DFB-Pokal: HEBC faces Dortmund with Thomas Wolter in the stands

Thomas Wolter will return to the stands with his 1983 teammates as HEBC plays Borussia Dortmund in what the Hamburg club calls its “game of the century.”

The 62-year-old former Werder Bremen player bought two tickets for the first-round German Cup match at Volksparkstadion. Wolter said he and his old team meet twice a year, making the occasion both a major match for HEBC and a reunion for his former teammates.

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I bought two tickets for the game and will be at the stadium with my 1983 team. We meet twice a year.

Wolter is among the most prominent players to have worn the HEBC shirt. Forty-three years ago, the club reached the Hamburg state cup final for the first time, losing to Hummelsbütteler SV on penalties. Wolter recalled that HEBC played in the district league while Hummelsbüttel included players such as Georg Volkert and Peter Hidien.

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We played in the district league then, and Hummelsbüttel had players such as Georg Volkert and Peter Hidien.

A year after that final, Wolter moved from HEBC to Werder Bremen. He made 312 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals, and won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 under Otto Rehhagel. His honors also included German league titles in 1988 and 1993 and German Cup victories in 1991 and 1994.

Wolter made one appearance for West Germany, starting a 3-1 friendly defeat by Brazil on Dec. 16, 1992. He was substituted in the 59th minute for Borussia Dortmund’s Michael Zorc. Now a Werder sporting director overseeing the under-19 to under-23 age groups, Wolter has one modest hope for HEBC: “I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be in double figures.”

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I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be in double figures.