Regional league team 1. FC Bocholt has been in training since 16 June. On Thursday, FC Schalke 04 will come to the venerable Stadion Hünting.
Dietmar Hirsch, coach of 1. FC Bocholt, has been in training with his boys for more than two weeks. On 16 June, the regional league team started its preparation.
The newly formed Bocholt team – 15 new players (!) – has played one match so far, 5:1 against SV Meppen, who were relegated from the Third League. Now FC Schalke 04 is coming on Thursday (6 July, 6 p.m., Forecasting-Liveticker).
We spoke to the 51-year-old Hirsch, who once played with Schalke’s Mike Büskens at MSV Duisburg.
Dietmar Hirsch, how were the first days for you in Bocholt?
“I was able to get an idea of the people and the infrastructure early on. I found very open and friendly people here. That also suits my character. We signed a lot of new players with Christopher Schorch and are trying to get it all into shape now.”
You mention the additions: Players have also come from abroad. How did these transfers come about?
“When you are not so well off financially, you have to find other ways and think outside the box. Christopher and I have a lot of contacts in football, so we sometimes come up with the idea of bringing in players from the Netherlands or a goalkeeper from Luxembourg. We are very happy with our squad so far. “
Is the team complete?
“We are still looking for a goalkeeper and will perhaps react to any weaknesses we find in the preparation. But apart from that we are complete. We are planning with 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers.”
FC Schalke 04 is coming on Thursday. How great is the anticipation?
“The fact that all 3,500 tickets were sold out within two hours proves how excited the people around here are. We have a large Schalke catchment area here. But we as a team are of course also pleased to be able to compete against such a renowned club. As a coaching team, we want to extract valuable sporting insights.”
What result would be good for Bocholt then?
“The result is not that important. It will be more important that we also show against Schalke what idea we have of football, how we also want to play in the Regionalliga. Of course, the opponent will be a bit faster. But we also want to set accents and, as I said, bring our idea of football to the pitch.”
Simon Terodde, a native of Bocholt, will play for Schalke. Will he be man-marked?
“No. There is no such thing as man-to-man today. We don’t know how Schalke will play here now. In Spelle they changed completely. We also have 20 players who will be used. Simon Terodde is of course one of the top strikers in the 2nd division and he is always dangerous. The spectators will be happy to welcome their Simon in Bocholt.”
What do you think Schalke can do in the 2nd Bundesliga?
“It’s hard to say. This 2nd division is not easy to play in. Hamburger SV will be aiming for promotion at the sixth attempt, then Hertha from Berlin will also want to go up again and there are surprise teams like Darmstadt or Heidenheim last season in every season. It won’t be easy for Schalke. But I now live in Rheinberg again and I can see how people are rooting for Schalke. I also have sympathy for every club in the Ruhr region and wish Schalke a successful season. “