U16

After the Verbandsliga title in 2016/17 the Irons‘ U16s competed in the Regionalliga North-East for the first time ever in 2017/18. The overall aim for the team is to prepare them for the step up to the Bundesliga a year later with the U17s.

The difference in class from the Verbandsliga was clear from the beginning of the season. The Red and Whites entered the winter break in 13th position in the table with nine points from the first 13 games. The attack found it difficult to adapt to the higher level and had problems in front of goal. At the halfway point in the season Union were the least dangerous team in the league with 12 goals from the first 13 games. That five of those came in one game shows the lack of firepower the Red and Whites had to call on in the first half of the campaign. Whilst goals were hard to come by, this didn’t mean that Union were totally out of their depth; often concentration was lacking in the crucial moments and six times games were only lost by one goal.

As 2017 became 2018 André Vilk took over the reins as manager with Orest Shala moving up to the U17s to become assistant manager. Despite the lack of positive results the belief in the squad remained high, and slowly the tide started to turn. The new manager’s time in charge began with a point away at Aue, showing the improvement from the boys in red and white, as the reverse fixture had been lost 3-0.

The seven-game unbeaten run that followed was the reward for the hard work put in during training and the togetherness the squad showed in difficult times. The 17 points from this period saw Union bid farewell to the relegation zone and distance themselves from the ensuing battle against the drop.  

A 4-1 win away in Rostock in the penultimate game of the season confirmed survival, an impressive achievement given the precarious league position at Christmastime. The attacking unit were in part responsible the turnaround; the least dangerous attack from the first half of the season became the second-strongest in the final stretch. The boys from Köpenick can go on their summer holidays more than satisfied with their work, with Union’s place in the Regionalliga secured for next year at the very least.

C-Junioren (U15)

The U15s can also be more content with what they delivered in 2017/18 and will be looking forward to the challenge of Regionalliga football when they move up to the U16s in July. However, their season could not have gone more differently than that of the year group above them.

In their third campaign in a row in the U15 Regionalliga (the highest division possible with no Bundesliga football played at U15 level), the team coached by Steve Georges and former Union player Christian Stuff delivered the best start to a season in the team’s history. After the 3-0 away loss to arch-rivals Hertha BSC in September the next loss came half a year later against the same opponent.

The first half of the season finished with the team from Köpenick just behind leaders RB Leipzig having won every single one of the last nine games. Only Leipzig could better the Irons‘ mark of 36 goals scored in the first 13 games; without doubt one of the reasons for the fast start to the campaign.

The unbeaten run stood at 13 games when Hertha won the Berlin derby for the second time in the season. The month after the run was broken was arguably the hardest of the year, as the boys in red and white also exited the Berlin Cup at the semi-final stage. Union found it more difficult in the latter stages of the campaign to trouble the opposition `keeper, with 15 less goals after Christmas than before the break.

After the cup exit Steve Georges‘ team concentrated solely on the league and finished the season strongly, winning three of the final five games. Despite the blip in springtime, overall the campaign was more than successful for the U15s, and, thanks to the furious start to the season, the boys finished third in the final table. The aim, to prepare the squad for life with the U16s, was therefore achieved.