7-31-02.page

Will 2nd Year Be In Germany?
Sudwerk's First Year: Colorful, Unforgettable

DAVIS, Calif., July 31 (AP) -- FC Sudwerk marked its first anniversary on Wednesday amid speculation the Northern California superclub would be sold and moved to Europe to compete in the German Second Division.

Club officials, however, disputed reports circulated in German trade papers ealier this week that giant beermaker St. Pauli Girl is close to sealing a deal to purchase Sudwerk and all of its properties, including the brewery's high-profile soccer team.

"It's not true, it's not true," said Ramal Werdna, the club president and CEO. "First of all, we're insulted by the suggestion we would play in any second division. This is a top-notch club with high aspirations that will not compete in anything less than a prominent first division league."

St. Pauli is reportedly interested in expanding its presence in California, where it has watched competition increase from microbreweries, such as Davis' Sudwerk.

Industry analysts say the beermaker is attempting to capitalize on a robust 2001, when the company recorded sales of more than 2.6 million cases in the United States. St. Pauli Girl Lager, Special Dark and Non-Alcoholic grew at 6.3 percent over the prior year, outpacing the German beer category, according to its Chicago importer Barton Beers.

In addition, one St. Pauli executive told Sportsbild the company was disappointed at FC St. Pauli's poor showing in the Bundesliga last season and wants a second club to better its chances of getting to and staying in Germany's top soccer league.

"I know St. Pauli is very serious about boosting its success on the football field," said Rudy Voller, the coach of the German national team who rejected an offer to take the helm at FC St. Pauli. "Adding another high-quality club to its cache could only improve the possibilities."

Vikram Bugali, an industry analyst, said the deal would be the perfect marriage of soccer and product for the Bremen, Germany-based corporation.

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why they're interested," Bugali said.

Meanwhile, FC Sudwerk headquarters in Davis plans a Friday celebration to commemorate the one-year anniversay of the club's formation. Players will be treated to a free round of drinks after the team plays its fourth game of the summer season.

In its first year, FC Sudwerk got a little taste of everything -- victory, defeat, injuries, controversial referee calls and contract disputes.

The club rebounded after a poor start in a fall 2001 indoor league only to lose the championship game 1-0. Injuries hit the red-and-black hard in the winter and the team stumbled to a fourth-place finish.

In the spring, FC Sudwerk made the transition to DARSL, Davis' premier coed league, and despite struggling at first, has burst into summer with an up-tempo, competitive attack.

"We're pleased with the team's development," Werdna said. "We expect many great seasons ahead."

##

Top 10 Highlights of FC Sudwerk's 1st Year

10. Cool Jerseys. (Even if they are all too big.)
9. Sudwerk goes coed.(Hey, these women are faster and better than we are!)
8. Aaron Stephens and Randi Field--can you believe how fast and far they run?!!
7. Andy acquires Sudwerk after-hours security code to ensure team always gets a beer after a game, no matter how late it finishes.
6. April 18: Sudwerk plays first DARSL match, and fcsudwerk.com takes game report to new heights with photos.
5. Spectacular 2-0 upset of eventual league champions Davis United in fall 2001 DISC season. (Goal scorers Hans Hemann and Joe Cardoza. Final minutes featured a wrestling match between defender Andrew LaMar and United attacker Randy Martinez that brought two, two-minute penalties.)
4. The beer! (Keep that Marzen coming.)
3. David Raybould: I hope I can play with half the skill and elegance he does when I reach 47.
2. Sudwerk's first DARSL win, a 9-2 thrashing of Stone/Monkeys on July 18. (John Acord scores a hat trick.)
1. Joncarlo Mark risks facial injury in an attempt to score a goal in the fall 2001 DISC indoor soccer playoffs. Joncarlo gashed his chin when knocking heads with the opposing goalie, bled all over his shirt and returned to the field of play minutes later after bandaging the wound. That's the spirit!