Preparation time is also test match time. After the Lilies have already played three test matches against amateur clubs from the area, head coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team will meet the regional league team FSV Frankfurt on Wednesday (10/7 at 7pm), the game will be played in the PSD Bank Arena in Frankfurt-Bornheim. We took a closer look at the 98ers‘ test match opponents for you.
99 years ago, FSV Frankfurt almost became German champions, only in the championship final did the Bornheimers lose 1-0 to 1. FC Nürnberg after extra time. 40,000 spectators watched the final in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion. Eight years later, in 1933, the FSV was crowned South German champions again. But it was never enough for the big hit; in 1938, the Frankfurt team lost 3-1 in the cup final against Rapid Vienna.
Even after the Second World War, the Bornheimers played in the first division, and it was not until 1962 that they were relegated to the second division. In the next 35 years, the Frankfurt team always played in the second or third league. The big bang followed in 1996: relegation to the fourth-class Oberliga Hessen, and the club was also on the verge of bankruptcy. Although this could be averted, sporting success still failed to materialise.
After several failed attempts, they were promoted to the 3rd league (then regional league) in 2007, and the following summer they managed to move straight through to the 2nd Bundesliga – even though qualifying for the newly founded 3rd league was already considered difficult. After a few years in the second league, the Frankfurt team had to go back to the third league in 2016, and just a year later they even went to the regional league.
Since 2017, the fans on the Bornheimer Hang have been seeing regional league football again, and the FSV has had to be careful twice since then that it doesn’t go down another level. The 2022/23 season, on the other hand, was the best sporting season in recent years, with the team finishing fifth in the table and last season the Bornheimers were ninth.
The past season could hardly have been more spectacular; Schott Mainz was welcomed to the Bornheimer Hang on the first match day. After a 0-2 deficit, the guests from Rhineland-Palatinate made it 1-3 in the 90th minute, and their hope of at least one point at the start sank. But what happened next bordered on a sporting miracle. Frankfurt scored in the second, seventh and ninth minutes of stoppage time and turned the game around to a 4-3 opening win. Five days later, FSV only lost on penalties to Hansa Rostock in the first round of the DFB Cup. In the end, they finished in a single-digit place in the table, but the Bornheimers missed out on winning the Hessen Cup and the associated re-entry into the DFB Cup.
At the end of June, the regional league team announced the early extension of the contract with their head coach Tim Görner. The 28-year-old, who has been working in various roles in both the junior and men’s divisions since 2016, took over the position of head coach in March 2022. At that time, FSV was still in a relegation zone. „Under Tim’s leadership, our team has developed steadily in recent years. The daily hard work of the coaching and functional team as well as their commitment on and off the pitch have convinced us to continue on this path together,“ said managing director Robert Lempka about the extension.
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.
