FSV Optik Rathenow

Stadion Vogelgesang (Capacity: 5.000)

Optik Rathenow - Babelsberg 03 (1:3 a.e.t) (Brandenburg Pokal QF, 04. April 2012)
1:0 Scholz (33.), 1:1 Muller (75.), 1:2 Muller (98.), 1:3 Stroh-Engel (119.)

Attendance: 600
Cost: Free (Complimentary Ticket)
Programme: FSV Optik Rathenow (1 Euro)

Police escort to the ground for Babelsberg fans

Entry prices clearly displayed

Looking across to the clubhouse, VIP and change rooms

Inside the press room

Preparing for kickoff

View of the pitch

From behind the Rathenow goal

Babelsberg ride in style

Another view of the pitch

The Babelsberg fans

Babelsberg hit the front with this shot

Babelsberg players thanking their fans

Full time score

Inside the Rathenow supporters stand

CLUB HISTORY: (wiki) FSV Optik Rathenow is a German association football club from the city of Rathenow, Brandenburg.
The earliest roots of football in the Rathenow area go back to the establishment of Spielvereinigung Rathenow in 1906. In the 30s this club merged with Turnverein Vater Jahn Rathenow to create VfL Rathenow, which went on to play second division football in Berlin-Brandenburg. A community sports club known as Sportgemeinde Rathenow was formed in 1945 in the aftermath of World War II out of the membership of VfL and Rathenower Ballspielclub. This was renamed BSG Verkehr Rathenow in 1948. The current day club claims its origins in the reemergence in December 1950 of the former VfL out of SG as BSG Mechanik Rathenow. This club became BSG Motor Rathenow in 1951. Playing in Soviet-occupied East Germany, the team was an unremarked local side with less than a handful of appearances in the third division 2. DDR-Liga and the early rounds of the FDGB Pokal (East German Cup) to its credit.
On 10 February 1990, following German reunification, the club took on the name Sportverein Optik based on a sponsorship arrangement with a local optical firm. On 21 February the following year, the football department became independent as Fußball Sportverein Optik Rathenow and made its only appearance to date in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) tournament on the strength of a district cup win. The team advanced to fourth tier competition in 1992 following a championship in the Verbandsliga Brandenburg (V) and continued its string of successes by winning promotion in qualification play for the Regionalliga Nordost (III) as part of the restructuring of German football in 1994. Their stay was short-lived as they were sent down to the Oberliga Nordost-Nord (IV) following a last place result in 1996. In Oberliga competition Optik consistently earned lower table results, but escaped relegation until being sent down after a 14th place finish in 2005. The club returned to fourth tier play after two seasons spent in the Verbandsliga Brandenburg (V).

HONOURS:
Bezirkspokal Potsdam (Potsdam Cup) winner: 1958, 1978, 1990
Landesliga Brandenburg champions: 1991
Verbandsliga Brandenburg champions (V): 1992, 2007

STADIUM HISTORY: (die-fans.de)
Vogelgesang was built around 1920 as a horse racing track of the Ziethen Hussars. It has been in use as a football stadium since the 1920s. In 1976 the wooden grandstand was opened, however after the game against Union Berlin on 06.11.94, the grandstand had to be closed due to significat damage caused by the fans At the end of 2006, the newly built social building was opened, followed in 2007 by the newly constructed bleachers. In 2010 the running track was removed and the pitch moved a few meters in a northerly direction. Later that year a roof was built over the new bleacher in the guest area. In December 2010, the VIP area was officially put into operation. And in March 2011 a small electronic scoreboard was erected.
Attendance record: 31.10.1954 Motor Rathenow - Motor Hennigsdorf, 3600 people