SV Darmstadt 98, the football club based in Chesterfield's German twin town is in the middle of a financial crisis. Six weeks ago the tax authorities presented them with a bill for over a million euros that they claim is owed having searched records back to ten years ago.

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DARMSTADT


The fans immediately kicked into action and started a fund raising campaign that more than matched our own CFSS effort. Marches through the city  kicked off the campaign which has included an art auction (that raised 17,000 euros) after 50 artists donated paintings, ongoing internet auctions, 20 bands performed for free, fans took part in an indoor football tournament, cinema, comedy and pop concert evenings look set to bolster the fund that has reached 100,000 euros to date.

In July Bayer Leverkusen will star in a four team fund-raising tournament that even includes their deadly local rivals Offenbach Kickers (Mansfield equivalent to all Chesterfield fans)  - all the teams have given their services for free.


The club continues to work with local businesses to encourage them to get involved with the Lilies (and of course help financially) and stress the mutual benefit of links with a community based organisation that is the hubof most things sporting in Darmstadt.Any money collected will be held in a safe fund until the oucome of negotiations with the tax authorities is known - insolvency is still a possibility but it is hoped that the amount of good will displayed counts and the Lilies are able to take up their place in the new Regionalliga after winning the division, they currently sit ten points clear with two games to play.


 

Darmstadt

 

Good luck to Wolfgang Knöß, the General Manager, who visited Chesterfield last January (Wolfgang pictured above with Alan Walters) and witnessed our best home performance of the season in front of the TV cameras as we hit form against the now promoted Hereford United. Wolfgang and his friends enjoyed the game and the welcome they received in Chesterfield - we wish him well as he works to negotiate a positive way forward..

For more information check out www.sv98.de or www.lilien-bleiben-da.de The sites are in German but you'll definitely understand how much effort has been put in.