Oldest football clubs
Dresden English Football Club was founded on 18 March 1874 and was the first association football club in Germany, and likely the first outside Great Britain. In 1874, over 70 members participated, primarily Englishmen working in Dresden, watched by hundreds of spectators. Another German club, 1860 Munich did not play football until 1899, although it has its origins in a gymnastics and fitness club formed in 1848 and reestablished in the year indicated by its name.
SV Germania Schöneiche
The earliest predecessor of today's association was the gymnastics club "MTV Germania Kleinschönbeck Schöneiche" founded in 1894. In the aftermath of World War II occupying Allied authorities disbanded organizations across the country, including sports and football associations. "Germania" was re-established as "SG Schöneiche" and became part of the separate East German football competition that emerged in the Soviet-occupied part of the country. As was common in East Germany through the 1950s and 1960s the team underwent several name changes, playing as "BSG Lokomotive Schöneiche", "BSG Motor Friedrichshagen", "BSG Motor Ostend", "BSG Empor Köpenick", "TSG Schöneiche". Before German re-unification the club was known as "BSG ZBE Landbau Schöneiche". The footballers did not enjoy any real success, with their play being limited to district league competition.