Appearance in the spotlight on the lawn of the Alte Försterei

Ludwigsfelde. As half-time approached, when emotions are usually calmed down even in the Alte Försterei and the question of what snack to eat is the biggest issue, the adrenaline levels of a small group of fans rose sharply. Down in the stadium’s catacombs, there was great anticipation of a performance that could be described as “very special”, while the floodlights shone on the pitch on which 1. FC Union Berlin and FC St. Pauli faced each other on the second Bundesliga matchday.

“Of course, the anticipation was great and the feeling of running onto a Bundesliga pitch in front of 22,000 fans at half-time is unique.” I think such an opportunity only exists at Union Berlin. “The fact that it was also a floodlit game gave the whole thing a special touch,” says Benjamin Ost, the captain of the Union fan club Ludwigsfelde’s recreational soccer team, which was honored on Friday evening for winning the fan club cup in the 2023/24 season.

After the ceremonial ceremony, the delegation from the Teltow-Fläming district went on a lap of the stadium, including a bowling performance in the arena – there is now a video worth watching on the UFC Facebook page.

Spotlight instead of fan curve. A change of perspective that will be remembered – just like winning the fan club cup a few days ago.

UFC Ludwigsfelde won the Union Cup with a 3-2 victory against Athletik Köpenick

On Wednesday, Ludwigsfelde secured the title after a heated battle with a 3:2 win against Athletik KÖ – the current champions of the Union League, a four-track league system of recreational footballers who root for the “Iron Ones”. “The dream started on Wednesday with the win in the cup final. We are not a normal football team, but a group of good friends. “Sharing this experience with the boys was something very special for me,” says Benjamin Ost.

By winning the Union Cup competition, Ludwigsfelde is continuing a story that aptly reflects the tradition-laden Union family, where fan scarves and love for the club are passed down from generation to generation and UNVEU (“And never forget, Eisern Union”) is one of the most popular passwords.

When the UFC Ludwigsfelde, founded in 1979 and the oldest fan club of 1. FC Union, won the Fan Cup for the first time in 1999 and 2000, today’s captain Benjamin Ost and Kevin Senft, one of his teammates, stood on the sidelines cheering and admiring because their fathers had won the title.

Benjamin Ost: “The Union Cup is the biggest sporting goal for our club”

Now they have won the coveted trophy twice, a kind of sporting grail for recreational footballers. A triumph that shines both inside and out and warms hearts. “The Union Cup is the biggest sporting goal for our club,” says Benjamin Ost. “It’s great that we, the sons, were able to follow suit by winning the titles in 2017 and 2024.” “That shows how special our club is,” says Ost, “because no other club has achieved something like that in the history of the competition.” And of course, a title like that brings the whole club together.”

To be continued: UFC Ludwigsfelde will soon begin its mission to defend its title in the cup, and the club will also be competing in the Union League again. Last year, it was promoted to the top division. Athletik KÖ, the current champion, was also celebrated for its championship title on the sacred turf and at the end of the party, everyone cheered loudly: Union had won its first victory of the new season against newly promoted St. Pauli in the first home game of the season (final score: 1:0).

However, the amateur footballers’ big performance did result in one small disadvantage: the Ludwigsfelde entourage in the belly of the stadium had not seen the goal. “We can live with that,” says Benjamin Ost with a broad grin.

MAZ