Summer preparation: Complete! SV 98 starts the new 2024/25 second division season on Sunday (August 4th/1:30pm) and welcomes Fortuna Düsseldorf to the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor - and Marcel Schuhen will be in goal as number one for the Lilies. In a media round, the keeper answered questions from journalists and reported on the anticipation of the new season. At the same time, the U19s are also preparing for their first opponent of the season and the Lilien family is celebrating the next series of birthdays. You can find out all this and more in our weekly “Lilies across the Board” section.
Without him, would SV Darmstadt 98 have anything to do with professional football today? Probably not. Hans Kessler: A very decisive personality in the history of Lilies. In September 2007 – in difficult economic and sporting times for the club – Kessler was elected president of SV 98. As the new Lilien president, he averted the threat of insolvency at the time and, thanks to structural changes and a realignment of the sports club, laid the foundation for sustainable, structural and economic recovery. Hans Kessler: As President from 2007 to 2012 and as a member of the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2015, he made invaluable contributions to our sports club. Next Saturday (August 3rd) Hans Kessler will celebrate his 75th birthday. We would like to say thank you once again for everything you have done for the Lilies and congratulate you on your special day, dear Hans!
I'm glad that it's starting now and the tingling is finally starting again.
“I’m glad that it’s starting now and the tingling is finally starting again,” emphasised Marcel Schuhen in a media round on Tuesday afternoon (July 31st). The SV Darmstadt 98 goalkeeper is looking forward to the new second division season – and especially to the first home game next Sunday (August 4th/1:30pm) against Fortuna Düsseldorf. “For me, this is one of the top 5 teams in the league,” explains Schuhen when asked about their opening opponents. New season. New challenges. However, the Lilies are well prepared for this. The number 1 in South Hesse said: “I have the feeling that something is emerging here again. We’ve got new guys who really want to step on the gas. You can see this in every single form of training and game. We have an ambitious team and want to collect results again.”
The final phase of summer preparation is over. And the U19s return from the familiar “Das Bischof” hotel with fresh energy – now ready for the upcoming season. “As in previous years, the conditions in Tauberbischofsheim were excellent. Great places, warm people and good food. We made the most of the time to prepare for the season. We’re going to Nürnberg next week,” said U19 head coach Patrick Kurt in a positive mood. He and his U19s start the new season with an away game at 1. FC Nürnberg. The last time the two teams met in the 2022/23 season there was a draw (1:1). How will we get the first points in the DFB’s new youth league?
Before the start of the season, despite the intensive preparation, there is also reason to celebrate: Today, Thursday (August 1st), Lilien head coach Torsten Lieberknecht will celebrate his 51st birthday! The native of the Palatinate took over the coaching position at SV Darmstadt 98 in 2021 and has since then made a significant contribution to the development of the team – unforgettable moments such as promotion to the Bundesliga in 2023 that will always be remembered. Lieberknecht has been on the sidelines of SV 98 for 107 competitive games and fully identifies with the sports club from Darmstadt. Dear Torsten, we warmly congratulate you on your special day and wish you all the best!
„Die Sonne scheint. Die Menge tobt und wartet auf ein Lilientor!“ Every Lily knows these lines and knows this song inside and out. Alberto Colucci, the performer of our ever-popular Lily hymn, turns 71 on Friday (August 2). Alberto, we warmly congratulate you on your special day and wish you all the best! Thank you for still delighting all stadium visitors at the Böllenfalltor with your melody and lyrics after more than 30 years! We wish you sunny weather and lots of goals from your favourite team in the coming season.
And the next member of the coaching team, please! On the Lilies‘ first matchday (August 4th) of the new season, our assistant coach Darius Scholtysik celebrates his 58th birthday. He has been part of the Lilien family since July and will have his first competitive game as part of the Lilies on the sidelines on his birthday. Darius, we congratulate you on your special day!
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
Tickets for the league match in Nürnberg (Nov. 7th) and the cup match in Elversberg (Oct. 27th) are available for purchase now.
For the upcoming home match on Saturday (October 10th, 2026, at 1pm), SV 98 asks you to take note of the following information. Since the start of the season, we have been offering dedicated entrances for women at the west side of the stadium. Additionally, there is a "Bölle Bande" family entrance with easier access at the Karl-Hess-Platz entrance. Please also take note of the information provided by HEAG regarding the autumn break.