Regionalliga Süd

The Regionalliga Süd (English: Regional League South) was the fourth tier of the German football league system from 2008 to 2012. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It was the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany. It covered the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg and was one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga West.

The league was disbanded at the end of the 2011–12 season, with the Bavarian clubs joining the new Regionalliga Bayern while the others joined the clubs from the southwest of Germany to form the new Regionalliga Südwest.

From 1963 to 1974, a Regionalliga Süd existed as the second tier of the German football league system, but this league is not directly related to the current one.

Overview

The Regionalliga Süd was introduced in 1994 along with three other Regionalligas, those being:

The reason for its introduction was to create a highest regional league for the south of Germany and to allow its champions, and some years the runners-up too, to be directly promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga. Previous to the introduction of the four Regionalligas, below the second division were ten Oberligas. Those ten Oberliga champions had to go through a promotion play-off rather than being directly promoted.

Regionalliga Südwest

The Regionalliga Südwest (English: Regional League Southwest) is the fourth tier of the German football league system in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. It is one of five leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Bayern, Regionalliga Nordost, Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga West.

The league was formed at the end of the 2011-12 season, when the clubs from the Regionalliga Süd, except those from Bavaria, were joined by the clubs of the Regionalliga West from Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate.

History

The German league system had been reformed in 2008, when the 3rd Liga was established and the number of regional leagues increased from two to three. A further alteration was made in 2011. This was prompted by the large number of insolvencies in the fourth tier, caused by high costs and infrastructure requirements while, at the same time, the clubs at this level complained about low incomes and lack of interest from TV broadcasters. Regionalliga stadiums had to have at least 1,000 seats and a separate stand with separate entrance for away spectators; and such requirements were seen as causing excessive financial strain on amateur clubs. Many clubs also struggled to cope with the 400-pages long license application, as they had to rely on volunteers rather than being able to draw on permanent staff.

FC Memmingen

FC Memmingen is a German association football club based in Memmingen, Bavaria.

Overview

The team was formed on 30 May 1907 as the football department of the gymnastics club Memminger Turnvereins 1859 and became independent in the fall of that year. They re-joined TV on 14 February 1919 before regaining their independence in March 1924 as FC Memmingen 07 Verein für Rasensport und Leibesübungen. The association later adopted its current name, FC Memmingen 07 Verein für Leibesübungen.

Prior to World War II the team captured seven local titles at various levels of play. In 1933 it took part in qualification play for the Gauliga Bayern, one of sixteen new top-flight divisions formed in the re-organization of German football under the Third Reich, but dropped a 2:3 decision to BC Augsburg.

FCM made a first appearance in the top-league of Bavaria in 1953, when, after finishing second in the 2nd Amateurliga Schwaben, the club was admitted to the new Amateurliga Südbayern (III). Its first season there was not very successful and the team found itself relegated after finishing last. It bounced back with a 2nd Amateurliga title in 1955 and a finish at the top of its promotion group. Two good seasons followed with top-five finishes but in 1958, the club was relegated once again. It finished on top of the 2nd Amateurliga once again in 1958, after having to play a decider against TSV Göggingen, which it won.

Regionalliga

The Regionalliga (German pronunciation: [ʁeɡi̯oˈnaːlˌliːɡa]) is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994. Upon introduction of a new nationwide 3. Liga in 2008, it was demoted to the fourth level of the pyramid.

History of the Regionalligas

1963 to 1974

From the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963 until the formation of the 2. Bundesliga in 1974, there were five Regionalligas, forming the second tier of German Football:

The champions and runners-up of the respective divisions played out two promotion spots to the Bundesliga in two groups after the end of the season.

Stuttgarter Kickers

Stuttgarter Kickers is a German association football club that plays in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, founded on 21 September 1899 as FC Stuttgarter Cickers.

History

In its early years the club had a decent local squad that played in the Südkreis-Liga, Kreisliga Württemberg and then in the Bezirksliga Württemberg. With the reorganization of German football during the Third Reich in 1933, the team – now known as SV Stuttgarter Kickers – found itself in the Gauliga Württemberg, one of sixteen top tier regional leagues established in the country during that time. It continued to have good results locally, but was unable to impress beyond its own area. In the final year of World War II the Kickers fielded a combined wartime squad with Sportfreunde Stuttgart.