After 16 games, 1. FC Bocholt leads the table in the Regionalliga West. The father of their success is Christopher Schorch. We spoke to him.
There are several reasons why 1. FC Bocholt is top of the Regionalliga West table. The coach and team are at the forefront of this. But it all started before the season.
Christopher Schorch must therefore be named as the architect of the club’s great success. It was the 34-year-old ex-professional who lured 17 new players, some of them unknown players from abroad, to Bocholter Hünting, who were subsequently formed into a real unit by coach Dietmar Hirsch in a very short space of time.
We spoke to the sporting director about the current season at 1. FC Bocholt.
Christopher Schorch, how do you assess the current sporting situation at 1. FC Bocholt and what is the recipe for success?
It’s complete madness what the boys are putting on the floor. Buffalo Fakhro runs like a madman and goalkeeper Fox keeps everything tight. The defense is very solid and hard to break down. And I could go on and on. But at the end of the day, we’re playing as a homogeneous team and simply enjoying every game. Because we also know that we are the heroes today, but could be a tree tomorrow. Everything happens very quickly in soccer – in both directions. But, of course, we want to ride this wave of euphoria for as long as possible and enjoy it.
Which of your 17 new signings have particularly impressed and perhaps surprised you?
Lucas Fox is a great keeper. But guys like Bogdan Shubin, who played a central role in Schalke’s U19s under Elgert but later hardly got a chance with the U23s, are also doing a great job. That also includes Isaak Akritidis. I played with him in Wuppertal and saw what the boy is capable of. Especially as he’s also a real ace in terms of character. In general, the team is homogeneous, so that everything meshes and fits together. I was and am convinced by every player I have brought in.
We won’t put obstacles in anyone’s way if higher-class clubs come knocking. At the end of the day, we are 1. FC Bocholt and we know that we stand for the further development of the players.
Christopher Schorch
Don’t you sometimes worry that this team could be torn apart?
When you’re successful, you create desire. That’s the business and it’s no different for us. The soccer world is small at the end of the day. And of course I hear here and there that our players are particularly sought after. But that’s part of it. We won’t put obstacles in anyone’s way when higher-class clubs come knocking. At the end of the day, we are 1. FC Bocholt and we know that we stand for the further development of our players. The boys can then take the next step elsewhere.
How many players currently have a contract for the 3rd division?
Nobody. Despite all my optimism, I can’t have assumed in the summer that we would end up in this situation. But the lads know what they have in Bocholt and us as the people in charge. We’re already having good talks about the future of the players.
What is the current status of the stadium issue for the 3rd division?
We have a plan A, B and C. Plan A includes an expansion of the stadium at Hünting and the talks are currently going well. Something seems to be moving. We have extremely strong partners in the club who could realize a stadium expansion.
And what do plan B and C look like?
These are plans that we would have to make if plan A cannot be realized. Then we have two options to relocate for one season. I can’t reveal where that will be until the contracts are signed. But what I can reveal is that we had great talks with both locations and stadium operators.
Are you actually planning any changes to the squad in the winter?
There are no plans at the moment. It’s extremely difficult in winter because you usually only get players who are unhappy at their clubs. We have a homogeneous team in which everything fits. We don’t want to mix things up at the moment. But, of course, my job is always to keep my eyes and ears open. If something very interesting comes up, then we have to be prepared for it and possibly strike.
