Heider SV
Encyclopedia
Heider SV is a German association football club
from the city of Heide
, Schleswig-Holstein
. The club was founded 14 October 1925 by what was the reserve side of VfL 05 Heide
. The reservists thought they were the better side and challenged the first team to a match, which they won. Despite this, no changes were made to the first team roster, so the reservists left to form SV.
. They represented the smallest town competing in top-flight German competition in the regional Oberliga Nord
(I) in 1956–57 and 1960–61 against the likes of larger clubs including Hamburger SV, Hannover 96
, Werder Bremen, and FC St.Pauli. The club's appearances in the top flight were brief, but they were enthusiastically supported, regularly drawing large crowds. The highlight of Heiders 1956–57 season was a 2:0 victory over Hamburger SV before a crowd of 12,000, an attendance record that still stands to this day.
In 1951, 1953, and 1955, Heider took part in the country's amateur championship with their best result coming as an advance to the semi-finals in 1955 where they were put out by Sportfreunde Siegen
(1:3). The club also made failed attempts to return to Oberliga play in 1954, 1958, 1959, and 1962.
(II). The team did eventually win its way to the Regionalliga for a single season turn in 1968–69, and again for a four season stint in 1970–74. After slipping down through the Amateurliga, SV became a fixture in fourth tier play in the Landesliga Schleswig-Holstein (1975–78), the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (1978–94), and the Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
(1994–2004), before finally falling to fifth tier play in the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein in 2004. Although generally a mid-table finisher, Heider continued to field competitive sides through the years, earning four second place results, as well as a Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (IV) title in 1982–83.
The club has made occasional appearances in competition for the DFB-Pokal
(German Cup), but has never advanced out of the opening round.
After losing a promotion round playoff to Arminia Hannover
in 1997, the club struggled, delivering poor performances, losing the support of its fans and sponsors, and facing financial problems. Their situation has since stabilized and they currently play as a lower table side in the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (V), finishing 5th in the 2007–08 season.
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...
from the city of Heide
Heide
Heide is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis Dithmarschen. Population: 21,000.The German word Heide means "heath". In the 15th century four adjoining villages decided to build a church in the "middle of the heath". This remained the town's name to date...
, Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. The club was founded 14 October 1925 by what was the reserve side of VfL 05 Heide
Heider FC
Heider FC was a German association football club from the city of Heide, Schleswig-Holstein.-History:The team was established in 1905 as a separate football side out of Männer-Turnverein 1860 Heide. In 1914, they merged with Fußball-Club Holstein Heide to play as Heider Sportvereinigung before...
. The reservists thought they were the better side and challenged the first team to a match, which they won. Despite this, no changes were made to the first team roster, so the reservists left to form SV.
Small town on the big stage
The team is known popularly as kleiner HSV (en: Little HSV), a play on the name of better known Hamburger SVHamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
. They represented the smallest town competing in top-flight German competition in the regional Oberliga Nord
Oberliga Nord (1947-63)
The Oberliga Nord was the highest level of the German football league system in the north of Germany from 1947 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.-Overview:...
(I) in 1956–57 and 1960–61 against the likes of larger clubs including Hamburger SV, Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
, Werder Bremen, and FC St.Pauli. The club's appearances in the top flight were brief, but they were enthusiastically supported, regularly drawing large crowds. The highlight of Heiders 1956–57 season was a 2:0 victory over Hamburger SV before a crowd of 12,000, an attendance record that still stands to this day.
In 1951, 1953, and 1955, Heider took part in the country's amateur championship with their best result coming as an advance to the semi-finals in 1955 where they were put out by Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen
Sportfreunde Siegen is a German association football club based in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was founded in 1899 as the football department of the gymnastics club Turn Verein Jahn von 1879 Siegen...
(1:3). The club also made failed attempts to return to Oberliga play in 1954, 1958, 1959, and 1962.
Post-Bundesliga
After the formation of the Bundesliga, Germany's first fully profession league, in 1963, Heider became part of the Amateurliga Schleswig-Holstein (III) after failing to qualify for the new Regionalliga NordRegionalliga Nord (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Nord was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the north of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974...
(II). The team did eventually win its way to the Regionalliga for a single season turn in 1968–69, and again for a four season stint in 1970–74. After slipping down through the Amateurliga, SV became a fixture in fourth tier play in the Landesliga Schleswig-Holstein (1975–78), the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (1978–94), and the Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein
The Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein was the fourth tier of the German football league system in the north of Germany, existing from 1994 to 2004. It covered the states of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein...
(1994–2004), before finally falling to fifth tier play in the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein in 2004. Although generally a mid-table finisher, Heider continued to field competitive sides through the years, earning four second place results, as well as a Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (IV) title in 1982–83.
The club has made occasional appearances in competition for the DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
(German Cup), but has never advanced out of the opening round.
After losing a promotion round playoff to Arminia Hannover
Arminia Hannover
SV Arminia Hannover is a German association football club based in Hanover, Lower Saxony.- History :The club was founded in 1910 as FC Arminia Hannover and merged with Rugby-Verein Merkur in 1918, becoming SV Arminia-Merkur. Two years later they re-named themselves SV Arminia Hannover and captured...
in 1997, the club struggled, delivering poor performances, losing the support of its fans and sponsors, and facing financial problems. Their situation has since stabilized and they currently play as a lower table side in the Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (V), finishing 5th in the 2007–08 season.
Honours
- Amateurliga Schleswig-Holstein (II) champions: 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963
- Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein (IV) champions: 1983
Stadium
SV plays its home matches in the Stadion an der Meldorfer Straße, which has a capacity of 11,000 (1,500 seats).Notable players
- Willi Gerdau, capped in 1957, he is the only national team player to come out of Schleswig-Holstein since 1931.