FC 96 Recklinghausen is in the promotion battle in the Bezirksliga Staffel 9 in Westphalia. Now the goal has been strengthened once again.

FC 96 Recklinghausen has pulled off a minor transfer coup. Goalkeeper Rafael Hester is moving to Hohenhorst! The 1.90-meter-tall goalkeeper comes to the second-placed team in the Bezirksliga 9 in Westphalia with a track record of 26 regional league and 143 upper league games.

96 coach Milko Trisic is thrilled, and sporting director Misel Zec is also full of praise for our new signing: “In Rafael Hester, we welcome a goalkeeper who needs no introduction in our region. He has been one of the top goalkeepers in the area for years and brings with him a wealth of experience from higher-level amateur football. Stations such as Haltern, Ahlen, Schermbeck, VfB Hüls, and Erkenschwick speak for his quality and his sporting career,“ explain the coach and sporting director in unison. Trisic and Zec continue: ”The talks with Rafael were very pleasant from the start and showed how well he fits in with us both personally and athletically. We are very happy that Rafael has chosen us. With his footballing strength, his calmness, and his personality, he will enrich our team both on and off the pitch. Welcome to the team, Rafael!” Hester transferred from SpVgg Erkenschwick to KFC Uerdingen in the summer of 2025. In his career to date, the goalkeeper has played 25 games in the Regionalliga West for TuS Haltern and Rot Weiss Ahlen, among others. He has also played one game in the Regionalliga Nord for BSV Schwarz-Weiß Rehden, 143 games in the Oberliga Westfalen for VfB Hüls, TSV Marl-Hüls, Haltern, SV Schermbeck and Erkenschwick, and three games in the Oberliga Niederrhein for KFC Uerdingen.

After 14 games, FC 96 Recklinghausen is only two points behind Erler Spielverein with 32 points. However, FC 96 still has a game in hand compared to Gelsenkirchen-Erle.