The Pokal - Glory in Berlin, 2007

As 1.FCN prepare to meet Schalke 04 in the quarter-final of the DFB Pokal, and while Glubberer still hang on to hopes of another trip to Berlin in May, it's worth looking back to the final of four years ago. when Hans Meyer's team ended a glorious season with a marvellous cup victory. 

Rarely does a cup final live up to it's big match billing as did the 2007 meeting between 1.FCN and Stuttgart. Hans Meyer had turned his team into UEFA Cup qualifers after taking the helm just 18 months previously with relegation looking likely. Stuttgart, already crowned league champions, had lost their two Bundesliga encounters with 1.FCN but were favourites to lift the cup and complete the 'double'.

The odds, however, were upset and Nuremberg lifted their first trophy for 39 years. The story of the game was best captured on the original 1FCNUK website in the words of Jason who, with several other UK-based fans, was in the Olympic Stadium that special day...

…From the once great shores of the UK flew a great bird bearing the island’s cream of football supporters. These brave pioneers headed to the imposing metropolis of Berlin. For it is here that they slogged their way through beer and wurst to arrive at the stage that was once the dream of all Olympians.



There were different gladiators there that day, all dressed in white but still with that same look

of determination and steely grit in their eyes. And it was these great champions that the British pioneers came to see.

A brave contest ensued between the graceful Whites and the savage Reds. Misplaced footings and sublime finishing resulted in an early blow from the Reds. But this was just the tonic needed to force the Whites into action, an incisive move down the right flank ensured the quick thinking Slovak [Marek Mintal] punished a flat-footed defence. And then the Reds showed their true colours and took to Neanderthal methods to stop the rampaging Whites, their talisman  taken from the field of play [Mintal after a vicious foul]. But still the Whites pressed, moved by their mountain of support… forward, forward.

A break from the battle came.

The general on the sideline pushed his troops forward and a victory seemed inevitable. GOAL. [Marco Engelhardt]

.

The Franconians, euphoric (the British heroes too) applauded their warriors. The end seemed in sight, but a cruel blow was to come... tired legs retreated and a penalty came. Was this the end of the battling Franconians and their faithful hordes? No! No! Wir Sind Der Club!! That was the cry! And the Whites poured forward with one final push. GOOOOOOOAL [Jan Kristiansen]

… This was too much to bear for our British heroes, who went into a frenzy.

The golden chalice was won. Legends were born. And one lived on…Der Club.