Marburg Mercenaries
The Marburg Mercenaries are an American Football Club ( AFV ) from the Hessian Marburg.
History
The AFV Mercenaries was founded in 1991 and has since played from the fifth division Hesse ( 5 league) within a few years up to the 2nd Bundesliga Süd ago. In the relegation victories against the Munich Cowboys, the rise in the German Football League ( GFL ) South: 2002 succeeded the Mercenaries ( German mercenaries ). The year before, the Mercenaries missed only in the relegation ascension.
After a year of training with only one win in twelve games, the descent into the 2003 season could be avoided only in the relegation.
During the 2004 season, the team then played all the way forward: First, the South German championship title could be won, then they defeated in the quarter- final of the German Cup, the German Bowl, the last year's champion Hamburg Blue Devils and failed only in the semi-final on later masterpieces Berlin Adler.
In the season 2005, the Mercenaries were first on the European stage in EFAF Cup and won it with a 49:14 victory in Paris against the host Elan Court Templars. In addition, they could defend their title as sovereign South German Champion. Again, the team beat the reigning champion in the quarterfinals. And again, they failed in the semifinals, this time at the Hamburg Blue Devils, after an exciting game that was decided by a faded extra point in injury time, with 41:42.
2006 was the Mercenaries not defend her title in the EFAF Cup. Although they won two group matches, but failed in the quarterfinals at the Graz Giants narrowly 28:31. However, the title of the South German master could be defended confidently in the 2006 season and after the 34:20 win over the Hamburg Blue Devils, against which it still failed last year in the semifinals, reached the Mercenaries for the first time in their history the German Bowl. This was however lost against the Braunschweig Lions in Brunswick there was a 13:31.
By reaching the final of the German Bowl and the absence of the Master Braunschweig Lions Mercenaries had in the 2007 season, has the right to participate in the European Football League. There, they met in Division 3 on the Flash de La Courneuve from France and the Spanish side Barcelona Pioners. In the Euro Bowl on July 1, 2007 in Vienna against the Dodge Vikings Vienna However, they were clearly beaten by 19:70. In the 2007 GFL season reached the Marburger 2nd place in the south, sat at home against the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes with 21:16 in the quarterfinal by, but eliminated in the semifinals at the Braunschweig Lions with 21:26 of. At the press conference after the game coach Arbon announced that he would no longer be available from November as head coach available.
In the 2008 season, the Mercenaries won the southern group. The quarter-final against Dresden could be won with 32:21. However, in the semi-final hurdle Braunschweig Lions ( 21:49 ) was too high again.
In the 2009 season, the Mercenaries reached the 2nd place of the southern group. The quarter-final against Dresden in Marburg was won with 64:63. In the semi-finals in Berlin they lost the Berlin Adler ( 36:21 ).
Stadium and spectators
The AFV Mercenaries plays its home games at the most about 12,000 seater Georg- Gassmann -Stadion in Marburg Ockershausen in the south. In the games of the Mercenaries on average there are around 750 spectators, with top games and more than 1200 spectators. So the mercenaries are one of the audience magnet in Marburg sport.
Achievements
Other Teams
In addition to the GFL team the Mercenaries also have a successful youth team that competes in the GFL Juniors middle. Furthermore, there is a Cheerleader department with teams in three age groups, the Marburg Mascots.
Lacrosse - Marburg Saints
From 2005 to the end of 2008, founded in 2004 Lacrosse Club Marburg Saints was a department of the Mercenaries. The Saints came in the fall of 2004, from the Departments of the Universities of Marburg and Giessen. The team was relegated in 2005 to the Lacrosse League ( WDLL ), where she plays since then. By 2009, the department moved to the hockey department of the VFL 1860 Marburg.