In Sand in the district of Ortenau there is a bakery, a pub – and Bundesliga football. So when it’s light. Because SC Sand doesn’t have a floodlight in its stadium, and therefore no evening games either. That has to change because: “Without floodlights there is no Bundesliga,” explains office manager Jessica Prelle in an interview with SWR Sport. The floodlight system is just one of the many licensing requirements of the German Football Association (DFB) that all clubs from Munich to Sand to Potsdam must meet.
The problem: The floodlight costs around half a million euros. The club is supported by the community, but the SC has to raise most of it itself. “Because we do everything a bit differently than everyone else, we launched a fundraising campaign,” says Prelle, who is now also part of the board, contact person for players and those responsible, in short: keeps the shop together. And then also had a good idea for the campaign.
Hoodies for the floodlight
“We want to go to the fans,” she explains, pointing to the bright blue hoodie she’s wearing with a big grin. On it is written in white letters: “Light for the SC Sand.” The word “I” in “Light” is again contrasted in color. In addition to monetary donations, fans and sponsors can also buy the hoodie, for example, with the signature of the team if desired and for an additional charge. “Anyone can be part of this project,” says Prelle.
For coach Alexander Fischinger, this is a “huge idea”. He also wears the hoodie with the suggested floodlight, not without pride and emphasizes that he paid for it himself, of course. “So I have a part in that,” he says, smoothing out the lettering. This is important to Fischinger. That everyone is fighting for professional football to continue to exist in Sand in the future.
Everyone collects donations
Fischinger, who had to find out exactly where the place is during his first guest appearance as a coach in Sand in 2015, has arrived. In a small village not far from the French border, in the team and the club. And he never tires of promoting the fundraising campaign. “I’m very direct there, no matter where I go,” he says, gently but emphatically. In the circle of friends. Visiting the Grüner Baum, the local pub. Or after the home games, when the coach mingles with the fans who are drinking a beer in front of the stadium.
“It’s also a piece of sand, which doesn’t exist in other clubs. There’s a separate department, here we do everything ourselves,” says Fischinger. And that’s not all: “I know every folder here personally.” This is also due to the fact that the whole village is in the stadium on match days – either in the stands, with the security service, in the drinks shop or in ticket control. In Sand, the term “village club” is more of an honor than an insult. “The people who live here help with the move and ask if anyone needs a bicycle or a television,” reveals Prelle. “It’s very familiar. It’s not unprofessional, it’s something special.”
fight for the league
But that’s not the only reason SC Sand is a special Bundesliga club. “The dimensions are unbelievable compared to other Bundesliga teams, where men’s teams are behind,” says coach Fischinger. This makes the club one of the few exceptions in the Bundesliga – and without floodlights it would have no future there. In addition, there is the tense sporting situation. Sand can still stay up three games before the end, but they have to put in a remarkable final sprint and win all the remaining games.
“Without floodlights there is no Bundesliga.”
Source: Jessica Prelle, Branch Manager SC Sand
“We’re still there and can still make it. And that’s where I draw my faith from, and I’ve never lost it,” says Fischinger. The coach and his team also believe that they had a similarly spectacular final sprint last season and thus also the relegation succeeded. For captain Michaela Brandenburg, that is exactly the reason why everyone still firmly believes in staying in the league. “The mood is good and euphoric. As positive as it gets,” she reveals. She is convinced that the team will not have to tackle the last few games any differently. “We just have to be optimistic.”
Descent would be cut
The players are not alone in this belief: “I don’t really want to think about it – the coach, the team, we all believe in it,” agrees Sascha Reiss. He is sporting director at SC Sand. “On the other hand, from a sporting point of view, we obviously have to plan on two tracks. For the Bundesliga there is DFB money of 350,000 euros, most of which would be lost. For the 2nd division there is only a tenth of that – and you would have to compensate for that.”
In addition, there are more teams in the 2nd league and therefore more games. That increases the costs again. And then there is also the floodlight – although this is only a condition for licensing in the Bundesliga, it should still be installed in Sand after the end of the season, regardless of league affiliation. “It’s a commitment,” says Reiss. That they want to continue playing professional football on clay. With floodlights – and in the Bundesliga.
Source: SWR