Rot-Weiß Ahlen

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Rot-Weiß Ahlen

Full name

Rot-Weiß Ahlen eV

Nickname(s)

Founded

1996

Ground

Wersestadion, Ahlen

Capacity

10,500

Chairman

Helmut Spikker

Manager

Bernhard Dietz

League

Regionalliga (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 currently playing in Regionalliga. 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.

The club has its roots in the local sides of the early 1900's 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.

LR Ahlen was formed on June 1st, 1996 through the merger of Blau-Weiß Ahlen and TuS Ahlen and started to play in the Regionalliga. 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 to 2.Bundesliga with a second place finish in 1999-2000 and a 2:1 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin to advance.

LR Ahlen was relegated to the Regionalliga (III) and changed its name on May 31st, 2006 to Rot-Weiß Ahlen. Chairman Helmut Spikker will also leave the club by the end of August. His successor will probably be the current vice-president Heinz-Jürgen Gosda.