December: Successfully defying the onset of winter
Review of the year 2023
First Team
02.01.2024, 09:07
Another year is coming to an end: 365 days of both highs and lows, but above all a host of memorable moments for FC Augsburg. It’s time once more to reflect on the past twelve months. In part twelve of FCA’s review of the year, we look back on December.
Winter had fully arrived in Augsburg by the start of December. FCA’s Sunday evening game against Eintracht Frankfurt was in doubt for a long time, but the training pitch and the stadium were cleared of snow as the FCA family came together to tackle the situation, meaning that it was possible for matchday 13 to take place. As a reward for their dedication, FCA’s players warmed the fans up in -13°C conditions with a positive performance, defeating Eintracht 2-1 through goals from Fredrik Jensen and Iago, whilst also avoiding defeat for the sixth consecutive game.
Alongside honouring certain long-term members ahead of kick-off, various other activities took place in support of the DFB’s “Danke ans Ehrenamt” initiative, whilst Alfred Finnbogason also received an official send-off (39 goals in 122 games for FCA).
FCA held their annual membership meeting in the week following the home win against Frankfurt. Around 750 members came to the BusinessClub at the WWK Arena and were informed about the club’s current situation and the previous business year. The new version of the statutes was approved with an overwhelming majority.
FCA’s next away trip took them to the far north. FC Ausgburg suffered their first defeat under Jess Thorup away at SV Werder Bremen (2-0 loss). Borussia Dortmund were the visitors at the WWK ARENA following that, with the home end selling out for the eleventh time in 14 games. Thorup’s side secured a point against BVB in front of a sell-out crowd thanks to Ermedin Demirović’s eighth goal of the season (1-1 draw).
To conclude the year, FCA had a shortened week of training before they faced their next and simultaneously final test in 2023 in Stuttgart.
Doing good together
As was the case last year, FC Augsburg were present at Augsburg’s Christmas markets on multiple occasions in the weeks leading up to Christmas, serving mulled wine and punch at the Almhütte and thereby supporting their radio media partner HITRADIO RT1’s charitable campaign. FCA were also represented at RT1’s yearly telethon, with FCA president Markus Krapf appearing as a patron. In addition, FC Augsburg and the WWK Children’s Foundation worked together with the FCA family to provide joy to children registered with the Augsburg food bank by giving them Christmas presents.
