Our next opponents: Würzburger Kickers

In the almost 110-year history of the club, Würzburger Kickers have been in the second division twice. The team from Lower Franconia first achieved promotion in 1977 but the adventure in the second tier ended one year later. Following relegation, the ‘Red Shorts’ ended up in the lower reaches of amateur football with 2003 providing the low point with relegation to the seventh tier Bezirksliga. For many years it was left for the basketball star Dirk Nowitzki to provide sporting representation for the city of 130,000 inhabitants in the north of Bavaria.

It is only in recent years that football has made more positive headlines in Würzburg: With four successive promotions between 2011 and 2016 Würzburg rose like a rocket from the state league to the second division – no other club has achieved the leap from amateur to professional football as quickly. A large part was played by the Würzburg-born and former HSV pro Bernd Hollerbach who took over as coach in the summer of 2014. At the end of the 2015/16 campaign, he led his team to victory in the play-offs against MSV Duisburg to take the Kickers up into the second division. However, in spite of an impressive first half of the season (sixth place on 27 points) the team ended the second season in the second tier in 17th position and that meant relegation to the third division.

Relaunch under Stephan Schmidt

Contrary to the wishes of the club management, Bernd Hollerbach threw in the towel at Würzburg. The coaching position was filled by Stephan Schmidt who previously worked in the youth academies at Wolfsburg and Schalke. This is the third opportunity for Schmidt to establish himself in professional football after two unsuccessful stays at second division clubs Cottbus and Paderborn. Now comes a complete new start. Only eight players remain from last season's second division squad: 16 players have left the club and 16 of arrived. All the squad has third division experience with the exception of three players. Goalkeeper Wolfgang Hesl, defender Sebastian Schuppan and striker Elia Soriano have played in the top two divisions in Germany.

Würzburger Kickers are well advanced in their pre-season preparations as the third division season kicks off in ten days time with a fixture at Meppen. The friendly against the Werkself represents the dress rehearsal for the start of the league campaign.

JAKO have organised the match on the artificial pitch in Hollenbach. The event starts two hours before kick-off at 15.30 CET. Entrance is free for children up to and including the age of 13. 14 to 17-year-olds, school students, students, OAPs and women pay the concession rate of €5. Full price admission is €10.