WHO ARE BORUSSIA DORTMUND?

We take a closer look at the German Bundesliga side

THE LORD'S WORK?

The club was founded in a pub, Zum Wildschütz, by a group of men who had been playing football in the local catholic church league, but had grown unhappy with how they were treated by one Father Dewald, a local parish priest. They decided to form their own team away from his strict gaze. They spent their first few decades in the modest local league and almost went out of business in 1929 when they tried to sign some paid professional players but failed to get promoted and ended up in heavy debt, bailed out by a rich local fan who kept the club going.

A BIT OF A MOUTHFUL

Thankfully, Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund are more commonly known as Borussia Dortmund, or for the even lazier, BVB. 'Borussia' is Latin for 'Prussia', but in this instance was taken from the Borussia beer being brewed in a nearby brewery. 'Ballspielverein' means 'ball club'. The '09' comes from the fact that the team was founded in 1909.

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