Across football in Germany there are many friendships between clubs and fans. This weekend we visited FSV Zwickau and found out about the FSV Zwickau and Dynamo Dresden friendship.
Who are FSV Zwickau?
FSV Zwickau participate in Regionalliga Nordost which is the fourth tier of football in Germany. Whilst the previously named BSG Motor Zwickau won the first ever GDR Championship in 1950 and reached the European Cup Winners Cup Semi Finals, unlike many well known clubs from the old East Germany, FSV Zwickau have never regularly participated at the top end having spent most years in 3.Liga and Regionalliga.
Back in 2005 they were relegated to the then sixth tier of football which led to insolvency. The recovery started in 2012 when the club won their Oberliga title and managed to gain promotion from Regionalliga to 3Liga in 2016 where they finished 5th. Whilst this my seem modest to some, Zwickau has a population of just 100,000 and arguably represents over-achievement.
A clear friendship
The FSV Zwickau and Dynamo Dresden Friendship isn’t an urban legend or a just a spoken about relationship – it is significant in the current day. Like us, it would be impossible to visit FSV Zwickau and not become familiar with the story – Dynamo Dresden is everywhere. On arrival at the ground the first realisation of this is on the stairs entering the stadium.
Dynamo Dresden stickers appear on the steps leading into the ground
A visit to the toilet offered further evidence of this friendship as the stage moved from the odd sticker to walls and booths full of Dynamo Dresden stickers
What is the history to the friendship?
A match between FSV Zwickau and Dynamo Dresden is a Sachsenderby and with both clubs coming from the Saxony region it may make a friendship somewhat surprising. The friendship was formed in 2001 and back in 2021 Dynamo Dresden reported this on their own website – a 20 Year anniversary of the friendship which read as follows:
“The year was 2001. In the spring and summer, the same fans from the Dresden and Zwickau fan scenes repeatedly ran into each other while “groundhopping,” which involves attending football matches in as many different stadiums as possible. They quickly realized they were on the same wavelength, and over the years, the good relationship between the respective ultra groups developed into a friendship across fan scenes.”
“The first visible demonstration of friendship, visible to 2,300 people at the time, took place on July 7, 2001, at the SGD’s friendly match against 1. FC Nürnberg II in Dresden’s Jägerpark. As is customary with fan friendships, this was done by hanging the friend’s flag in their own section, only back then it was a field.” You can read that article here.
50/50 Scarves demonstrate the bond
Whilst 50/50 scarves are scorned upon by many as pieces of merchandise, marketing a match between two clubs for revenue, this is different – these fans are displaying a love between two clubs and sets of supporters. These FSV Zwickau fans were proud and happy to share this photo. We are not talking just a few fans, these were on display everywhere you looked.
Is a visit to FSV Zwickau worthwhile?
We would absolutely recommend a visit to the GGZ Arena, home of FSV Zwickau.
As groundhoppers we were unsure how we would be welcomed but it was one of the friendliest places we have visited. This started outside the ground before the match whist the gates were still locked – fans were happy to have photo’s taken of their Kutte (a denim jacket decorated in club patches) and also helped the language barrier at the fans hop situated in a container outside the ground. We enjoyed a couple of beers and bratwurst mingling amongst Zwickau fans.
FSV Zwickau fan in Kutte
Other Club Friendships in Germany
Of course, this is not the only friendship between clubs in Germany or their sets of fans, however it was certainly one we knew little of. Traditionally people talk about the FC Nuremberg and Fc Schalke friendship where the fans mix and the clubs even manufacture special jerseys.
Who are Covert Football Trips?
We have confidence in building unrivalled Mystery Football Trips and are the original company to offer this type of trip. Our attention to detail is something we take extremely seriously and even go as far as bar/restaurant recommendations in your reveal pack (and sometimes even make bookings for you!)
Not only that, we love to get you involved. It may be that a higher quality hotel becomes available, and sometimes where the choice is available, we will ask if you want baggage extra’s added so that you are travelling in the way you would like. We are human and we can have a chat with you!
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