The SV Darmstadt 98 fan team also has a summer break! The “Zwote” played their last game of the season at FC Ober-Ramstadt II on Tuesday evening (May 28th), which they unfortunately lost 2-4. Nevertheless, the Lilien fan team finished in a good third place in the district league C Darmstadt. After the duel, we took the opportunity to talk to coach Andreas Degenhardt and look at the past and future season with him. He also explains why he is particularly proud to be able to train the second team.
Hi, Andreas! The second season in a row is over, which you finished in third place in the district league C. How satisfied are you with your team’s performance and performance?
Andreas Degenhardt: „Overall, we can be happy with where we are in the table, but I wasn’t always happy with our individual performances. But the boys are their own biggest critics and can assess that well. When we came out of the summer break, we had a small one dip in form and one or two injury problems. That had a noticeable impact on the team. Players had to play in positions that they hadn’t often played in. So I see that I still have a lot of potential for the coming season.“
Which game from last season do you particularly remember?
Degenhardt: „The second gameagainst TG Bessungen Darmstadt. We took the 2-1 lead in the 90th minute and then lost the game 2-3. That was highly emotional and unfortunately also a sticking point in the season pulled the plug on us a bit.“
What would you describe as the biggest challenge in the past season?
Degenhardt: „The biggest challenge for us was that after the 2022/23 season, some experienced players who had had a big influence on the team in previous years left us. These were guys who were not only important on the pitch, but also in the dressing room – especially with the way they spoke to the others. But family and professional reasons came together, so that some of them even stopped playing football. You definitely felt this change „It was the biggest thing we had to do with the second team so far. So the team first had to find itself again. It was just a matter of finding out who could take the floor in the dressing room or wake up the team.“
Last season was not successful for the professionals with relegation to the Bundesliga. You are all fans of the club too. How much did the Lilies‘ sporting failure affect the mood in the second team?
Degenhardt: „For us, the entire club and especially the first team obviously have a special influence. Especially after games like against Augsburg, you noticed that there was only one topic of conversation in the dressing room. And that was also in ours „We still wear the Lily with pride on the village sports fields every weekend.“
You have now finished your fourth season as a fan team. How much does it still motivate the boys to wear the Lily on their chest and the jersey of their favourite club? Or have you gotten used to it now?
Degenhardt: „That’s of course always a point with which we always motivate the boys by telling them: ‚Take a closer look at yourself. Look which logo is on your chest and which club is on the back of your jerseys!” For me personally, it is still an absolute highlight to send the boys onto the pitch every weekend with the main responsibility. There is simply nothing more beautiful for me. I’ve been going to the stadium for 20 years and now to be a small part of the bigger picture is really cool.“
I love all my boys because I know exactly what they love - and that's the same as me: the SVD!
What makes this team and the team so special for you?
Degenhardt: „Four years ago we were a mixed bag. And even today, people join us who we didn’t know at the beginning. But immediately there is this consensus for everyone: „SV Darmstadt 98″. It’s never the case that we have major problems with communication because we are all behind this club and we all have the same interest. I love all my boys because I know exactly what they love – and that’s the same as me: the SVD! makes it incredibly easy for me as a coach.“
Can you already predict what will change for the new season? Do you already have a goal for the season in mind?
Degenhardt: „The team actually stays together as much as possible. We’re only strengthening ourselves in certain areas. I’m generally not a fan of saying that we’ll be promoted next season. We simply have to invest too much for that every weekend. After all, it is always special for our opponents when we come. But we have now finished third in the C class twice. Our personal goal should of course be to perhaps be one place higher at the end of the coming season.“
Now it’s time for the summer break. Are there any plans yet as to when you will start preparing for the new season again?
Degenhardt: „We’ll start preparing on July 1st. We’ll also be going to a test game as part of the professionals‘ training camp. We’ll also have an absolute highlight game in the university stadium, at the former place of work of the Lilies in front of the chest. That’s why There will be one or two highlights and we are already looking forward to the upcoming 2024/25 season.“
Thank you for the conversation, Andreas!
The first highlight for the coming season has already been determined: On July 14th, the second team will face a selection team from TU Darmstadt in a friendly match. The game will be played in the University Stadium, which was the Lilies‘ home stadium from 1947 to 1952. Get your tickets now, capacity is limited to 998 spectators.
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.