Club History
HISTORY OF THE BALTIMORE KICKERS
1953 – Founded by Eddie Thau and Werner Juergensen as a soccer club and adopted traditional black and white uniforms. Incorporated in 1955 with first permanent officers elected and with no home of their own, used the hall of the Eichenkranz Singing Society. Two soccer teams were formed that year and by-laws were adopted to promote soccer and fellowship through social events. The Happy Wanderers were adopted as the official band in 1962.
1953 – 2000's – Participated in numerous soccer games both nationally and internationally with multiple honors from the different tournaments in which they played. A junior team was formed in 1964 and continues to the present time. These young teams have also performed well in many leagues and tournaments throughout the years. Old Timers Soccer teams have been successful frequently throughout the years.
1960 – An official membership pin was designed and is given to all members on their induction into the Kickers.
1961- 2000's – A Newsletter was begun and continues with 3 – 4 issues yearly. Members are encouraged to write articles re: trips and German culture. Copies are distributed by print and email. The Kickers was one of three organizations that started the Maryland Oktoberfest in 1968 housed at the 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore City until 2007. The German Festival is now in its 117th year, and has been celebrated at many locations during those years, currently at Timonium Fairgrounds. The Baltimore Kickers are one of many participating organizations.
1966 – The club rented a room in the Deutsches Haus and was home to the Kickers until 1970. After a vigorous fundraising campaign, a permanent home was purchased in 1976 at 26 South Broadway. It functioned for many years for monthly meetings, social functions, library and German class venue. After the club house was sold in 2014, the group met at the Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship hall. The new clubhouse was purchased in 2015 and after renovation was made available for the initial meeting in March, 2017. It promises to be a wonderful place to carry on the purposes of the original Baltimore Kickers.
1980's - – A German Video Library was started; the Eichenkranz Room was named after a generous donation from the disbanded Eichenkranz Singing Society; In 1988 Oct.6 was designated German-American Day in USA; Multiple times, the club hosted visitors from German military groups as well as bands who performed for various functions. In May, 1991, Honorary Life members, Willie Steinebrunner and George Lechelt, made five shields, representing the newly released East German states and presented them to the club. They now hang in the club house.
1990's – present. The club had the distinction of being the longest playing soccer group in 2002-03 season (50 years!!); Many members have made trips to Germany and Austria as well as to Christmas markets in a variety of cities. The club has cooperated in the Christkindlmarkt in the historic Adlersaal of the Zion Lutheran Church since 1988; The Kickers celebrated 60 years as a club in 2013. Numerous members have been honored by serving in the club 25 or more years and many more have become honorary members.
It would be difficult to name all the people who have contributed to the development of the Baltimore Kickers over the past 64 years and many of those who were so involved with making it a great group have gone on to their glory. In cooperation with the Burgerverein, Eidelweiss Club, Club Fedelitas,Germania Lodge, Arion Gesangverein; Deutsche Geselligkeit,Inc,Verein Deutscher Trachten of Baltimore,Society for the History of Germans in MD;G.T.V. Immergruen, German Society and the Zion Church Council, it is hoped that many more years of celebration and friendship will be cultivated. As we celebrate our 64th year in this newly renovated Clubhouse, we invite all German-Americans to honor their heritage by participating in upcoming activities. We will be continuing with our Crab and Shrimp feasts, Schlachtfests, German Festival, Oktoberfest, Children’s Christmas party to name a few. Free German Classes will begin in October. We remain an active, congenial club with a diverse membership to include educators, craftsmen, musicians, professionals - in short, a group much like the German immigrants who contributed so much to our country’s growth and development.