A Sleeping Giant in German Football? Travels in DDR Football - 1.FC Lokomotive Leipzig.

Описание: Influenced by the; ' The Turning Season' - Michael Wagg.

I travelled to Leipzig for the 2023 Sachsenpokal final between 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig and Chemnitz, to visit a football team that was on my bucket list; Lokomotive Leipzig.

Lokomotive Leipzig were founded as VFB Leipzig in 1893, and were one of the founding members of the German FA. Moreover, they were in fact the first ever German football champions, winning the silverware in 1903.

Between 1949 - 1990, when Germany was split between West & East Germany, Lok Leipzig were arguably one of the top dogs in the East German football league.

They were one of 11 focus clubs (introduced in 1966 by the East German government to improve football talent in the country), runners up to the league 3 times, and winners of the FDGB Pokal (East German Cup) 5 times.

In regards to their performance in European competitions, they were able to knock out the great Eusebio's Benfica in the 1966 Inter Cities Fairs cup, winning 4-3 on aggregate, and drawing a crowd of up to 80,000 people.

Furthermore, in 1987, they faced Bordeaux at home in the Semi Final of the Cup Winners Cup, where a crowd of up to 110,000 people saw them ... lose 1-0. Before winning the second leg on penalties to become 1 of only 3 former East German clubs to ever reach a European Cup final.

Since the Re-unification of Germany, while they did spend the 1993/94 season in the Bundesliga, they continuously declined down the leagues of German football, before unfortunately declaring bankruptcy in both 2000 & 2004.

Reformed in 2004, they are now regulars in the German 4th division.

A team with some nice history that has almost been forgotten about?

I hope you enjoy this football vlog.

Music:

Music by Ehmy - Aye - https://thmatc.co/?l=ECC294E3

Music by Indie Anthony - Tell me where to go - https://thmatc.co/?l=42C34347