It won't be the same, but #fcunion are playing today

To get us in the mood, here's a special Union A-to-Z Thread.

A – Easy one: Alte Försterei. Our beloved home since 1920 and now for a century of football. Reconstructed by our own fans. All standing areas apart from the main stand, which was opened against @CelticFC in 2013.

Capacity: 22,012. Future expansion to come.

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B – Building the Alte Försterei: Over 2,300 volunteers committed more than 140,000 hours of work to rebuild the stadium when the club didn't have the money for it. Now, there's a Builder's Monument at the stadium and a beer garden exclusively for them.

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C – Choreos: We only see the end product for a few seconds, but it's a pain-staking task to prepare, design and put together displays. Without the fans, this isn't possible. At the Alte Försterei or around the country.

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D – Derby Winners! Union bossed the first Bundesliga battle against our guests from Charlottenburg. @polti1991 with the goal from the penalty spot at the end. Reminder: #BerlinSiehtRot

https://twitter.com/fcunion_en/status/1190716760095371264?s=20

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E – Endlich dabei (Finally there!): Many fans weren't with us to see our first game in the Bundesliga. So, as a tribute, fans could bring relatives/friends who had passed away to the game against Leipzig. The official attendance was increased by 455.

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F – For Union: The club needed the support of the fans in 2004. A seven-figure sum was needed for a licence. "Bleed for Union" was born. Fans gave blood and donations went to Union.

Ex-Mayor of Berlin: "Because one thing is certain: Berlin needs 1. FC Union."

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G – Gaffer: Our Swiss head coach Urs Fischer joined in 2018 and led us to our first promotion to the Bundesliga. Naturally, our thoughts are with him at this time and we hope to see him soon at the Alte Försterei.

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H – Home: "We don't go to football, we go to Union"

Home and the sense of belonging means everything. Even more so in the current times. Our fans can shape policy as a member-run club.

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I – Ignaczak: We are in the @Bundesliga_EN now, but it wasn't always like that. Among others (Quest, Potti Mathies etc), Rainer Ignaczak contributed to the history. He played 96 matches for Union and helped win the FDGB-Cup in 1968.

Don't forget where you came from!

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J – Jahn Sportpark: A temporary home for Union as the stadium construction was ongoing. There, we secured promotion into the second division in 2009 with a victory against @SSVJAHN.

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K – Köpenick: This is our home district of Berlin. It's southeast of the city centre, lies on the Spree and where you'll find the @StadionAdAF.

Oh Köpenick, du bist wunderschön

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L – "Locksmith boys" (Schlosserjungs): Before moving to the Alte Försterei in 1920, the club was born out of (nearby) Oberschöneweide. The community (players/fans) were largely taken from working-class backgrounds and wore blue locksmith shirts early on.

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M – Members: We're well over the 36,000 mark – the 15th biggest member-run sports club in Germany. "We have to promote our values. Those who feel the same as we do, must get behind us."

More info: https://bit.ly/2LyCQ1M 

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N – Nina Hagen: Born in East Berlin, Nina Hagen earned the status "The godmother of punk". She recorded a club anthem in 1998 and the players still walk out to this song at the Alte Försterei.



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O – Oberschöneweide: It all started out of the workers' district in southeast Berlin. A cluster of local teams came to form Union 06 Oberschöneweide in 1909. The pitches were taken up by industrial facilities in the 1910s, and so came about the move to Köpenick.

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P – Parensen: The definition of "Fußballgott" (Football God). Parensen has played 246 times for Union's first-team – from Tier 1 to 3. He scored his first @Bundesliga_EN goal in December.

Reliable, honest and wears the badge with pride.

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Q – Ralf Quest: The scorer of the winning goal in our FDGB Pokal victory in 1968 (East German Cup). Union fought back against the mighty @fccarlzeissjena with Meinhard Uentz and Quest securing the first major honour of the club's history.

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R – Well, that's maybe the easiest.

Red and white are the colours of Berlin.

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S – Stehplatz (Standing Places): 18,395 of the total capacity at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is standing room. This is one of our values and it will continue into the stadium renovations, which are due to take place in the future.

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T – 'Tusche': The all-time GOAT. An attacking-midfielder with amazing natural ability. Mattuschka scored 61 goals and assisted 62 in 281 appearances. One of those strikes was this classic free-kick at the Olympic Stadium to defeat Hertha in the 2.Bundesliga.

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U – "Und niemals vergessen ... Eisern Union!" (And never forget, Eisern Union)

The legend goes that "Eisern Union" was chanted as a battle cry from the sidelines. It's still done to this day.

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V – "Vizemeister" (Runner Up) – In 1923, Union Oberschöneweide, one of the preceding teams of 1. FC Union Berlin, won the regional league title. Union beat Bielefeld & Fürth on the road to the final, but lost to @HSV_English in front of 60,000+ spectators.

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W – Weihnachtssingen (Christmas Carols) – In 2003, a group of 89 fans needed some cheering up due to some poor results. They climbed over the gates and began to sing carols on the terraces.

Every year on December 23 at 19:00, we gather to do the same thing.

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X – "Texas" Teixeira: The penalty box king from scored an incredible 46 goals in 67 games for Union Berlin. He was the first player in the club's history to receive a farewell match.

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Y – 50 Years: In January 2016, we welcomed @BVB to Köpenick to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1. FC Union Berlin's establishment. Here's the special choreography which was designed for that game.



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Z – "Die Zeit ist nun gekommen, Ihr werdets alle sehn" // "The time has come, you'll see"

Union achieved promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in 2019, beating Stuttgart in the play-off.

The memories are still vivid

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