On Friday, the second Bezirksliga matchday will open with the duel between TGD Essen-West and SV Burgaltendorf. We spoke to Arndt Krosch.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, TGD Essen-West was a big name in Essen amateur football and was a fixture in the Landesliga for years. However, in the recent past, the Turngemeinde fell more and more and was even almost pushed through to the Kreisliga B in the 2018/19 season.

In the meantime, however, there are clearly better times again around Haedenkampstraße. This summer, the former Landesliga team celebrated promotion to the Bezirksliga. The last time the TGD was in this league was in 2013/14.

The mission to stay in the league began for the Westerners on the first matchday with a respectable 2-2 draw at last year’s runners-up Duisburg 08. Looking back, 1st chairman Arndt Krosch, who was already active for the club from 1999 to 2007, is satisfied with the start:

“The first game was already special for the team and the club after so many years in the district league. You don’t know where you stand at the beginning of the season. At the end of the game, the coaching team agreed that the draw in Duisburg was a fair result. The team showed good morale. “

We are really looking forward to the game – and then on a Friday evening under floodlights. So all our wishes have come true. We would be delighted if many football fans found their way to Haedenkampstraße on Friday.

Arndt Krosch.

This coming Friday (18 August, 7.30 p.m.), the TGD will play their first home match in the district league in over nine years when they host SV Burgaltendorf at Haedenkampstraße. Krosch’s anticipation is correspondingly great:

“Yes, that’s right. It’s our first home game in the district league in nine years. We are really looking forward to the game – and then on a Friday evening under floodlights. So all our wishes have come true. We would be happy if many football fans found their way to Haedenkampstraße on Friday.”

With SV Burgaltendorf, TGD Essen-West has directly landed a top-class opponent for this special match. The SVA is one of the promotion aspirants and has many experienced players in its squad.

“An absolute top favourite is coming our way and we can immediately measure ourselves against a team that sets itself big goals. Of course, we want to rise to the challenge. Our coach will certainly find the right words to adjust the team tactically and playfully to the opponent. If all that is not enough, there are still tried and tested virtues like running and fighting. I hope it will be a great game. We really look forward to moments like this at the club,” says the 57-year-old Krosch, looking ahead.