Union Berlin

Union Berlin:

"Founded in 1966, Union were conceived as a "civilians' club", as opposed to the official army club Vorwaerts Berlin, and the club of the secret police Dynamo Berlin.

They came to be seen as a plucky, likeable alternative to Dynamo, who dominated East German football.

"There was a saying back then: 'Not all Union fans are in the opposition, but everyone in the opposition supports Union'," laughs Christoph.

He remembers how fans would shout "down with the wall!" when players formed a wall to defend a free-kick.

"Everyone in the stadium knew which wall they were talking about," he smiles."

They're in a play-off for promotion to the Bundesliga.

More on Union Berlin:

"The fans even donated blood. You get paid for donating blood in Germany. The money they got for it kept the club alive."

The words of German football journalist Jacob Sweetman reflect the sacrifices Union Berlin's fans have made during their club's journey towards a piece of history.

In May, they became the first club from east Berlin to reach the Bundesliga. On Saturday, they will meet their neighbours Hertha BSC, from the west of the city.

Never before has there been a Bundesliga fixture between east and west Berlin. Indeed, there was a time, when the city was divided by the Berlin Wall, that such a fixture would have been impossible.