Rot Weiss Ahlen

Football club infobox
clubname = Rot-Weiß Ahlen


fullname = Rot Weiss Ahlen e.V.
nickname = -
founded = 1996
ground = Wersestadion, Ahlen
capacity = 10,500
chairman = Helmut Spikker
manager = Christian Wück
league = 2. Bundesliga
season = 2007-08
position = Regionalliga Nord (III), 1st
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Rot-Weiß Ahlen is a German football club based in Ahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Until recently the club was known as "LR Ahlen" for its major sponsor, but underwent a name change when the sponsor withdrew its support after the team was relegated to the Regionalliga (III) in 2006.

History

The club has its roots in the local sides of the early 1900s formed by coalminers who played pickup games after work. In 1917, "Freie Sportclub Union (FSCU) Ahlen" was founded and became one of the region's best known teams, playing in the second tier leagues of the time. The rise of the Third Reich saw the club disbanded as over three-quarters of its members were foreigners making the side politically unpalatable to the regime. A new club, "Tus Germania Ahlen", was formed in 1933. This side merged with the strong local club "Wacker Ahlen" to create the town's largest sports association.

After World War II attempts to rebuild local teams failed until members of eight pre-war clubs came together to form "TuS Ahlen" in 1948. The new side went on to many decades of routine play in the local upper leagues. In 1991 they were faced with a financial crisis and demotion to lower level play. A local benefactor, Helmut Spikker, helped bail the team out through the support provided by his firm, cosmetics manufacturer LR International.

Now on a firm footing "TuS Ahlen" enjoyed an impressive run of success through the early 90s beginning with a Berzirksliga Westfalen (VII) title in 1992 and promotion to the Landesliga Westfalen (VI). In each of the following three seasons "TuS" earned another championship and promotion; out of the Landesliga, through the Verbandsliga Westfalen-Nordost (V) and Oberliga Wetsfalen (IV), leading to the Regionalliga West/Südwest (III).

"Leichtathletik Rasensport Ahlen" was formed on June 1, 1996 when "TuS Ahlen" merged with "Blau-Weiß Ahlen" to begin play in the Regionalliga West/Südwest in 1996-97. The club's rise was stalled and they made a bid again move up by signing a number of players with Bundesliga experience for 1998-99. However, they could only manage a sixth place finish and subsequently unloaded their expensive talent. Living more within their means, the side earned promotion with a second place result in 1999-2000 and a 2:1 victory over "1. FC Union Berlin" in the playoff round to advance to the 2. Bundesliga. "Ahlen"'s best result came in their debut in the second tier when they ended sixth. The team slipped to become a lower tier side and lingered for another five seasons before a 17th place result led to their demotion in 2006.

After being relegated "LR Ahlen" lost the support of its major sponsor and underwent a name change to become "Rot-Weiß Ahlen" on May 31, 2006. Chairman Spikker also left the club at the end of August with his successor being vice-president Heinz-Jürgen Gosda. She finally returned to 2. Bundesliga after finishing North Group of Regionalliga as champion in 2007-2008.

Recent seasons

Honours

*Bezirksliga Westfalen champions: 1993
*Landesliga Westfalen champions: 1994
*Verbandsliga Westfalen Nordost champions: 1995
*Oberliga Westfalen champions: 1996

Current squad (2008/09)

"For recent transfers, see List of German football transfers summer 2008."

References

* [http://www.lrahlen.de Official club website]
* [http://www.abseits-soccer.com/clubs/ahlen.html The Abseits Guide to German Soccer]