PTSV Jahn Freiburg (Germany)

PTSV Jahn Freiburg, or Postsportverein Jahn Freiburg, to give their full title is a sports club from the city of Freiburg im Breisgau in southern Germany which has sections for billiards, recreational sports, health, ninepins, lacrosse, athletics, tennis, table tennis, gymnastics, snow sports and hiking, youth development, volleyball as well as football.

The club was formed as Turnverein Jahn Freiburg in April 1923 with members quickly signing up. The football section was started in 1927 with Freiburger FC giving the club land for Jahnstadion in 1928. 

Three years earlier another club, Postsportverein Freiburg had been formed. They joined forces with PTSV in 1937 to make up Postsportverein Jahn Freiburg. The future of the Jahnstadion was secured financially.

The military forces took over the ground during World War II, but it was returned to the club in 1947. Over the years the club took as much pride in their social achievements as trophies won as they have introduced folk dancing, singing and amateur theatre games, along with  recreation, vacations,  youth camps, international youth exchanges and visits to attractions.

By 2003 PTSV had over 150 qualified coaches in thirteen different sports. The football team continued to play at an amateur level and boasted one of the biggest football sections of any sports club in the district.

The team played the 2003-04 campaign in Kreisliga A, Staffel 2; one of numerous ninth tier leagues in the national system, where they ended in eighth place. An improvement to fifth came in 2005-06 which was replicated the following season before fourth place in 2007-08.

PTSV finished as runners-up in 2009-10 before a couple of fourth places. In 2012-13 the club were crowned as Kreisliga A2 champions as they climbed to Bezirksliga Freiburg where they finished in seventh. However, the team was relegated in 2015-16.

After a season of consolidation PTSV finished fourth in Kreisliga A2 in 2017-18 as Fabian Kunitzky scored the goals for the side coached by Ray Wusu. 2018-19 saw an improvement of one place.

When the 2019-20 season was abandoned owing to the Coronavirus outbreak the team were in tenth place as Kunitzky continued his fine work.

PTSV Jahn Freiburg will play in Kreisliga A Staffel 2 Freiburg in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Saturday 15^th August 2015

Once I earmarked going to the 2. Division game between SC Freiburg and VfL Bochum the next step was to check out the various maps and websites such as the excellent Kicker and newly found Europlans sites to see which other clubs played in the city so I could enjoy my trip further and to broaden my knowledge.

One club I found was placed most conveniently a hundred metres or so from the Dreisamstadion home of their big neighbours. I came out from my game round the north end of the stadium along the bank of the Dreisam river and then straight to the entrance and clubhouse of PTSV Jahn.

Having been involved in and seeing how hard smaller clubs have to work to survive, it’s always good to see them use ways to make money. This was certainly the case at the club as it opened up its facilities to fans going to the big match. The clubhouse seemed busy, but so was the forecourt with a plethora of traditional local food and beer stalls.

The main pitch was pretty basic but again it optimised all options with its artificial pitch to ensure maximum play. All around were further facilities for other sports including tennis and beach volleyball courts as well as an eight lane 400m running track and field. It really was a great example of community facilities.

I headed off, despite the temptation of a nice lazy afternoon to look for ventures new.