“My connection to SV Darmstadt actually started with my father, who still played field handball here in the old stadium,” says current board member Wolfgang Arnold, recalling his first contacts with the Lilies: “But I only really got involved when when our two sons started playing football here. There was no coach for the F youth, but I wanted the two boys to be able to play here. That’s why I said that I was ready to take over the F-Youth.”
“Because Wolfgang was then a coach, we often had his boots at home,” says his wife Jutta Arnold, looking back on the 1990s: “For example, our goalkeeper was incredibly good, but didn’t have that much support from home. Then we always picked him up on Saturdays before the games and he was with us afterwards.” But Jutta Arnold had already gone to the Lilies before, less because of the football and more as a social meeting place, as she says. “Before, I sometimes went to the football field with our gang on Sundays; back then, women still had free entry. I wasn’t particularly interested in football, I have to be honest, it was just a nice get-together among friends,“ she says in the new issue of „Lilien-Köpfe“.
For her husband Wolfgang, it wasn’t just the position of F youth coach; the now 73-year-old gradually took on new positions at the SVD. “I started as a trainer, then I was deputy youth leader, then I was elected as auditor at the general meeting. Apparently I made such a lasting impression that the then President Walter Grimm asked me if I would like to move to the presidency,” says Wolfgang Arnold about his positions with the 98ers.
He still sits on the executive committee of the Lilies today, and his area of responsibility includes ten departments of the sports club. In the latest episode “Lilien-Köpfe” we accompanied our executive committee member to, among other things, the SV 98 basketball game, a sport that really fascinates Arnold: “I just think the sport is great. The game is fast, varied, it goes back and forth without many interruptions.”
His wife Jutta also made a lasting impression on the Lilies; she started working at the office in May 2004. “I was definitely a girl for everything,” she says today. “The people who worked in the office were responsible for everything. Back then, we were still in the main stand, so the team was always close to us, to be precise, only on the first floor below,” says Jutta Arnold about her time at SVD. You can find out which moments were particularly special for the couple and which department Wolfgang Arnold is particularly proud of in the new episode “Lilien-Köpfe” on our YouTube channel.
About our “Lily Heads” section:
In this section we introduce you to interesting “Lily Heads”. People who may not be in the spotlight. People who can still tell so many and varied stories about themselves and our sports club. Stay tuned and look forward to interesting insights and stories.
Attention Lilien fans: During SV Darmstadt 98’s training camp in Bad Wörishofen (Allgäu region)—taking place from July 19th to July 26th, 2026—there will once again be an opportunity to meet the team, chat with the players, and, of course, get autographs and photos. The fan meet-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th, following the friendly match against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. Kick-off for the match is at 12pm.
SV 98 remains active in the transfer market. The "Lilies" have signed Christopher Lannert from Arminia Bielefeld.
Friendly matches, fundraising campaigns, and plenty of photos—that’s what the week looked like for SV 98 and the club’s community. Between their 5–1 victory over FC Homburg and the upcoming friendly in Walldorf this Friday (July 17), the „Lilies“ showed their best side for the cameras. In addition, the SV 98 legends team will face an Odenwald select squad on Sunday (July 19th). You can also win great prizes in competitions taking place in Erbach and at the pop-up store in downtown Darmstadt. Lilies Across the Board brings you all the latest news from life at SV 98.
The Bundesliga finalised the match schedules for matchdays three through six on Wednesday (July 15th): Darmstadt's home game against Hannover 96 on matchday three will take place on Sunday. This will be followed by their away game against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at 1pm. The home game against Arminia Bielefeld on Friday evening and the away game in Wolfsburg, also on Friday evening, have also been confirmed.
The Lilies can welcome another new arrival at the Böllenfalltor: Florian Kleinhansl will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 25-year-old joins on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract with 1. FC Kaiserslautern on June 30th.
Third test, third clear victory. SV 98 won the match against FC 08 Homburg 5-1 (3-0).
SV Darmstadt 98 and the fusion energy company Focused Energy are entering into an official partnership. The aim of the collaboration is to more closely link top-level football and high technology from the Darmstadt region and to jointly generate momentum for innovation and future societal issues.
Killian Corredor will be playing in his home country again in the future. SV 98 has reached an agreement with FC Nantes on the transfer of the Frenchman.
On Tuesday (July 14, 6pm), SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Regionalliga side FC Homburg and asks fans to take note of the following information.
A home game against KSV! SV Darmstadt 98 hosts Holstein Kiel for the opening matchday of the 2. Bundesliga season this Saturday (August 8 at 1pm). Here’s how you can be there: the member pre-sale for the new season's first home game begins this coming Wednesday (July 15) at 12pm —available online and at the ticket shop at the Merck-Stadion, as usual. You can find all further details in this announcement.
For every home goal scored by the "Lilies," SV Darmstadt 98 fans were doubly rewarded during the recent 2025/26 second-division season. Beyond the joy and excitement, supporters received 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every goal Darmstadt scored at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
In recent days, various media outlets have published reports and graphics regarding the distribution of TV revenue for the 2026/27 season. Some of these reports included not only specific figures but also a comparison to the previous season. This comparison indicates a supposed revenue increase of €1.4 million for SV 98 compared to the 2025/26 season.
