Sporting-wise, things are going like clockwork for 1. FC Bocholt. But the infrastructure is a major headache for those responsible with regard to a possible promotion to the third division.

In sporting terms, 1. FC Bocholt is – at least at the moment – on its way to the 3rd division. The club had already emphasized weeks ago that the license for the third division would definitely be tackled.

The issue seems to be slowly becoming more serious. And suddenly there is trouble with the city.

As reported by the “Bocholter-Borkener Volksblatt”, 1. FC Bocholt would have to shelve all third division plans if a land-use planning procedure for the Hünting were to take up to 24 months.

One after the other: 1. FC Bocholt had presented its plans for a stadium suitable for the third division at Hünting to the city representatives. The city then announced that it would initiate the necessary construction planning process. However, according to the head of the sports department, Benedikt Püttmann, the realization of this procedure will take between twelve and 24 months

If the process takes 24 months, that would be the end for us.

Christopher Schorch

Christopher Schorch made it clear to “BBV” what he thinks: “If the process drags on for 24 months, that would be the end for us. There is only a transitional period of one year and there is no stadium in the area suitable for the third division that we could simply move to.” According to Schorch, stadium alternatives such as the venues of 1. FC Kleve, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen or MSV Duisburg are out of the question for 1. FC Bocholt for various reasons. The only solution: a third division stadium at Bocholter Hünting.

According to Schorch, an architect showed the Bocholt management that a tubular steel grandstand with around 2,000 seats – close to the current players’ tunnel – could be built on the Hünting relatively soon.