Oberliga club SpVg Schonnebeck has decided against applying for the regional league for the coming season. Those responsible explain their decision.
After a long discussion, a decision has now been made. After a lengthy review of the options for applying for a license for the Regionalliga West 2024/2025 season, those responsible at SpVg Schonnebeck have decided against submitting an application.
This means that should the Essen-based Oberliga club be promoted at the end of the season, Schonnebeck would voluntarily refrain from entering the Regionalliga. The main reason for this is that the home ground at Schetters Busch is not yet suitable for the regional league.
Frank Isert, the 1st chairman of the Schwalben’s senior section, explained this decision in detail in a public letter. Isert’s wording.
“It is both a curse and a blessing that we have found ourselves in this situation. The team brings a lot of joy to our spectators with their great performances. However, you also have to realize that Sportfreunde Baumberg deservedly have a huge points lead and would have deserved it in sporting terms this season. Regardless of whether SFB will apply for a license, we have had to weigh up the situation for our club and have come to the conclusion that we do not want to abandon our proven Schonnebeck way of growing healthily and not act out of pure euphoria and actionism. That’s why we won’t be applying for a license for the upcoming 2024/2025 season,” explained Isert.
However, the first chairman was confident that the situation could change in the near future: “We are already working very meticulously to ensure that we never get into this situation again from next year, where a license application fails due to the venue. Schetters Busch is our home and we also want to expand it for a possible future promotion to the regional league. Discussions have already taken place with representatives of the city and the sports and bathing facilities regarding a project for the north of Essen in order to be able to host regional league soccer, but also so-called risk matches in the Lower Rhine Cup.”
The search for a venue suitable for regional league football proved to be very difficult for the Swallows. In Essen, there is currently only one stadium that meets the new requirements of the WDFV: the stadium on Hafenstraße. However, this stadium is already regularly used by two teams (RWE and SGS Frauen) and is therefore not suitable for a third tenant.
We have a young and promising team. We will add many young and promising talents and, like the entire club, are preparing for the possible day X. True to our motto: The best is yet to come.
Christian Leben
Switching to the immediate neighborhood, such as Wattenscheid or Velbert, would not only entail a repetitive and very high logistical effort, but would also lead to an enormous financial burden due to the associated rental costs. On average, at least 550 spectators would then have to attend the Schonnebeck games in a neighboring town just to cover the rental costs.
Head of Sport Christian Leben also commented on the situation: “Of course it’s an extreme shame, as the team would have deserved that if Baumberg had decided not to play. We play successful and very respectable soccer, in my opinion. But I fully understand the board after discussing all the arguments. However, we are by no means giving up this season and of course still have the goal of finishing the season as high up in the Oberliga table as possible. Of course, you’re disappointed at first when you have to make such a decision. We have a young and promising team. We will add many young and promising talents and, like the entire club, we are preparing for the possible day X. True to our motto: the best is yet to come. “