When SC Tegel grew to become German newbie champion: The feeling within the “Stadion am Zoo”

Only a few nonetheless know in regards to the dramatic sport precisely 60 years in the past in Wuppertal’s “Stadion am Zoo”, through which the small SC Tegel achieved the most important shock success in Berlin’s soccer historical past on the time. With a really slim 1-0 win in opposition to the massive favourite Tura Bonn, the Berlin membership secured the German newbie championship for the primary time on June 30, 1962.

One one that was there on the time nonetheless has fond reminiscences of that day: Volker Behnke. “The individuals of Bonn snuck away like watered poodles, and we had been extremely blissful,” says the now 82-year-old. For the fiftieth anniversary ten years in the past, Behnke had drummed up a few of his teammates from again then and carried out a tune he had written himself, primarily consisting of the names of the primary eleven, to the melody of Greek wine by Udo Jürgens, which he nonetheless likes to sing at present: “Faist was in objective, defender Jan Hahn, Lehmann, Mrosek, Daring had been our runners.”

Behnke tells of the political significance that this sport had at the moment, as a result of Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic in 1962 and just about everybody was satisfied that Tura would win. Simply not the workforce from SC Tegel, who believed within the miracle. “For us, with eight Reinickendorfers within the beginning XI, it was an enormous occasion,” stated Behnke. “You could be a little proud you could be so profitable with out cash and solely with camaraderie, ambition and expertise.”

Bonn, alternatively, got here to Wuppertal a bit of conceited, the ribbons of the wreaths already bore the inscription “Deutscher Meister Tura”, and goalkeeper Schattulat didn’t assume it obligatory in the midst of the second half to place up a wall for a free kick from round 20 meters. A mistake, because it shortly turned out, as a result of Karl Bölk transformed to Tegel’s lead, which the sports activities membership held till the tip. “That they had all made the wreaths for Tura Bonn and we had been the undergrounds from West Berlin, fully with no probability,” says Behnke. “However we had the desire, one for all underneath the motto: It's a must to be eleven mates.”

SC Tegel not exists, for the reason that merger with SC Heiligensee the membership has been referred to as Nordberliner SC, which has additionally contributed to the truth that the Berlin champions are an increasing number of forgotten. However Behnke by no means tires of remembering the championship and has set himself the objective of nonetheless with the ability to sing in regards to the superb occasions of the small membership from Tegel on the age of 85.