Foto: SV 98 09.04.2025 / English
Anniversary & Birthday | Lilien professionals visit camp
For Paul Fernie, sporting director of SV Darmstadt 98, this week holds two special days. His one-year anniversary with the Lilies, and his birthday. Merveille Papela, Jean-Paul Boetius, and Marco Thiede also stopped by the Merck Lilies soccer camp for an autograph session. We report on these and many other topics related to SV Darmstadt 98 in our weekly column "Lilien Across the Board."
+++ A special week +++
This week is a special one for Paul Fernie: On April 8, 2024, SV 98 announced that the Englishman would take on the position of sporting director at the Lilies. A year has now passed since that initial announcement. It’s great to have you with us, Paul!
And that’s not all: On Thursday (April 10), Fernie also celebrates his 38th birthday.
We say: Happy Birthday!
+++ Lilien professionals visit football camp +++
While many children are enjoying a well-deserved break from school during the Easter holidays, SV Darmstadt 98’s Merck Lilien soccer camps are hard at work almost throughout the entire month of April.
One of the camps‘ various locations during this holiday season is the SV 98 youth performance center.
In addition to games, technique, and shooting exercises, the focus is, of course, also on fun. Lilien pros Marco Thiede, Merveille Papela, and Jean-Paul Boëtius provided a very special highlight on Tuesday (April 8). At the youth performance center, they took the time for a question-and-answer session and then diligently signed autographs. After a shared lunch break, the camp participants then embarked on the afternoon’s sporting program with full vigour.
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 
Foto: SV 98 +++ U19 narrowly defeated, U17 clearly won +++
SV Darmstadt 98’s U19 team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat in their home match against SSV Ulm on Saturday (April 5). The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute – a deficit they held until halftime. After the break, the young Lilies regained hope with an equaliser in the 59th minute, but this hope didn’t last long. Just eleven minutes later, Ulm scored again to make it 2-1. Their next chance to score points comes next Saturday (April 12, 11:00am) in their home match against SV Sandhausen.
The weekend was more successful for the Lilies‘ U17 team: In their home match on Sunday (April 6), the B-Juniors celebrated a convincing 3-0 win against second-placed SC Freiburg. The opening goal came just before halftime in the 40th minute. The Lilies remained dominant after the break, making it 2-0 in the 63rd minute, and just four minutes later, SVD sealed the final score with a 3-0 victory. With this important win, the U17s reduced the gap to Freiburg to just one point and are now in third place. The next game is away on Saturday (April 12, 11:00am), also against SV Sandhausen.
+++ Fan team with hard-fought victory +++
Last Sunday (April 6), the SV Darmstadt 98 fan base responded strongly to the setback in their previous match. In their home game in the District League C against Grün-Weiß Darmstadt II, they achieved a well-deserved 3-1 victory.
The match started anything but ideally for the Lilies: In the 27th minute, the „Zwote Zwote“ (Second Second) fell behind 1-0. But just three minutes later, the home side responded with a quick equaliser to make it 1-1, opening up the game again. The score remained the same at halftime.
After the break, SV 98 increasingly took control and rewarded themselves in the closing stages: A double strike in the 69th and 73rd minutes clinched the victory for the Lilies, who successfully defended their third place in the District League C.
Next Sunday (April 13th, 1pm) the team wants to confirm its performance – as they travel away to SKG Bickenbach II.
You can find an overview of the upcoming matches of the Lilien fan team here:
| Date | Kick Off | Match | Competition | Result |
| Sunday, 06.04.2025 | 3pm | SV 98 – GW Darmstadt II | Kreisliga C | 3:1 |
| Sunday, 13.04.2025 | 1pm | SKG Bickenbach II – SV 98 | Kreisliga C | |
| Sunday, 27.04.2025 | 3pm | SV 98 – SV Croatia Griesheim II | Kreisliga C |
+++ eLilien impress in individual +++
Last weekend, the qualification for the German Individual Championship of the virtual Bundesliga took place – and our four eLilien had already secured a place among the top 128 players in Germany. The first matches kicked off online on Saturday at 5pm.
The tournament kicked off with a Swiss Round, in which at least three wins out of five matches were required to reach the top 64. Kaan, Doki, and Nassim mastered this first hurdle with ease and advanced to the knockout phase. Despite good performances, Kaan and Doki were defeated later in the tournament. For Nassim, however, the weekend continued impressively: With strong performances against the German EA FC elite, he fought his way through round after round – and even defeated the reigning German club champions „Chaser“ in the decisive knockout match.
Thanks to this outstanding performance, Nassim landed among the top 12 players in Germany in the overall qualifying rankings and is now officially among the top 32 who will compete for the title at the German Championship. He’ll continue his campaign the week after Easter at the offline event in Köln, the grand finale at which the German Individual Champion in EA FC 25 will be crowned. Those interested in following our eLilien’s journey live and in person can do so via the following links:
+++ Feliz cumpleaños, Sergio +++
Sergio Lopez celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday (April 8). Born in Remscheid and now a Spanish citizen, he began his career in Spain in the youth teams of UD Salamca and UD Santa Marta before getting a taste of the game with Real Madrid. After a loan spell with Real Valladolid, where he gained experience in the Spanish second division, he moved permanently to FC Basel in Switzerland in 2021. Lopez was a regular for Basel, making 83 appearances. In 2024, he moved to SV Darmstadt 98 in the 2. Bundesliga. This season, the right-back has made 27 appearances for the Lilies, contributing to six goals. We wish you all the best and continued success!
Merck Autograph Session: With Pfeiffer, Klefisch and Lakenmacher
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Disappointment & pride
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Merx hat trick: U21 deservedly wins at Hünfelder SV
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
HBRS and SV 98: Cooperation extended indefinitely
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
„We must take the lead in the first half.“
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
Lilies lose in Karlsruhe
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Team News: Five Changes in the Team
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Matchday Guide: All Information before KSC Game
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Paul Fernie extends his contract long-term and moves up to a management position.
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
„You’ve seen horses vomit before.“
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Opposition Check: Karlsruher SC
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
U21: A Herculean effort whilst down to 10 men wasn’t enough
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.