Promotion or relegation? Sillian is fighting for the championship in East Tyrol!

Promotion or relegation? Sillian is fighting for the championship in East Tyrol!

The second half of the East Tyrolean football leagues begins this weekend, and the excitement in the 1st Class A is at its peak. FC Union Raiffeisen Sillian-Heinfels, which has been aiming for promotion to the lower league for two years, starts the second half of the season as league leaders. The club chairman Peter Mair as well as the deputy Konrad Werth and youth leader Hans Christian Kraler emphasize that promotion is the minimum goal. The club, whose history goes back to 1959, has set itself the task of not only being successful in sport, but also of promoting social cohesion in the region.

The football field in Sillian is currently not yet prepared for championship operations, so the team trains on an artificial turf field in Heinfels. The Sillian sports union wants to defend its lead in the table and win the championship in order to be able to play in the lower league next year. From the 2025/26 season, the top three teams in 1st Class A will be promoted to the higher league. This fact increases the pressure on the club, which is financed thanks to sponsors, entrance fees and help with festivities.

Club life and youth work

Around 100 children and young people are currently training in the club, which looks after a total of eight teams, including a U15 team with URC Thal/Assling. Another important initiative is the “Train like the grown-ups” event, which promotes youth engagement. The fighting team consists of players between the ages of 18 and 36 as well as two legionnaires and is trained by Markus Hanser. This not only creates an intense competitive atmosphere, but also game practice for the reserve team.

On average, around 200 spectators watch the games in the Draupark Stadium. The club also takes part in the “Helping Hands” initiative, which supports the promotion of health and sport in the region. This year the Draupark will be equipped with new floodlights, which will be financed by the municipality. Historically, the club was repeatedly affected by location changes and game breaks, but celebrated its first promotion to 1st Class A in 1988 and promotion to the lower league in 2006.

The role of private investors in football

In a larger context, financial support from private investors plays a crucial role in Austrian football. Loud League portal These investors influence both the financial structures and the sporting successes of the clubs. This represents a challenge for clubs like Sportunion Sillian, as financially strong clubs often have an advantage. A challenge remains to find a balance between the needs of the club and the goals of the investors in order to ensure long-term stability and the preservation of the club's identity.

Ultimately, it becomes clear that the Sillian Sport Union is not only fighting for sporting success, but also for the values ​​that have shaped the club since its founding. Whether they can start the new season successfully will be seen in the coming weeks.