Rot Weiss Ahlen facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Rot Weiss Ahlen e. V. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 | ||
| Ground | Wersestadion, Ahlen | ||
| Capacity | 12,500 | ||
| Chairman | Dirk Neuhaus | ||
| Manager | Björn Joppe | ||
| League | Oberliga Westfalen (V) | ||
| 2023–24 | Regionalliga West, 18th (relegated) | ||
|
|
|||
Rot Weiss Ahlen is a German football club from the city of Ahlen, located in North Rhine-Westphalia. Before 2006, the club was known as LR Ahlen. This name came from their main sponsor. When the sponsor stopped supporting them, the team changed its name to Rot Weiss Ahlen. This happened after they moved down to a lower league called the Regionalliga in 2006.
The Club's Story
The club's beginnings go back to the early 1900s. Coal miners in the area used to play football games after their work. In 1917, a club called Freie Sportclub Union (FSCU) Ahlen was started. It became one of the best teams in the region, playing in the second-highest leagues of that time.
Later, in the 1930s, the club was closed down. This was because many of its members were from other countries. A new club, Tus Germania Ahlen, was formed in 1933. This team then joined with another strong local club, Wacker Ahlen. Together, they became the biggest sports group in the town.
After World War II, people tried to restart local teams. In 1948, members from eight old clubs came together. They formed a new team called Turn- und Sport Ahlen. This new team played in the local top leagues for many years.
In 1991, TuS faced money problems. They were about to be moved down to a much lower league. But a local helper, Helmut Spikker, saved the team. His company, LR International, which made cosmetics, gave them money.
With new financial support, TuS Ahlen became very successful in the early 1990s. They won the Bezirksliga Westfalen (seventh-tier league) in 1992. This helped them move up to the Landesliga Westfalen (sixth-tier). For the next three years, TuS won another championship each season. They moved up through the Landesliga, then the Verbandsliga Westfalen-Nordost (fifth-tier), and the Oberliga Westfalen (fourth-tier). This amazing climb led them to the Regionalliga West/Südwest (third-tier).
On June 1, 1996, Leichtathletik Rasensport Ahlen was created. This happened when TuS Ahlen joined with Blau-Weiß Ahlen. They started playing in the Regionalliga West/Südwest in the 1996–97 season. The club wanted to move up even higher. So, for the 1998–99 season, they signed many players who had played in the top German league, the Bundesliga. However, they only finished sixth that year. After that, they let go of their expensive players.
By spending money more carefully, the team earned promotion again. They finished second in the 1999–2000 season. They won a playoff game against 1. FC Union Berlin 2–1. This win sent them to the 2. Bundesliga, which is the second-highest league in Germany.
Ahlen's best result in this league was finishing sixth in their first season. The team then started to slip down the rankings. They stayed in the 2. Bundesliga for five more seasons. In 2006, they finished 17th and were moved down to a lower league.
After being moved down, LR Ahlen lost its main sponsor. On May 31, 2006, the club changed its name to Rot Weiss Ahlen. The chairman, Helmut Spikker, also left the club. His place was taken by Heinz-Jürgen Gosda.
The team returned to the 2. Bundesliga after winning the Regionalliga Nord in the 2007–08 season. But at the end of the 2009–10 season, Ahlen was moved down to the 3. Liga. The next year, they were moved down again to the fifth-tier NRW-Liga. This happened even though they finished 17th, outside the usual drop zone. It was because the club had serious money problems and could not pay its debts.
In 2020, the club finished second in the Oberliga Westfalen. This win helped them get promoted to the Regionalliga West.
Recent Seasons' Performance
This table shows how Rot Weiss Ahlen has performed in different leagues over the years.
| Year | Division | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | Regionalliga West/Südwest (III) | 2nd (promoted) |
| 2000–01 | 2. Bundesliga (II) | 6th |
| 2001–02 | 2. Bundesliga | 8th |
| 2002–03 | 2. Bundesliga | 12th |
| 2003–04 | 2. Bundesliga | 12th |
| 2004–05 | 2. Bundesliga | 13th |
| 2005–06 | 2. Bundesliga | 17th (relegated) |
| 2006–07 | Regionalliga Nord (III) | 13th |
| 2007–08 | Regionalliga Nord | 1st (promoted) |
| 2008–09 | 2. Bundesliga (II) | 10th |
| 2009–10 | 2. Bundesliga | 18th (relegated) |
| 2010–11 | 3. Liga | 20th (original 17th;relegated due to insolvency) |
| 2011–12 | NRW-Liga (V) | 17th |
| 2012–13 | Oberliga Westfalen | 9th |
| 2013–14 | Oberliga Westfalen | 9th |
| 2014–15 | Oberliga Westfalen | 2nd (promoted) |
| 2015–16 | Regionalliga West (IV) | 13th |
| 2016–17 | Regionalliga West | 15th (relegated) |
| 2017–18 | Oberliga Westfalen (V) | 14th |
| 2018–19 | Oberliga Westfalen | 9th |
| 2019–20 | Oberliga Westfalen | 2nd (promoted) |
| 2020–21 | Regionalliga West (IV) | 18th |
| 2021–22 | Regionalliga West (IV) | 10th |
| 2022–23 | Regionalliga West (IV) | 16th |
Club Achievements
Here are the titles and achievements Rot Weiss Ahlen has won:
- Regionalliga Nord
- Champions: 2008
- Oberliga Westfalen
- Champions: 1996, 2019
- Runners-up: 2015, 2020
- Verbandsliga Westfalen Nordost
- Champions: 1995
- Landesliga Westfalen
- Champions: 1994
- Bezirksliga Westfalen
- Champions: 1993
Current Players
Here are the players currently on the Rot Weiss Ahlen team:
|
|
See also
In Spanish: Rot Weiss Ahlen para niños
