Tradition, commitment, and a sporting focus: At the New Year's reception in the State Theatre, the Lilies, together with 600 invited guests, looked ahead to the year 2026. There was also reason to celebrate: Marcel Schuhen turned 33 on the day of the reception. On the sporting front, Marco Richter focused on the start of the second half of the season. You can read these and other news items in our weekly column "Lilies Across the Board."
Back in Darmstadt, Marco Richter was in good spirits after the first training session. He had personally racked up more scoring points at the end of the first half of the season, but he doesn’t intend to rest on his laurels. „I try to give my best every day. Now it’s a fresh start. All that matters is the team’s success. And I hope I can help the team,“ Richter said in a media briefing on Tuesday. He feels very comfortable in the „really awesome team“ of SV 98.
Looking ahead to the start of the second half of the season, Richter emphasised that the good results in the first half were only achieved through hard work. „It doesn’t work if we take even one step less. That applies one hundred percent to the game in Bochum as well.“ Nevertheless, SV 98 travels deep into the west with confidence: „We have to be ready from the first second, but we’re going to Bochum with our heads held high and want to start the second half of the season with three points.“
A cherished Darmstadt 98 tradition took place for the second year in a row on Tuesday evening (January 13th) at the Darmstadt State Theatre: the club’s New Year’s reception. Around 600 invited guests from the worlds of sports and politics, as well as partners and sponsors, gathered to celebrate the start of 2026. The players sold raffle tickets for charity, Markus Pfitzner addressed the guests, and the contract extension between SV Darmstadt 98 and HAIX was announced. Further information about the evening can be found here.
Yesterday, Tuesday, there was another reason to celebrate – for Darmstadt captain Marcel Schuhen. The number one goalkeeper for SV Darmstadt 98 celebrated his 33rd birthday that day. For many years – more precisely, since the summer of 2019 – he has been a fixture at the Bölle stadium, shaping the team with his performances as a leader both on and off the pitch. It’s great that you’ve been in Darmstadt for so long. We wish you all the best for your new year!
The SV Darmstadt 98 recreational sports camp, held from January 5th to 9th at the Bürgerparkhalle, offered participating children a variety of fun-filled days with plenty of exercise and team spirit. „We are delighted that the recreational sports camp was so well received. It was fascinating to see how much fun the children had with the different sports that SV 98 offers in its amateur departments,“ said Roy Reinelt-Peter, board member responsible for amateur departments and the fan and support department.
Under the professional guidance of coaches and instructors, the kids were able to try a different sport each day. These included futsal, judo, basketball, table tennis, and headis. It was all the more gratifying that the fully booked camp brought great joy to everyone involved. „The recreational sports camps are an important step in increasing the visibility of our sports departments in the city and the region. We need this visibility to grow our recreational sports program and attract new members to our sports club,“ Reinelt-Peter added.
Together with „Die Haftpflichtklasse VVaG,“ SV 98 is hosting the second edition of the „Chancen+“ study and training fair on January 28th. Over 30 companies will be at the Bölle stadium to present careers, entry-level positions, and training opportunities to students. Whether entire school classes attend or students visit alone, with friends, or with family, all the information is available here.
On Tuesday, January 13, Dr. Karl Heß (1900–1975) would have turned 126 years old. Heß was a former chairman of SV Darmstadt 98 and was posthumously appointed honorary chairman at the club’s general meeting in 2018.
Dr. Karl Heß was a German-Jewish lawyer who, as a sports official and passionate football enthusiast, significantly shaped the development of SV Darmstadt 98 during the Weimar Republic. Due to his Jewish faith, he was expelled from Darmstadt during the Nazi era and forced to flee Germany. In 1963, Heß returned to his hometown. He is representative of the numerous German-Jewish athletes, officials, and supporters who fell victim to Nazi antisemitism. A memorial plaque and the Karl Heß Square, inaugurated on January 15, 2017, in front of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, commemorate his life’s work.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: