Southwestern Cup


The South West Cup is one of the 21 regional cup competitions of German football. The winner of the competition gains entry to the first round of the German Cup. It is limited to clubs from the Rheinhessen-Pfalz region of Rhineland-Palatinate, however, teams from the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga are not permitted to compete. It is one of two cup competitions in the state, the other being the Rhineland Cup, which covers roughly the northern half of the state.
The competition is sponsored by the Bitburger brewery and carries the name Bitburger-Verbandspokal. It is operated by the South West German Football Association, the SWFV.

History

The Cup was established in 1973. The South West Cup is played annually.
From 1974 onwards, the winner of the South West Cup qualified for the first round of the German Cup.
Since the establishment of the 3. Liga in 2008, reserve teams can not take part in the German Cup anymore, but are permitted to play in the regional competitions. For the 2007–08 cup winner, 1. FC Kaiserslautern II, this meant, the runners-up, SV Niederauerbach, was qualified instead for the 2008–09 DFB-Pokal.

Modus

Clubs from fully professional leagues are not permitted to enter the competition, meaning, no teams from the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga can compete.
All clubs from the South West playing in the 3. Liga, Regionalliga West, Oberliga Südwest, Verbandsliga Südwest and the two Landesligas gain direct entry to the first round. Additionally, all clubs that have reached the quarter finals of the two Bezirkspokale, the two regional cup competitions staged for teams below the'Landesligas, also enter the competition. In 2007, for example, 129 clubs took part. The lower classed team always receives home advantage, except in the final, which is played on neutral ground.

Cup finals

Held annually at the end of season, these were the cup finals since 1974:
SeasonLocationWinnerFinalistResultAttendance
1973–74FC Rodalben
1974–75ASV Landau
1975–76VfR Wormatia Worms
1976–77SG Eintracht Bad Kreuznach
1977–78SG Eintracht Bad Kreuznach
1978–791. FC Kaiserslautern II
1979–801. FSV Mainz 05
1980–81BFV Hassia Bingen
1981–821. FSV Mainz 05
1982–83BFV Hassia Bingen
1983–84SV Südwest Ludwigshafen
1984–85SC Birkenfeld
1985–861. FSV Mainz 05
1986–87SV Südwest Ludwigshafen
1987–88VfR Wormatia Worms
1988–89TSG Pfeddersheim
1989–90SV Südwest Ludwigshafen
1990–91SV Viktoria Herxheim
1991–92VfR Wormatia Worms
1992–93TSG Pfeddersheim
1993–94SV Edenkoben
1994–95TSG Pfeddersheim
1995–96TSG Pfeddersheim
1996–9729 May 19971. FC Kaiserslautern IISV Viktoria Herxheim2–1
1997–98SC Idar-Oberstein
1998–99FK 03 Pirmasens
1999–2000Neustadt, 7 June 2000TSG Pfeddersheim1. FC Kaiserslautern II2–2 400
2000–01Bad Kreuznach, 7 June 20011. FSV Mainz 05 IIVfR Grünstadt1–0400
2001–02Alzey, 30 May 20021. FSV Mainz 05 II1. FC Kaiserslautern II3–01,500
2002–03Worms, 3 June 20031. FSV Mainz 05 II1. FC Kaiserslautern II1–0800
2003–04Ludwigshafen, 3 June 20041. FSV Mainz 05 IISC Hauenstein3–1500
2004–05Grünstadt, 25 May 20051. FSV Mainz 05 IISC Hauenstein2–0
2005–06Alzey, 24 May 2006FK 03 PirmasensFSV Mainz 05 II2–11,150
2006–07Ludwigshafen, 1 May 2007VfR Wormatia Worms1. FC Kaiserslautern II1–03,700
2007–0821 May 20081. FC Kaiserslautern IISV Niederauerbach2–1
2008–0919 May 2009VfR Wormatia WormsFSV Oggersheim5–1
2009–10Offenbach, 26 May 2010FK PirmasensFV Dudenhofen3–0
2010–1131 May 2011SVN ZweibrückenSC Idar-Oberstein2–1 pen
2011–12Idar-Oberstein, 22 May 2012VfR Wormatia WormsFK Pirmasens4–1
2012–13Bobenheim-Roxheim, 29 May 2013TSG PfeddersheimArminia Ludwigshafen4–3 pen
2013–14Mehlingen, 14 May 2014Alemannia WaldalgesheimSVN Zweibrücken1–01,005
2014–15Offenbach, 13 May 2015FK PirmasensFV Dudenhofen1–02,500
2015–16Römerberg, 28 May 2016SC HauensteinTSV Schott Mainz2–1 1,002
2016–17Pirmasens, 25 May 2017SV MorlauternWormatia Worms2–12,410
2017–18Worms, 21 May 2018Wormatia WormsAlemannia Waldalgesheim3–1 3,393
2018–19Pirmasens, 25 May 20191. FC KaiserslauternWormatia Worms3–17,343

Listed in order of wins, the Cup winners are:
ClubWins
1. FSV Mainz 05 18
Wormatia Worms7
TSG Pfeddersheim6
FK Pirmasens4
1. FC Kaiserslautern II3
SV Südwest Ludwigshafen3
BFV Hassia Bingen2
SG Eintracht Bad Kreuznach2
Alemannia Waldalgesheim1
SVN Zweibrücken1
SC Idar-Oberstein1
SV Edenkoben1
SV Viktoria Herxheim1
SC Birkenfeld1
ASV Landau1
FC Rodalben1
SC Hauenstein1
SV Morlautern1
1. FC Kaiserslautern1