Phönix Bellheim


A small village club that managed to play in the Regionalliga SW in the 60s-70s. At the time, they were one of the smallest towns to have a club at that level.

The club was founded in February 9th 1921 by 11 fans in the Gasthaus "Zur Reichskrone", and two days later had a general assembly with 22 interested members. They decided to concentrate on football, and that membership fee was fixed at 5 marks, plus 1 mark monthly. They also received their first sponsorship, as Hugo BaumgŠrtner donated 300 marks. (Perhaps he was a forerunner of Dietmar Hopp). In any case, he was voted president. By 1922 they had joined the local Verband, and were assigned to the B-Klasse. By the mid 1920s, they had built the field, and charged between 30-50 pfennigs for entry, but given the growing economic crisis, had low attendance.

By 1929, they had their first success, as they won the Kreismeisterschaft. The key player in these teams was Anton Lutz, who would score 50 goals a season on a regular basis. Unfortunately, he left the club in 1933. Due to the war, in 1942 the club was temporarily closed.

After the war, the club started up again and was soon in the Landesliga. They began a regional force and won the local Cup in 1952.

1962-63 was a highpoint of the club. They defeated ASV Landau in a playoff and were promoted into the 2nd division Regionalliga Sudwest. This meant that they would have contract players for the first time. The players were given contract of 50 marks a month, plus 20 marks for a win. They still had to use their own cars to get to matches though, as they could not afford a team bus. But there was a lot of excitement, as they would now play "massive" clubs such as Pirmasens, SaarbrŸcken, Neunkirchen, Worms, Neuendorf, along with regional rivals Landau. Bellheim did a decent job, despite being the smallest village in professional football at the time. They lasted until 1967, when they dropped back into the amateur ranks. In 1971, the regained promotion for a short replay in the pro ranks.

Since those glory days of the early 1970s, the club has fallen into obscurity. After a last hurrah of 3rd division status in the late 1980s, they began a downward trend that sees them in the lower ranks of amateur football.

Full Name Fußball-Club Phönix 1921 e.V. Bellheim
City Bellheim (Rheinland-Pfalz). Pop: 8,850 (2004). Southeast corner of the Pfalz.
Address Zeiskamer Straße 72, 76756 Bellheim
Phone: (07272) 76757
Colors Red and Black vertical stripe jersey, black shorts, black socks
Nickname
Stadium Franz-Hage-Stadion. Capacity: 10,000
Until 1991, this was known simply as Phönix-Stadion. It was built in 1959 on the location of the Sportplatz-Erlenpfad. Hage was long time president of the club.
Tickets
Supporters
Friends
Foes
Heroes
Zeroes
Beer
Pub Grub
The Net Official site: www.fc-phoenix-bellheim.de

Recent History:
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1963-64	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		17th
1964-65	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		10th
1965-66	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		12th
1966-67	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		15th
1967-68	(III)	Amateurliga Sudwest		5th
1968-69	(III)	Amateurliga Sudwest		2nd
1968-70	(III)	Amateurliga Sudwest		3rd
1970-71	(III)	Amateurliga Sudwest		1st
1971-72	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		14th
1972-73	(II)	Regionalliga Sudwest		16th
1973-74	(III)	Amateurliga Sudwest		13th
1974-75	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		2nd
1975-76	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		2nd
1976-77	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		11th
1977-78	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		9th
1978-79	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		10th
1979-80	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		13th
1980-81	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		4th
1981-82	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		2nd
1982-83	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		3rd
1983-84	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		2nd
1984-85	(IV)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		1st
1985-86	(III)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		6th
1986-87	(III)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		2nd
1987-88	(III)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		9th
1988-89	(III)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		6th
1989-90	(IV)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		6th
1990-91	(IV)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		5th
1991-92	(IV)	Verbandsliga Sudwest		16th
1992-93	(V)	Landesliga Ost			15th
1993-94	(V)	Bezirksliga Vorderpfalz		15th
1994-95		A-Klasse Sud Vorderpfalz	2nd

2004-05	(VI)	Bezirksklasse Süd Vorderpfalz 

2007-08	(VII)	Kreisliga A

2012-13 (VIII) 	B-Klasse SŸdpfalz Ost

(c) Abseits Guide to Germany: www.abseits-soccer.com