(CNN) — There is a special bond between German football club Union Berlin and its enthusiasts and the proximity of the relationship was respected in a poignant way across the weekend because the team made its Bundesliga introduction.
Ahead of Saturday’s game against RB Leipzig, Union supporters held placards of deceased family members with an inscription”Edlich dabei” (Finally there).
The deceased were counted at the official presence. The Stadion An der Alten F??rsterei’s official capacity will be listed as 22,402, however, Saturday’s attendance was listed as 22,467.
The stadium, that’s the biggest purpose-built soccer ground in Berlin, has been opened in 1920, however, has undergone a series of structural modifications over the years the refurbishment and roof of the status regions between June 2008 and July 2009.
According to the club’s site, Union lovers”assembled their own arena,” with over 2,300 volunteers supplying 140,000 hours of labour time, assisting the Berlin staff save countless dollars.
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Saturday’s tribute was organized by a collection of fan groups, with images of the deceased fans raised before kick-off as the club anthem spelled out. The tickets’ expenses have been paid for by fans.
But, the introduction into the Bundesliga of Union proved that a rough one — that they were hammered 4-0 from Leipzig.
Last year Union finished third in the second tier of German football to earn a playoff from VfB Stuttgart.
Promotion and union’s subsequent two-legged victory saw the club become the first in the former East Germany out of the fifth and East Berlin to obtain passage.

Read more: f1radical.com