SV 1919 Bernbach is a German association football club in Bernbach, a village in Freigericht, Hesse.
History The club was founded in the autumn of 1919 as Fußballclub Germania Bernbach. The club suspended its activities with the onset of World War II, and after the conflict, it was re-established as Sportgemeinde Bernbach, from which the current name, Sportverein 1919 Bernbach, emerged in 1954. Grüne, Hardy (2001). Vereinslexikon. Kassel: AGON Sportverlag
After many years in lower-tier football, the team first ascended to the Landesliga Hessen-Süd (V) in 1990 on the strength of a Bezirksliga Frankfurt/Ost championship. They finished in second place in their debut Landesliga season, and the capture of a division title in 1995 advanced the club to the Oberliga Hessen (IV). Bernbach earned a vice-championship there in 1998 and took part in a promotion playoff for the Regionalliga Süd (III), but missed advancing when they finished second to SC Pfullendorf.*Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables (in German)
The club soon ran into financial difficulty and by 2001 was facing bankruptcy. They were initially refused a license for Oberliga play and faced relegation, but after long negotiations and the adoption of a tight budget, they were able to stay in the league. Bernbach was eventually relegated after a poor result in 2005 and has since become an elevator club, moving frequently between fourth and fifth-tier competition. After reclaiming a place in the Oberliga in 2006–07, SV finished in 14th place and were again relegated to play in the Landesliga Hessen (V). In the following years, the club suffered a decline, which led to its relegation to the Kreisoberliga (VIII) for 2011–12.
SV Bernbach is notable as having been one of the ten smallest clubs in the country, playing at the Oberliga level.
Honours The club's honours:
League Landesliga Hessen-Süd Champions: 1995, 2006 Runners-up: 1991 Bezirksoberliga Frankfurt/Ost Champions: 1990
Cup Hesse Cup Runners-up: 2004
Recent seasons The recent season-by-season performance of the club:Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv Historical German domestic league tablesFussball.de – Ergebnisse Tables and results of all German football leagues Season Division Tier Position 1999–2000 Oberliga Hessen IV 8th 2000–01 Oberliga Hessen 15th 2001–02 Oberliga Hessen 11th 2002–03 Oberliga Hessen 8th 2003–04 Oberliga Hessen 14th 2004–05 Oberliga Hessen 16th ↓ 2005–06 Landesliga Hessen-Süd V 1st ↑ 2006–07 Oberliga Hessen IV 14th ↓ 2007–08 Landesliga Hessen-Süd V 17th ↓ 2008–09 Gruppenliga Frankfurt-Ost VII 10th 2009–10 Gruppenliga Frankfurt-Ost 10th 2010–11 Gruppenliga Frankfurt-Ost 15th ↓ 2011–12 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen VIII 7th 2012–13 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen 6th 2013–14 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen 2nd 2014–15 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen 3rd 2015–16 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen 8th 2016–17 Kreisoberliga Gelnhausen With the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994 and the 3. Liga in 2008 as the new third tier, below the 2. Bundesliga, all leagues below dropped one tier. Also in 2008, a large number of football leagues in Hesse were renamed, with the Oberliga Hessen becoming the Hessenliga, the Landesliga becoming the Verbandsliga, the Bezirksoberliga becoming the Gruppenliga and the Bezirksliga becoming the Kreisoberliga.
↑ Promoted ↓ Relegated
References
External links Official team site Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv historical German domestic league tables