SV Darmstadt 98 will close its fan shop in the "LOOP" shopping center on June 17th. Until then, generous discounts await you in the store. Furthermore, following the relegation thrillers between Heidenheim and Elversberg, and Braunschweig and SaarbrĂĽcken, the field of participants for the 2025/26 second division season has been determined. We report on these and other topics related to SV Darmstadt 98 in our weekly column "Lilien Across the Board."
Until June 17, the Lilien fan shop in the „LOOP5“ shopping center in Weiterstadt is offering many items at reduced prices as part of its end-of-season sale. All items are discounted by 18.98 percent. Starting June 1, the discount will increase to 25 percent. This applies to all products – while supplies last, of course. Simply stop by the fan shop in „LOOP5“ (GutenbergstraĂźe 5, 64331 Weiterstadt), browse, and take advantage of the great deals.
After the thrilling relegation playoffs between Heidenheim and Elversberg, and Braunschweig and SaarbrĂĽcken, SV Darmstadt 98’s opponents for next season have been confirmed. The Lilies can look forward to four new teams compared to last season. Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum were relegated from the Bundesliga, while Dynamo Dresden and Arminia Bielefeld are new additions from the 3. Liga. Braunschweig managed to avoid relegation in the relegation playoff against 1. FC SaarbrĂĽcken. SV Elversberg, on the other hand, missed promotion to the Bundesliga against 1. FC Heidenheim and will therefore compete in the lower tier of German football next season.
Here you can find more interesting facts about upcoming games in the 2025/26 season:
After the U17s secured their place in the DFB Youth League for next season with two matchdays to go, the final match of the 2024/25 season was on Saturday (May 24). The Young Lilies secured a comfortable and decisive 3-0 home victory against FC 08 Villingen. The B-Juniors decided the game within ten minutes of the first half: Three quick goals (29th, 34th, and 38th minutes) took the wind out of their opponents‘ sails. The Young Lilies then played the game confidently to the end. With the win, SV Darmstadt 98 overtook SpVgg Unterhaching on the final matchday and finished the season in third place in their group of the DFB Youth League B.
Darmstadt’s U19 team ended its competitive season last week with a defeat in the Hessen Cup. However, on Sunday (June 29th, 2pm), the U19 team will play another friendly away in the Ruhr region against VfL Bochum’s A-Juniors.
With three early ippons, Theo Keppl clinched his 5th European Judo Veterans Title (M9 class) in Riga, Latvia. Both Keppl and his opponents remained injury-free and unharmed throughout the tournament. For Theodor Keppel, a long-time member of SV 98, this victory is another major achievement following his title as Veterans World Champion in November 2024. SV Darmstadt 98 warmly congratulates him on this fantastic result!
On Monday (May 26), Peter Schmidt, a member of the 98ers‘ Council of Elders, celebrated his 87th birthday. Schmidt attended his first Lilies games back in 1946 – back then at alternative pitches near the university stadium or at the cycling track in Bessungen. He has been a club member since 1950 and has had close ties to SV 98 since his childhood. His commitment to the club is impressive: Between 1963 and 1970, the Darmstadt native volunteered as the club’s youth leader. For many years, he watched his Lilies‘ games from the back straight before being elected to the Council of Elders in 2014 and has had his seat in the main stand ever since. We pay tribute to 87 years full of life and 75 years of unwavering loyalty to our SV Darmstadt 98. Dear Peter, happy birthday!
From the warm opening ceremony to the awards ceremony: The German Football ID Championship in Darmstadt offered exciting games, many wonderful encounters and a well-deserved German champion in the Hesse selection, which also included players from the SV 98 ID team.
The first dates for SV 98's preparations for the 2026/27 second division season have been set: On June 25th, the professional team will return to the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor to undergo various medical tests and performance diagnostics. The first team training session will take place on June 27th in the Odenwald region.
Who will SV Darmstadt 98 face in the first round of the DFB Cup? This question will be answered this coming Saturday (June 6th). The draw for the first round will be broadcast live on ARD's Sportschau. We'll be taking a look and providing you with all the information. We'll also be celebrating with the fan team's survival in the Kreisklasse B (eighth tier) and taking a look across the border to Texas in the USA. All this and more for you in "Lilies Across the Board" on Wednesday.
Fraser Hornby's time at Darmstadt 98 comes to an end after three years. The Scottish attacking midfielder is moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Both clubs have agreed to keep the transfer fee confidential.
An eight-goal thriller to close out the season. The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team took to the pitch one last time this season on Saturday (May 30th) – away against FC Eddersheim. The young Lilies secured a 5-3 victory in Eddersheim, finishing the 2025/26 Hessenliga season in eleventh place. Even more remarkable, however, was the U21's run at the end of the season: the Blue and Whites won their last five matches, scoring an impressive 22 goals in the process.
Barcelona, ​​Spain. A global city right on the Mediterranean. Over 1.7 million people live here. And one of them is Clemens Riedel. The 22-year-old former Darmstadt player moved from SV 98 to Espanyol Barcelona last summer – from youth academy to professional in the Spanish first division. We spoke with Riedel about his first year in Barcelona, ​​the past season, and his still close ties to Darmstadt.
SV 98 can continue to rely on the services of Fabian NĂĽrnberger. The Lilies have extended the expiring contract with the Bulgarian international.
Grayson Dettoni will continue to wear the SV 98 jersey. The Lilies have exercised their option to buy the defender, who was previously on loan from FC Bayern Munich.
The German Football Championship for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) kicks off on Sunday – and it's taking place in Darmstadt's Bürgerpark! Last week, the Darmstadt 98ers' home ground offered a different kind of sporting event: a karate demonstration. We also take a look at the opponents for the new season and celebrate two birthdays this week. You'll find all this and much more about Darmstadt 98 in our usual "Lilies Across the Board".
„I’m proud of you,“ were the words of U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt to the team after they secured their place in the Hessenliga. On Saturday (May 23rd), SV Darmstadt 98’s U21 team had the chance to stay in the league against Turabdin Babylon Pohlheim – and they seized it impressively! The young Lilies delivered a convincing 5-1 goal fest, but at the same time still needed help from other teams to guarantee their survival. However, because their direct rivals, CSC 03 Kassel, narrowly lost in Stadtallendorf, the U21 team was finally able to celebrate.
For the fourth time, the Haftpflichtkasse insurance company and SV Darmstadt 98 have jointly awarded four clubs with the Volunteer Award. The award ceremony, including the presentation of the checks, took place last Sunday (May 17th) before the home game against SC Paderborn at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. The Volunteer Award, established in 2023 by the Haftpflichtkasse and SV Darmstadt 98, aims to strengthen volunteer engagement and promote outstanding projects.
