There's a lot going on on the playing fields this week for SV Darmstadt 98: The professional team is challenged in Karlsruhe, the traditional 98 team is flying to Barcelona and of course the ball is also rolling on the region's sports fields. We also report on new signing Philipp Förster, who is making his debut answered journalists' questions with a view to the upcoming game against KSC. You can read all about this in our weekly “Lilies all over the Board” section.
We’re going to the wildlife park. Next Friday (October 4th/6:30pm) the Lilies will play away against Karlsruher SC. In addition to Marco Thiede, it should also be a special game for Philipp Förster. During his time as a player without a club, SV 98’s new man kept fit at KSC – where he once played as a youth player. Now he returns to Karlsruhe – but as a lily professional. So far, Förster feels he is in good hands with the South Hessians. “I quickly found my way around. It’s fun to be here,” emphasized the 29-year-old in a media round on Tuesday (October 1st). Already against Magdeburg he collected his first minutes with the Lily on his chest. What are the next consequences against KSC? “That’s up to the coach to decide,” smiled Förster and added, referring to the encounter in the wildlife park: “Now it’s just a matter of sticking with it and continuing to work day after day. Then the points will come. Maybe as early as Friday.”
International flair for the lilies. The traditional team of SV Darmstadt 98 will have the honor of playing against the five-time Champions League winners FC Barcelona next Friday (October 4th). Of course not against Hansi Flick’s current team, but also against their traditional team. Big names and legends like Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff and Andrés Iniesta once played for the Catalans. It still remains to be seen which stars will actually be on the pitch against SV 98 at 12.30pm in the “Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper” in Barcelona. We definitely wish our traditional team lots of fun, lots of success and a great time in Spain!
Would you like to find out more about our new head coach Florian Kohfeldt? Then next Monday (October 7th) is the best opportunity for this. At the fan evening in the Lilienschänke, the Lilien’s head coach will be available to answer all your questions from 7pm to 9pm. At the same time, you can also wish him a happy birthday. Finally, Kohfeldt will be 42 years old next Saturday (October 5th). It is not necessary to register for the fan evening; we operate according to the “first come, first serve” principle.
The U21 of SV Darmstadt 98 is facing an English week. The team travels away to VFB 1905 Marburg in the Hessenliga on Thursday (October 3rd). The game starts at 3pm. No time to take a breather, because things continue straight away on Sunday (October 6th): Then the young Lilies welcome TuS Hornau at home in Alsbach. Kick-off is at 3pm. Both games are direct duels in the lower table region of the Lotto Hessenliga.
The SV Darmstadt 98 fan team wants to get back on the road to success. After coach Andreas Degenhardt’s team remained unbeaten for six games in a row, the last two duels were lost. Most recently, the „zwote Zwote“ lost 3-1 against SKG Bickenbach II last weekend. There is a chance to improve next Sunday (October 6th), when the Darmstadt team plays at 3pm at the bottom of the table in the district league C, SV Croatia Griesheim II.
In addition to head coach Florian Kohfeldt, who celebrates his 42nd birthday on Saturday (October 5th), there are other birthday children in our ranks. Team manager Michael Richter is happy about his special day on the same day as the head coach; Richter is 52 years old. In addition, on Thursday (October 3rd) our long-standing executive board member Wolfgang Arnold will celebrate his 74th birthday. Oscar Vilhelmsson already had reason to be happy on Wednesday (October 2nd) – the Swedish offensive player turned 21 years old. We wish you all the best and congratulate you warmly.
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.