Eisenhüttenstädtischer FC Stahl

A club from a small town on the Polish border, Eisenhuettenstadt has managed to hang around in the mid-levels for a long time, despite limited resources. (The town itself was known as Stalinstadt from 1953-1961.)

This club was known as BSG Stahl until 1990, when it received it's current name.

The club was a regular power in the 2nd division of the old GDR, but could never make it through to the top, except for 1969 and then not again until the last year of the GDR. Interesting in 1970, after being relegated from the top Oberliga, after only two games, the club was forcibly further relegated for Verletzung der Prinzipien der sozialistschen Gesellschaft ("damage to the principles of socialist society"). As far as I can tell, their violation was that they paid their players over the table, instead of underneath it. Apparently they continued their non-socialist principles as they romped home over their fellow workers at the lower level, scoring 145 goals and conceding only 8, and were returned to 2nd division socialist brotherhood.

Just when the club made it back to the Oberliga, and actually survived (12th), it was the GDR that collapsed, and Stahl was thrust into the harsh reality of capitalist football. The legacy of GDR football had one positive aspect, as Stahl won the last GDR-Cup, and repesented in the European CupWinners Cup, losing to Galatasaray in the 1st round. After some decent success, which had them as high as 3rd in 1998, things fell apart. The 1998-99 season was a total disaster! Stahl had every reason to dream of contention for the title, and instead they were horrible. A very sad turn of events. However, they were able to escape with the skin of their teeth, as Chemnitz was promoted and Cottbus avoided the drop. With this reprieve, Stahl got off to a good start next season. However, they soon ran out of gas, and faded from any chance of making the combined Regionalliga.

In 2004, the club went into administration, and all results in the Oberliga were annulled as the team was withdrawn from competition. If EFC can successfully reorganize, they still start again in 2005 in a lower division.

Fullname Eisenhüttenstädtischer Fussball-Club Stahl e.V.
City Eisenhüttenstadt (Brandenburg). Pop: 40,200 (2002). Once known as Stalinstadt (1953-61).
Address Postfach 7304, 15872 Eisenhüttenstadt
Phone: (03364) 375051

Colors Black and white. Black/white jerseys, black pants. Road uniform is blue/white jerseys, blue pants.

Nickname Hütte (Hut)

Stadium Sportplatz der Hüttenwerker. Capacity: 10,000 (3,000 seats)
The initial construction of a sports facility started in 1928, when the workers club Wanderlust Schönfließ cleared the field. In 1950, it was built out as a stadium for BSG Stahl Fürstenberg. With the promotion to the DDR-Oberliga in 1969, a major renovation saw capacity increase to 14,000, although it has since been renovated again.

Tickets 5 euros for Tribune, 3 euros standing/regular seating (2007)
Supporters Some diehards, but only some 150 fans show up for games. Averaged 180 in 2004 (Oberliga).
Friends Fc Altona 93 Hamburg

Foes Energie Cottbus.

Heroes

Zeroes

Beer Neuzeller Bier. Special mention to their dark beer, Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt
Pub Grub Das Sportlerheim is at the stadium, and you can usually meet the players after a match. Not at the stadium, but recommended is the Balkan Grill, run by former player Zoran Culafic.

The Net Apparently, there is no official site. But luckily, a very nice page by Alex Schmidt, www.efcstahl.de should give you decent info.
In 2004, www.rettet-den-efc.de , a "Save EFC!" website popped up, soliciting donations to keep the club afloat. They had only raised some 400 euros by mid 2004, but hopefully things will get better.


1965-66	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. Nord		5th
1966-67	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. Nord		4th
1967-68	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. Nord		3rd
1968-69	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. Nord		1st
1969-70	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			14th	
1970-71	(***)	Bezirksliga Frankfurt		1st	had got dumped for being non-socialist
1971-72	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			2nd
1972-73	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			4th
1973-74	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			2nd
1974-75	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			3rd
1975-76	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			2nd
1976-77	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			2nd
1977-78	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			6th
1978-79	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			2nd
1979-80	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			7th
1980-81	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			6th
1981-82	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			7th
1982-83	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			4th
1983-84	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. B			3rd
1984-85	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. A			2nd
1985-86	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. A			10th
1986-87	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. A			7th
1987-88	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. A			15th
1988-89	(**)	DDR-Liga, St. A			1st
1989-90	(*)	DDR-Oberliga			12th
1990-91	(*)	NOFV-Oberliga Nordost		9th
1991-92	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost		6th
1992-93	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost		3rd
1993-94	(III)	Am.Oberliga Nordost		2nd
1995-96	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost		14th
1996-97	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost		8th
1997-98	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost		3rd
1998-99	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost		17th
1999-00	(III)	Regionalliga Nordost		12th
2000-01	(IV)	Oberliga NOFV-Nord		9th
2002-03	(IV)	Oberliga NOFV-Nord		5th
2003-04	(IV)	Oberliga NOFV-Nord		11th
2004-05	(IV)	Oberliga NOFV-Nord		xx	withdrawn (insolvency)
2005-06	(V)	Verbandsliga Brandenburg	14th
2006-07	(V)	Verbandsliga Brandenburg	16th
2007-08	(VI)	Landesliga Brandenburg-Süd

Fullname	Eisenhüttenstädtischer Fussball-Club Stahl e.V.
City	Eisenhüttenstadt (Brandenburg). Pop: 40,200 (2002). Once known as Stalinstadt (1953-61).
Address	Postfach 7304, 15872 Eisenhüttenstadt Phone: (03364) 375051
Colors	Black and white. Black/white jerseys, black pants. Road uniform is blue/white jerseys, blue pants.
Nickname	Hütte (Hut)
Stadium	Sportplatz der Hüttenwerker. Capacity: 10,000 (3,000 seats) The initial construction of a sports facility started in 1928, when the workers club Wanderlust Schönfließ cleared the field. In 1950, it was built out as a stadium for BSG Stahl Fürstenberg. With the promotion to the DDR-Oberliga in 1969, a major renovation saw capacity increase to 14,000, although it has since been renovated again.
Tickets	5 euros for Tribune, 3 euros standing/regular seating (2007)
Supporters	Some diehards, but only some 150 fans show up for games. Averaged 180 in 2004 (Oberliga).
Friends	Fc Altona 93 Hamburg
Foes	Energie Cottbus.
Heroes
Zeroes
Beer	Neuzeller Bier. Special mention to their dark beer, Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt
Pub Grub	Das Sportlerheim is at the stadium, and you can usually meet the players after a match. Not at the stadium, but recommended is the Balkan Grill, run by former player Zoran Culafic.
The Net	Apparently, there is no official site. But luckily, a very nice page by Alex Schmidt, www.efcstahl.de should give you decent info. In 2004, www.rettet-den-efc.de , a "Save EFC!" website popped up, soliciting donations to keep the club afloat. They had only raised some 400 euros by mid 2004, but hopefully things will get better.