Oh what a day. When I received the news (German) on Thursday I was stunned. The objection of VfL Leverkusen, last season's Verbandsliga Mittelrhein champion who were denied a spot in the newly established NRW-Oberliga because certain requirements haven't been met (stadium too small, financial basis unstable, etc.), was rejected by a court and this means Fortuna Cologne will take the spot reserved for the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein champion as runner up to Leverkusen. Fortuna had only drawn the final game against Leverkusen on the last day of matchplay and ended up in 2nd place.
It has been 35 years since Fortuna earned their last promotion to a higher league. In 1973 they went up to the Bundesliga, the only season they played at the highest level of football in Germany. To this day the club takes pride in the fact that they were the best team to get relegated. They only stayed one year and since 1974 they had played in the newly established 2nd division 2. Bundesliga for more years than any other team. They still lead the all time table of all teams who ever played in the 2nd division. There were chances to once again play 1st class football, but the failed every time they tried. Things came to an end in 2000 when the club was relegated to the 3rd division. From there on things went downwards and it all ended up at 5th level Verbandsliga and even there Fortuna was frequently facing the threat of relegation. So all my football life I have only witnessed my favourite club going down one level after another, so this means a lot to me. This is the first time I can celebrate. Although I (and I believe that is true for all the other guys who come to watch the games) would have liked to settle this on the pitch instead of in front of a court. What a celebration we would have had in June had the club won the match back then.
Whatever, Fortuna will play in the NRW-Liga and that's all that matters now. I am very, very happy.
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