Werder Bremen (Germany) 2008 Away kit

The club enjoyed some early success, fielding competitive sides and winning a number of local championships. They were the first club to charge spectators a fee to attend their games, and to fence in their playing field. Steady growth after World War I led the club to adopt other sports and, in 1920, change their name to the current SV Werder Bremen. Football remained their primary interest, so much so that in 1922, they became the first German club to hire a professional coach. Werder remained competitive through the 30's and 40's in the country's Oberligen and Gauligen, the highest levels of play at the time.