FC 96 Recklinghausen is in the thick of the promotion race in Westphalia’s Bezirksliga Division 9. Now, the team has further strengthened its goalkeeping position.

FC 96 Recklinghausen has pulled off a minor transfer coup. Goalkeeper Rafael Hester is moving to Hohenhorst! The 1.90-meter-tall goalkeeper joins the second-place team in Westphalia’s Bezirksliga 9 with a track record of 26 Regionalliga and 143 Oberliga matches.

96 coach Milko Trisic is thrilled, and sporting director Misel Zec is also full of praise for our new signing: “With Rafael Hester, we’re welcoming a goalkeeper who needs no introduction in our region. He’s been one of the top goalkeepers in the area for years and brings a wealth of experience from higher-level amateur soccer. Clubs like Haltern, Ahlen, Schermbeck, VfB Hüls, and Erkenschwick speak to his quality and his athletic career,” the coach and sporting director explain in unison.

Trisic and Zec add: “The conversations with Rafael were incredibly pleasant from the very beginning and showed just how well he fits in with us, both personally and athletically. We’re very happy that Rafael chose us. With his soccer skills, his composure, and his personality, he’ll enrich our team both on and off the field. Welcome to the team, Rafael!”

Hester transferred from SpVgg Erkenschwick to KFC Uerdingen in the summer of 2025. In his career so far, the goalkeeper has played 25 matches in the Regionalliga West for TuS Haltern and Rot Weiss Ahlen, among others. He also played one match in the Regionalliga Nord for BSV Schwarz-Weiß Rehden, as well as 143 matches in the Oberliga Westfalen for VfB Hüls, TSV Marl-Hüls, Haltern, SV Schermbeck, and Erkenschwick, and three matches in the Oberliga Niederrhein for KFC Uerdingen.

After 14 games, FC 96 Recklinghausen sits just two points behind Spielverein Erle with 32 points. However, FC 96 still has a make-up game against Gelsenkirchen-Erle up its sleeve.