Player receptions have a long tradition at FC Schalke 04. Now the DFL may have contributed to a decision that a new edition will take place this year.

On Thursday, the DFL announced the exact dates for the last two match days of the first half of the season and the first match day of the second half.

The news that the last home game before the winter break against SpVgg Greuther Fürth will take place on Friday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Schalke Arena must have brought great relief to many Schalke fan clubs throughout Germany.

According to RS information, the traditional player receptions for the fan clubs are also planned for this weekend at S04. So far, however, the concrete plans for this have been on hold because the exact match schedule had to be awaited first. If the game had been scheduled for Saturday (evening) or possibly even Sunday, a players’ reception would not have been possible this weekend for organizational reasons. But now the fan clubs can breathe a sigh of relief

The players’ receptions, formerly known as New Year’s receptions because they usually took place at the beginning of a new year, have a long tradition at Schalke. They were introduced by the club together with the Schalke Fan Club Association back in the days of Rolf Rojek as chairman of the SFCV and always ensure full halls and enthusiasm among supporters in all parts of the republic.

Once a year, the players of the Royal Blues travel to the fan clubs scattered throughout the country and spend an afternoon together with them. These events are always very popular with the fan clubs, as they usually provide a unique opportunity to get close to their idols and talk to them. Small Schalke parties are often built around the actual reception and the fan clubs in the south, north and east of Germany in particular are mostly attended by supporters and fan clubs from the entire region.

These visits could not take place during the coronavirus pandemic. Now there could be a new edition before Christmas