IV) | 10th |
| 2008–09 | Oberliga Südwest (V) | 3rd |
| 2009–10 | Oberliga Südwest |
Famous players
Heinz KubschHeinz Kubsch
Heinz Kubsch was a German football goalkeeper.He was part of the West German team that won the 1954 FIFA World Cup. In total he earned three caps for West Germany. During his club career he played for FK Pirmasens....
, played for West Germany's 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
winning Miracle of Bern
1954 FIFA World Cup Final
- External links :* - fifa.com, FIFA, 2002.*...
side.