Cologne Cathedral goes football mad on the Feast of the Assumption
Three anniversaries and many surprises
To mark the 77th anniversary of their club and the 777th anniversary of the laying of the cathedral's foundation stone, thousands of 1. FC Köln fans attended the eleventh fan service.
In addition to a new third jersey, the Bläck Fööss surprised everyone with their performance.
"Surprises" had been announced by Cologne's city dean, Monsignor Robert Kleine, in the run-up to this year's fan service. And indeed, there were three anniversaries to celebrate on August 15, 2025: the 77th anniversary of 1. FC Köln, the 777th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, and the eleventh anniversary of the fan service in Cologne Cathedral.
The "Eleven" is known to be synonymous with "jeck" in Cologne. So, it was exciting to see what would be more jecker this year than in previous years. The first surprise appeared upon entering the cathedral: fans of all ages wore brand-new 1. FC Köln jerseys in black and gold. Next to the club and supplier logos, the silhouette of Cologne Cathedral shone in gold embroidery, along with the inscription: "August 15, 1248 – 777 years – August 15, 2025."
Away jersey designed with the Cathedral Workshop
Even the Cologne Cathedral's master builder, Peter Füssenich, wore the new jersey with the ornamentally woven cathedral symbols in the black fabric. "I think it's absolutely fantastic. It was designed in collaboration with the Cathedral Workshop. There are many motifs on it. You have to look a little more closely to see them. So: the laying of the foundation stone in 1248, the fat Pitter, the St. Peter's bell, and the billy goat—of course—which is also immortalized as a gargoyle on the cathedral. A nice gimmick for this double anniversary."
Glory to Cologne. Cathedral is the platform for the announcement of FC Cologne's new football strip.
The second surprise didn't take long to arrive. City Dean Monsignor Robert Kleine addressed the approximately four thousand fans with his usual humor in his address. He spoke about the history of the cathedral, the city, and the football club. He repeatedly referred to the crazy number 11. He surprised the assembled fan community with another anniversary reveal: Another Cologne landmark is also celebrating its anniversary this year: the most Cologne-inspired of all Cologne bands, the Bläck Fööss.
Surprise: the Bläck Fööss
Because the "Fööss" will be celebrating their "5 x 11th" birthday in 2025. Kleine had approached the musicians about this and invited them. Indeed, the band also performed in Cologne Cathedral, elevated on the choir platform in the cathedral's side aisle. There, the band presented their new song "Dreimal Sibbe."
Bassist Hanz Thodam wrote the lyrics together with lead singer Mirko Bäumer. "When Mirko saw the three 777s, he thought of 3 x 7. That makes you grow up. That was the basis for the song – and then we incorporated everything that has to do with the cathedral. But also that he's close to God and scratching at the sky."
Music and atmosphere with the anthem
The fan base was enthusiastic. During the second song, "In our neighborhood," they sang along and swayed. Their ears were once again pricked up during the third song by Bläck Föös. The band sang about "the 12th man," the fan himself – without whom nothing is possible.
After about an hour, the entertaining service ended with stories, readings, intercessions, best wishes for the new season, and, of course, the FC anthem played on the cathedral organ. The fans from Cologne, the Eifel region, and even from Saxony enthusiastically waved their scarves.
"Without God's blessing, there would be a lot of chaos"
Alexandra Konrad also traveled from Linz am Rhein with her daughter Charlotte. The two were present at the fan service for the second time and were beaming. The jersey and Bläck Fööss were great, they thought, but the feeling of the FC anthem couldn't be topped.
For now, they're keeping their fingers crossed for the 1. FC Köln women's team – after all, Charlotte herself plays midfield and striker for SG Vettelschloß-St. Katharinen. Despite all the surprises and highlights, one thing remains particularly important to her about the fan service in Cologne Cathedral: "Without God's blessing, there would sometimes be a lot of chaos."
Not a show, but a matter of requests
The surprises at this special fan service were certainly a success. Monsignor Kleine also enthusiastically waved his fan scarf and was surrounded by fans afterward – praise and backslapping included. "I'm always happy when our request comes across. This isn't a show, but rather a matter of asking that everything proceeds peacefully and then be heard."
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