The forgotten derby between Hertha and Union

By Sebastian Karkos

Almost forgot: There was a second leg! On August 12, 1990, Union won 2-1.

However, only 3800 spectators wanted to see Hertha’s first appearance in the Alte Försterei in 38 years. The forgotten derby.

The bosses around Union manager Pedro Brombacher (84) had hoped for 10,000 fans. And they had one or the other idea for the game. The fans could win an Opel Corsa and a Honda Revere motorbike in a raffle (lot price 1 DM).

AND: Mick Jagger (79) should kick off. What sounds unreal today was not unreal back then.

The Rolling Stones played their first concert on GDR soil on August 13, 1990: in (East) Berlin, on the Weissensee cycle track. The band leader of the Rolling Stones could be in Köpenick the day before, according to the wish of the Union makers.

But two days earlier came – what a surprise – the cancellation from the Stones management: “He won’t land in Berlin until the evening.” The rockers flew into Schönefeld on the day of the match at 7 p.m.

Union rescheduled: That Sunday at 6 p.m. it was not Mick Jagger who kicked off, but football icon Uwe Seeler († 85)!

The duel still lacked excitement and excitement. Hertha had messed up their Bundesliga opener against St. Pauli (1-2) three days earlier, while Union had won in the second GDR league two days earlier at the same place against activist Schwarze Pumpe (2-0).

The second leg probably marks the beginning of the end of the friendship between the two fan camps. A day later, the “Fussball-Woche” headlined “Hertha disgraced” and wrote: “The spectators, initially with respect for the Bundesliga professionals, switched to ‘Eisern Union’ and finally laughed at the West Berliners.”

Rene Adamczewski scored twice with a penalty for Union. Mark Farrington only made it 1-2 at the final whistle.

Incidentally, on January 31, 1991, the two clubs played another friendly game at the same location. Unions 3: 0 saw only 500 stalwarts …