Rot-Weiß Ahlen

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Rot-Weiß Ahlen

Full name

Rot-Weiß Ahlen e.V.

Nickname(s)

Founded

1996

Ground

Wersestadion, Ahlen

Capacity

10,500

Chairman

Helmut Spikker

Manager

Bernhard Dietz

League

Regionalliga Nord (III)

2005-06

2.Bundesliga, 17th (relegated)





Home colours





Away colours

Rot-Weiß Ahlen is a German football club based in Ahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Until recently the club was known as LR Ahlen for its major sponsor, but underwent a name change when the sponsor withdrew its support after the team was relegated to the Regionalliga (III) in 2006.

1 Squad 2005/06
2 Rankings in the Second Bundesliga
3 Notable players
4 External links

The club has its roots in the local sides of the early 1900s formed by coalminers who played pickup games after work. In 1917, Freie Sportclub Union (FSCU) Ahlen was founded and became one of the region's best known teams, playing in the second tier leagues of the time. The rise of the Third Reich saw the club disbanded as over three-quarters of its members were foreigners making the side politically unpalatable to the regime. A new club, Tus Germania Ahlen, was formed in 1933. This side merged with the strong local club Wacker Ahlen to create the town's largest sports association.

After World War II attempts to rebuild local teams failed until members of eight pre-war clubs came together to form TuS Ahlen in 1948. The new side went on to many decades of routine play in the local upper leagues. In 1991 they were faced with a financial crisis and demotion to lower level play. A local benefactor, Helmut Spikker, helped bail the team out through the support provided by his firm, cosmetics manufacturer LR International.

Logos of Tus Ahlen and LR Ahlen

LR Ahlen was formed on June 1, 1996 through the merger of Blau-Weiß Ahlen and TuS Ahlen and began play in the Regionalliga Nord. They made a bid to move up in 1998-99 by signing a number of players with Bundesliga experience, but could only manage a sixth place finish and subsequently unloaded their expensive talent. Living more within their means, the side earned promotion with a second place finish in 1999-2000 and a 2:1 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin to advance the 2. Bundesliga where they played for a half dozen seasons before beging sent back down.

After being relegated LR Ahlen lost the support of its major sponsor and underwent a name change to become Rot-Weiß Ahlen on May 31, 2006. Chairman Spikker will also left the club the end of August with his succesor being vice-president Heinz-Jürgen Gosda.