VfB Helmbrechts
Encyclopedia
The VfB Helmbrechts is a German association football club
from the city of Helmbrechts
, Bavaria
.
The clubs most notable era was when it was playing in the 2nd Oberliga Süd
from 1955 to 1963.
After a number of attempts, Helmbrechts won the A-Klasse championship in 1931 and earned promotion to the tier-two Kreisliga, where it played against well-known local sides like SpVgg Weiden
and FC Bayern Hof.
With the rise of the Nazis to power, league football in Germany was restructured in 1933. In Bavaria, the Gauliga Bayern
was introduced with the Bezirksligas as the leagues below. Helmbrechts earned promotion to this league in 1934. In this league, the club performed well, earning upper table finishes until 1939. With the outbreak of the Second World War, VfB ceased to compete in league football.
. After one season there, it had to step down once more. The club failed in promotion round in 1951, to return to what had now become the Amateurliga Bayern but, in 1953, the expansion of the league to two regional divisions allowed the club to return.
As a new club in the Amateurliga Nordbayern, VfB took out the championship straight away in 1954–55, also winning the Bavarian championship when beating southern champions FC Penzberg
, and earned the right to compete for promotion to the 2nd Oberliga Süd
. In a group with Borussia Fulda
and Amicitia Viernheim, it won promotion finishing first, moving up alongside FC Penzberg, SpVgg Neu-Isenburg
and VfR Heilbronn.
Its first four seasons in the second division proofed a though time for the VfB, living under permanent relegation threat. In 1956, only one point saved the club; the other years were not as desperate. In 1959, 12,000 spectators turn up to see the local derby against Bayern Hof, a 3–2 victory for Helmbrechts. The 1959–60 season saw the best performance by the club in its eight 2nd Oberliga years. At the winter break, it led the league, but in the end it fell two points short of Jahn Regensburg
in second place and finished fourth. This season remained a unique experience for the club, the following one saw only a mid-table finish. In 1961–62, it escaped relegation by two points once more.
Changes to the German league system in 1963, the introduction of the Fußball-Bundesliga
and the Regionalligas below meant, VfB would have had to finish ninth or better to retain its second division status. This mark was missed by two points in eleventh place and the club had to return to the now single-division again Amateurliga Bayern.
Upon return to the Amateurliga, Helmbrechts had a good first year, finishing fourth. The second season wasn't quite as good with only a seventh place and from then on the club resided in the lower half of the table. By 1971, after six difficult years, VfB suffered relegation to the tier-four Landesliga Bayern-Nord
.
In the Landesliga, Helmbrechts slowly worked its way up, finishing fourth in 1972, third in 1973 and second in 1971, but only the league champion was eligible for promotion at that time. After this, results dropped off but the club remained an upper table side in this league, finally winning a championship and promotion back to what was now the Oberliga Bayern
in 1979.
Back in Bavarias highest league, 6,300 spectators saw the derby against Bayern Hof, a 1–1 draw. VfB experienced a couple of good Oberliga years with a sixth place in 1982 the highlight but in 1983, the club was relegated back to the Landesliga once more. After a third place in 1984, four second places followed in a row from 1985 to 1988 but the team failed each of those four years in the promotion round
. The club terminated this unique achievement by winning the league in 1988–89 and earning direct promotion.
VfB lasted for only two seasons in the Bayernliga before having to return to the Landesliga in 1991. After a disappointing eight place in 1992, 1993 saw another Landesliga title and promotion. The club remained in the Oberliga Bayern for the next four seasons without being able to break through to the upper half of the table. The 1996–97 season became the clubs last in the upper reaches of Bavarian amateur football. Financially troubled, the club finished last in the league, 23 points clear of a non-relegation rank. VfB decided at the end of the season, not to take up its spot in the Landesliga for the next season but instead to play in the A-Klasse (VIII) where its reserve side played in 1996–97.
but a new VfB Helmbrechts club was immediately formed, adopting the 98 to its name in reference to its re-birth.
The club made a quick on-the-field recovery, earning promotion to the Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost (VII) in 2000. After a number of average seasons in this league, it took out the championship in 2004 and earned promotion to the Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
. From this league, after initially achieving good results, the club was relegated again in 2008.
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 Helmbrechts
Helmbrechts
Helmbrechts is a town in the district of Hof, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the Southern edge of the Frankenwald, 20 km southwest of Hof....
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
The clubs most notable era was when it was playing in the 2nd Oberliga Süd
2nd Oberliga Süd
The 2nd Oberliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1950 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
from 1955 to 1963.
1921 to 1945
The club was formed on 3 March 1921, and played its first game of football one month later. VfB did not have a proper ground until 1924 and competitive matches were rare in the early years. It won the local C-Klasse championship that year and earned promotion to the B-Klasse. The following season, the B-Klasse championship could be won and the VfB moved up to the A-Klasse.After a number of attempts, Helmbrechts won the A-Klasse championship in 1931 and earned promotion to the tier-two Kreisliga, where it played against well-known local sides like SpVgg Weiden
SpVgg Weiden
SpVgg Weiden is a German association football club from the city of Weiden, Bavaria.Playing in the tier-four Regionalliga Süd in 2010–11, the club had to declare insolvency after being more than Euro 1 million in debt...
and FC Bayern Hof.
With the rise of the Nazis to power, league football in Germany was restructured in 1933. In Bavaria, the Gauliga Bayern
Gauliga Bayern
The Gauliga Bayern was the highest football league in the German state of Bavaria from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the five Gaue Bayreuth, Munich-Upper Bavaria, Swabia, Main Franconia and Franconia de...
was introduced with the Bezirksligas as the leagues below. Helmbrechts earned promotion to this league in 1934. In this league, the club performed well, earning upper table finishes until 1939. With the outbreak of the Second World War, VfB ceased to compete in league football.
1945 to 1998
The club restarted its football life in the local third division in 1946, earning a championship there and promotion to the tier-two Landesliga BayernLandesliga Bayern
In the Bavarian football league system, the Landesliga Bayern is the second hightest level, below the Fußball-Bayernliga and organised in three regional divisions. The current Landesligas were formed in 1963, when the Fußball-Bundesliga was established...
. After one season there, it had to step down once more. The club failed in promotion round in 1951, to return to what had now become the Amateurliga Bayern but, in 1953, the expansion of the league to two regional divisions allowed the club to return.
As a new club in the Amateurliga Nordbayern, VfB took out the championship straight away in 1954–55, also winning the Bavarian championship when beating southern champions FC Penzberg
FC Penzberg
The FC Penzberg is a German association football club from the city of Penzberg, Bavaria.The club briefly managed to reach the second division of German league football, spending the 1955–56 season in the 2nd Oberliga Süd.-1920 to 1945:...
, and earned the right to compete for promotion to the 2nd Oberliga Süd
2nd Oberliga Süd
The 2nd Oberliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1950 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
. In a group with Borussia Fulda
Borussia Fulda
Borussia Fulda is a German association football club from Fulda, Hesse. The club was founded 4 July 1904 as FC Borussia 1904 Fulda and underwent a number of changes in 1923 when they were first joined by Radsportclub 1907 Fulda in July, and then by Kraftsportklub Germania Fulda in September. On 6...
and Amicitia Viernheim, it won promotion finishing first, moving up alongside FC Penzberg, SpVgg Neu-Isenburg
SpVgg Neu-Isenburg
SpVgg 03 Neu-Isenburg is a German association football club from the city of Neu-Isenburg, Hesse. The roots of the club are in the founding of Freispielclub Neu-Isenburg on 13 June 1903. Over the next three-and-a-half decades, the association went through mergers with a number of other local clubs...
and VfR Heilbronn.
Its first four seasons in the second division proofed a though time for the VfB, living under permanent relegation threat. In 1956, only one point saved the club; the other years were not as desperate. In 1959, 12,000 spectators turn up to see the local derby against Bayern Hof, a 3–2 victory for Helmbrechts. The 1959–60 season saw the best performance by the club in its eight 2nd Oberliga years. At the winter break, it led the league, but in the end it fell two points short of Jahn Regensburg
Jahn Regensburg
SSV Jahn Regensburg is a German association football club based in Regensburg, Bavaria. The team was part of a larger sports club founded in 1889 as Turnerbund Jahn Regensburg which took its name from Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, whose ideas of gymnastics greatly influenced German sport in the 19th...
in second place and finished fourth. This season remained a unique experience for the club, the following one saw only a mid-table finish. In 1961–62, it escaped relegation by two points once more.
Changes to the German league system in 1963, the introduction of the Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and the Regionalligas below meant, VfB would have had to finish ninth or better to retain its second division status. This mark was missed by two points in eleventh place and the club had to return to the now single-division again Amateurliga Bayern.
Upon return to the Amateurliga, Helmbrechts had a good first year, finishing fourth. The second season wasn't quite as good with only a seventh place and from then on the club resided in the lower half of the table. By 1971, after six difficult years, VfB suffered relegation to the tier-four Landesliga Bayern-Nord
Landesliga Bayern-Nord
The Landesliga Bayern-Nord 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....
.
In the Landesliga, Helmbrechts slowly worked its way up, finishing fourth in 1972, third in 1973 and second in 1971, but only the league champion was eligible for promotion at that time. After this, results dropped off but the club remained an upper table side in this league, finally winning a championship and promotion back to what was now the Oberliga Bayern
Oberliga Bayern
The Fußball-Bayernliga, commonly referred to as the Bayernliga, is the highest football league in the state of Bavaria and the Bavarian Football League System. It is one of eleven Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German football league system...
in 1979.
Back in Bavarias highest league, 6,300 spectators saw the derby against Bayern Hof, a 1–1 draw. VfB experienced a couple of good Oberliga years with a sixth place in 1982 the highlight but in 1983, the club was relegated back to the Landesliga once more. After a third place in 1984, four second places followed in a row from 1985 to 1988 but the team failed each of those four years in the promotion round
Promotion to the Oberliga Bayern
The Fußball-Bayernliga, the fifth tier of the German football league system and highest football league in the state of Bavaria, has four teams annually promoted to the league, the champions of the three Landesligas, and a fourth club, determined by an annual promotion round...
. The club terminated this unique achievement by winning the league in 1988–89 and earning direct promotion.
VfB lasted for only two seasons in the Bayernliga before having to return to the Landesliga in 1991. After a disappointing eight place in 1992, 1993 saw another Landesliga title and promotion. The club remained in the Oberliga Bayern for the next four seasons without being able to break through to the upper half of the table. The 1996–97 season became the clubs last in the upper reaches of Bavarian amateur football. Financially troubled, the club finished last in the league, 23 points clear of a non-relegation rank. VfB decided at the end of the season, not to take up its spot in the Landesliga for the next season but instead to play in the A-Klasse (VIII) where its reserve side played in 1996–97.
Insolvency
In 1998, the VfB had to declare insolvencyInsolvency
Insolvency means the inability to pay one's debts as they fall due. Usually used to refer to a business, insolvency refers to the inability of a company to pay off its debts.Business insolvency is defined in two different ways:...
but a new VfB Helmbrechts club was immediately formed, adopting the 98 to its name in reference to its re-birth.
The club made a quick on-the-field recovery, earning promotion to the Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost (VII) in 2000. After a number of average seasons in this league, it took out the championship in 2004 and earned promotion to the Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken
The Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken is currently the 7th tier of the German football league system in the Bavarian Regierungsbezirk of Upper Franconia...
. From this league, after initially achieving good results, the club was relegated again in 2008.
Current
In 2008–09, the club played in the tier-eight Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost, suffering another relegation, now to the Kreisliga. At this level, in 2009-10, the club was yet again relegated, now to the tier-ten Kreisklasse Frankenwald, where the team plays now.League
- Amateurliga Nordbayern (III)
- Champions: 1955
- Kreisklasse Oberfranken (III)
- Champions: 1934
- Landesliga Bayern-NordLandesliga Bayern-NordThe Landesliga Bayern-Nord 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....
(IV)- Champions: (3) 1979, 1989, 1993
- Runners-up: (5) 1974, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
- 2nd Amateurliga Oberfranken Ost2nd Amateurliga BayernThe 2nd Amateurliga Bayern was a set of eleven regional leagues in Bavaria existing from 1951 to 1963 as the fourth tier of football in the state....
(IV)- Champions: (2) 1951, 1953
- A-Klasse (III)
- Champions: 1931
- B-Klasse (IV)
- Champions: 1925
- C-Klasse (V)
- Champions: 1924
- Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost (VII)
- Champions: 2004
Recent seasons
The recent season-by-season performance of the club:| Season | Division | Tier Bavarian football league system The Bavarian football league system of the Bavarian Football Association ranks within the German football league system. Its highest division, the Fussball-Bayernliga, is currently the 5th tier of German football. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008 it was the 4th tier of the league system... |
Position |
| 2000–01 | Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost | VII | 6th |
| 2001–02 | Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost | 8th | |
| 2002–03 | Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost | 4th | |
| 2003–04 | Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost | 1st ↑ | |
| 2004–05 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken The Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken is currently the 7th tier of the German football league system in the Bavarian Regierungsbezirk of Upper Franconia... |
VI | 4th |
| 2005–06 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 7th | |
| 2006–07 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 11th | |
| 2007–08 | Bezirksoberliga Oberfranken | 16th ↓ | |
| 2008–09 | Bezirksliga Oberfranken Ost | VIII | 15th ↓ |
| 2009–10 | Kreisliga Hof | IX | 13th ↓ |
| 2010–11 | Kreisklasse Frankenwald | X | 2nd |
| 2011–12 |
- With the introduction of the BezirksoberligasBezirksoberligen BayernThe seven Bezirksoberligas Bayern are the third highest level of the Bavarian football league system, below Oberliga and Landesliga. They are the 7th tier of the German football league system.-Overview:...
in 1988 as the new fifth tier, below the LandesligasLandesliga BayernIn the Bavarian football league system, the Landesliga Bayern is the second hightest level, below the Fußball-Bayernliga and organised in three regional divisions. The current Landesligas were formed in 1963, when the Fußball-Bundesliga was established...
, all leagues below dropped one tier. With the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 and the 3rd Liga3rd LigaThe 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
in 2008 as the new third tier, below the 2nd Bundesliga2. Fußball-Bundesliga- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, all leagues below dropped one tier.
Sources
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897–1988 History of Southern German football in tables, author: Ludolf Hyll
External links
- Official team site
- VfB Helmbrechts profile at Weltfussball.de
- Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables