ABC 08 im Portrait: Adlershofer Hoffnungspünktchen im Abstiegskampf

Denkt man an die Berlin-Liga, so fallen einem in der laufenden Saison meist Vereine wie Tennis Borussia Berlin, Eintracht Mahlsdorf, VfB Hermsdorf, Hertha Zehlendorf und die Füchse Berlin Reinickendorf ein. Nach weiterem Überlegen sind dann auch Türkiyemspor, der BSV Hürtürkel und der TSV Rudow im Geiste präsent. Als eher etwas unbekannter Verein kommt dagegen der Adlershofer BC 08 daher.

Denkt man an die Berlin-Liga, so fallen einem in der laufenden Saison meist Vereine wie Tennis Borussia Berlin, Eintracht Mahlsdorf, VfB Hermsdorf, Hertha Zehlendorf und die Füchse Berlin Reinickendorf ein. Nach weiterem Überlegen sind dann auch Türkiyemspor, der BSV Hürtürkel und der TSV Rudow im Geiste präsent. Als eher etwas unbekannter Verein kommt dagegen der Adlershofer BC 08 daher.

Grund genug, diesen Verein aus dem Ostteil der Stadt, dessen Sportanlage zwischen den S-Bahnhöfen Adlershof und Spindlersfeld liegt, unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Sportlich sieht es derzeit nicht allzu rosig aus. Adlershof steckt im Tabellenkeller der Berlin-Liga. Allerdings ließ der 2:0-Sieg bei Türkiyemspor am Sonntag vor einer Woche aufhorchen. Am vergangenen Samstag war auf dem Kunstrasenplatz am Lohnauer Steig der SV Empor Berlin zu Gast. Nachdem es bereits 0:2 hieß, schien ein weiterer Punktgewinn in weite Ferne gerückt, doch dann kam die 90. Minute – besser gesagt die Nachspielzeit der überaus kuriosen Partie…

Folgend ein ausführlicher auf Englisch verfasster Spielbericht mit einer umfassenden Einleitung über die Vereinshistorie des ABC 08:

Adlershofer BC 08, has a long and proud history muddled up with plenty of name changes over the past century. According to Wikipedia (the source for everything, whether right or wrong) the club was formed on the 9th November 1908 as Adlershofer Ballspiel-Club. In 1914 it merged with Wildauer Fußball-Club Phönix.  In March 1935 the club merged with Thor- und Fußballclub Colombia 04 Adlershof and Adlershofer Turnverein and played under the name of Adlershofer BC Colombia 04 before again later playing simply as Adlershofer BC. 

Following World War II most organizations in Germany – including sports and football clubs – were banned by occupying Allied territories. Most were quickly reconstituted and the former membership of Adlershofer BC established Sportgruppe Adlershof in 1945 to take part in the hastily organized Stadtliga Berlin in 1945–46. They finished poorly and were part of the Landesliga Berlin (II) from 1947–50. In 1948 they readopted their traditional identity as Adlershofer BC before being directed by authorities in November 1953 to give up the name and play as Sportgemeinschaft Adlershofer.

As the Adlershofer club was located in the Soviet zone of occupation it became part of the football competition that emerged in East Germany, playing in the DDR-Liga (II) in 1952–53 before being sent down to lower level play. SG Adlershof made appearances in the opening rounds of the FDGB-Pokal (East German Cup) in 1954, 1958, and 1960 and, except for a single season return to the 2. DDR-Liga (III) in 1962–63, remained a lower tier side.

In 1989 with German reunification, the club again took on the name Adlershofer BC.  The 2012/13 is the fifth season in a row that ABC has played in the Berlin-Liga, after gaining promotion by winning the Landesliga in the 2006/07 season. A fourth place finish in 2009/10 has been the highest placing so far. 

Todays match in Sportplatz Lohnauer Steig, saw Adlershofer (17th place) take on SV Empor (11th) in what was an important match for both teams. Empor were still looking to keep in touch with the top of the table, after a very ordinary start to the year, and Adlershof who were trying to continue their good form of late and creep their way up the ladder. 

After propping up the table for the majority of the first 12 rounds, ABC has slowly started to put some impressive results together and prior to this match had 4 points of a possible 6 in the last two matches. This compared to the previous 6 games, where they lost every single game, was definitely a step in the right direction.  The win against Türkiyemspor saw them swap places with recently promoted club, Club Italia who now hold on to the wooden spoon position. 

The brilliant Saturday morning full of sun and warm (for this time of year) temperature disappeared as the minutes ticked closer to the 2pm kickoff. Luckily, there was plenty of glühwein on offer to warm the hands and stomach, as well as a sight not seen at many football grounds, the old round metal tin (or beer keg) with wooden planks burning in it, providing those around with plenty of warmth for their hands. 

From the opening whistle, it was apparent, that ABC where desperate for a result to move themselves out of the relegation zone. The team playing on the paddock certainly didn’t look like a team that deserved to be at the lower end of the table.  Unfortunately for them, all the hard work they were doing on and off the ball came unstuck in the 19th minute, when a floating cross from the corner by Empor playmaker Eduin Nan-Danke was accidently headed straight past his own keeper by Adlershofer number 4, Roman Riessler. 

In a good sign, the Adlershofer players did not drop their heads after the unlucky goal and continued to press forward. In the 29th minute Sascha Scholz brought down a high ball with perfect control and laid it off to Christoph Brumm whose eyes must have lit up as the goalmouth opened up for him, but put the shot left of the post. Just 5 minutes later Denny Brock had the opportunity to level the scores, but somehow managed to put his header over the bar from only 6 yards out and with only the keeper to beat.

Halftime provided a chance for the players to head to the locker rooms, and for the spectators to gather in the casino to see the end of the Union – Aalen game on the big screen. For the Adlershofer players and fans, it must have been disappointing to see the team go into the halftime break at 1-0 down, but at least there was another 45 minutes to change that.  

With the change of ends, came a change of weather as the rain started to come down. It took only 3 minutes after the break for Empor to assert their dominance on the match though, when Oliver Gaschekowski slid the ball past the keeper from 10 metres out. The 2-0 scoreline should have been enough for the back four of Empor to hold out, who had only conceded 11 goals in the last 11 games. 

Fortune favors the brave though, and finally after 63 minutes, Adlershofer where able to get some reward for their frequent attacking raids. Jens Huelsebus made sure from 8 metres out drilling the ball straight past the flailing keeper to bring the score back to 2-1. Just 4 minutes later, ABC were unlucky not to equalize when Marcel Ansorge’s shot from outside the box hit the crossbar and bounced away instead of in. The home team kept pressing and barely 60 seconds later, Brumm’s effort from 25 metres slid just past the post.

The next 25 minutes were end to end football in the light rain, with numerous chances for both teams to affect the scoreline.  Jan Dietrich had a good chance for Empor, but pushed his shot wide from the edge of the 18 yard box in the 75th minute, and Huelsebus had an opportunity to double his goal tally when he turned with the ball and volleyed inside the box, but this also went wide. 

As the clock ticked well past the allotted 90 minutes, Adlershofer were to receive one final chance. The final play of the game came down to this. A free kick, 30 metres out. Everyone was up inside the 18 yard box, including the Adlershofer keeper. The perfectly hit free kick floated in the air towards the mass of players, and guess who rose above the pack headed the ball past the surprised keeper, well the other keeper of course! Robert Reformat scored the equaliser in the 94th minute sending the Adlershofer players, coaches and the 37 paying fans into wild celebrations. Reformat was mobbed by his teammates as they jogged back to their positions, however before the ball could be kicked off again, the referee blew time. 

It may have only been a draw, but it was celebrated like a win for the home team, with Reformat receiving plenty more adjulation from his fellow players, and the team receiving a standing ovation as they left the field. 5 points from their last 3 matches is a step in the right direction for ABC as the continue their upwards climb, now only 4 points away from climbing out the relgation zone thanks to the Füchse losing heavily on Sunday against Hürtürkel, a team they face next Sunday at Jahnsportplatz. A point or 3 against the table toppers, would certainly add some credit to their recent results, while for Empor, the game was one where it was certainly 2 points dropped, rather than 1 point gained. Although with this weekends game against the last place team, Club Italia, a likely win should put them back in the top half.

Fotos: Glenn Dawson

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