BFC Germania 1888
BFC Germania 1888 was part of the country's first football league, the BDF (Bund Deutscher Fußballspieler or Federation of German Football Players) which was formed in November 1890 and was active until February 1892. The league was made up of the Berlin-based clubs BFC Vorwärts 1890, BFC Askania 1890, BFC Borussia 1890, BFC Concordia 1890, BFC Hellas 1890, BFC Tasmania 1890 and BFC Teutonia 1891. Germania emerged the winner in a tournament staged by the league, and as the DBF was the only football league in the country at the time, can lay claim to being Germany's first champion. Club records indicate that "BFC" then defended their title, but no supporting evidence has been found.
TSC Eintracht Dortmund
Predecessor side "Dortmunder SC 1895" was established on 10 May 1895 as "Dortmunder Fussball Club 1895" and is recognized as the city's oldest football club. The team folded in 1897, but was re-formed on 27 October 1899. It was joined by "Fussball Club Union Dortmund" in 1910 and on 13 July 1913 merged with "Ballspielverein 1904 Dortmund" to become "Sportvereinigung Dortmund 1895" before first adopting the name "Dortmunder Sport Club 1895" in 1919. This combined side made an appearance in the top flight regional playoff round in 1920–21.