| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Hofer | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1881 | ||
| Place of birth | Switzerland | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper, Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1898–1905 | FC Basel | 27 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Paul Hofer (born 7 September 1881; date of death unknown) was a Swiss footballer who played in the late 1890s and early 1900s.
Hofer joined FC Basel's first team for their 1898–99 season.
The first edition of the official Swiss championship was played in the 1898–99 season as a knock out competition. Basel played against Old Boys in the central group semi-final. Hofer played his domestic league debut in this home game at the Landhof on 13 November 1898 as Basel played a 1–1 draw with their local rivals. [1]
It therefore required a replay. This replay was in the Stadion Schützenmatte on 18 December 1898 and was also drawn 2–2, despite an agreed two times 20 minutes extra time. Because the Old Boys complained that the first FCB goal, scored by Rudolf La Roche in the 10th minute, had been scored by hand, they protested and the Swiss Football Association (SFA) had to deal with the matter. Subsequently, the protest was approved and awarded - and the disputed goal was simply deducted from the score to give the final result. Thus the Old Boys became the first forfait winners in Swiss football history. [2] The Old Boys advanced to the finals, but the Anglo-American Club Zürich became Swiss champions. [3]
A curiosity in this 1898–99 season was the game in Zürich on 5 March 1899. The majority of them English students, had formed a club and the members of the Anglo-American Club even attended the founder meeting of the Swiss Football Association (ASF-SFV) in April 1895. They had found a place to play their games, although the Zurich commons was by no means ideal. It was often that the players found the grounds very sludgy or with freshly raised molehills. But at least, it was a homestead that was soon called "Anglo-Platz". Suddenly the announcement: "By decree of the military directorate of the canton of Zurich it is forbidden until further notice to play on the military training area Allmend". In the age of mobile communications, a short-term postponement may not attract much attention. But at the end of the 19th century constant accessibility wasn't even wishful thinking. The following could be read about the game against FC Basel which was brought forward from the afternoon to the morning: “As a result, the Anglos, who were only partially able to notify their people, started the game with only seven men. Only during the course of the game was the team completed to the full eleven. There were also replacements in Basel's team, because some players did not arrive until a later train. The appointed referee was not there because he been scheduled for the afternoon. The crowd consisted of approximately 10 to 20 spectators. Under such circumstances, such an important match should not have been played." Despite all the obstacles: The game became a demonstration of the superiority of the British players from Zurich. The Anglo American Football Club won the match 10–0, with their center forward Robert Collinson alone scoring 8 goals. By then, at the latest, it was clear that the Anglos would be unstoppable on their way to the title. [4]
For the team the 1900–01 season was a bad season, they ended the season in fifth position in the group stage. [5] A curiosity in this season was the away game on 3 March 1901. This was an away game against Grasshopper Club and it ended in a 3–13 defeat. The reasons for this high defeat can be explained with the fact that one of the players missed the train and that the team played with a number of players from their reserve team. Nevertheless, to date this remains the teams’ highest and biggest defeat in the club’s history. [6]
Between the years 1898 and 1905 Hofer played a total of 56 games for Basel. He mainly played as the goalkeeper, but he also played out in the field as a defender. 27 of these games were in the Swiss Serie A and 29 were friendly games [7]
Ernst-Alfred Thalmann was a Swiss international footballer, jurist, politician and private art collector.
The FC Basel 1898–99 season was their sixth season since the club's foundation on 15 November 1893. This was the first season in which they competed for the Swiss championship. The club's chairman was Charlie Volderauer, who was chairman between 1896 and 1900. He was the third chairman in the club's history, following Roland Geldner (1893–1896) and Emanuel Schiess (1896). FC Basel played their home games in the Landhof, in the Quarter Kleinbasel.
The FC Basel 1900–01 season was their eighth season since the club's foundation on 15 November 1893. The club's new chairman was Ernst-Alfred Thalmann, who took over the presidency from Charlie Volderauer at the AGM. He was the fourth chairman in the club's history. FC Basel played their home games in the Landhof in the Quarter Kleinbasel.
The FC Basel 1903–04 season was their eleventh season in their existence. The club's chairman was Ernst-Alfred Thalmann, who took over the chairmanship at the AGM for the third time in the club's history. FC Basel played their home games in the Landhof in the Quarter Kleinbasel.
Dr Georg Emanuel Schiess was a Swiss footballer who played for FC Basel. He played mainly as forward, but also as midfielder.
Hermann Schneider was a Swiss footballer who played for FC Basel. He played as forward.
Charles (Charlie) Volderauer was a Swiss businessman. He was founder member of the club FC Basel, played various matches for them as defender, was voted into the board of directors and was the club's president for more than three years.
The FC Basel 1899–1900 season was their seventh season since the club's foundation on 15 November 1893. In this season they did not compete for the Swiss championship. The club's chairman was Charlie Volderauer, who was chairman between 1896 and 1900. He stood down at the AGM and Ernst-Alfred Thalmann was elected as the new club chairman. FC Basel played their home games in the Landhof, in the Quarter Kleinbasel.
Hans Billeter was a Swiss footballer who played as forward in the late 1890s.
Rudolf La Roche was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s. He was a well-known businessman and became president of the local riding school society.
Georges Fürstenberger (1881–1941) was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s. He was a well-known businessman and became president of the local riding school society.
Otto Reber was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s.
Rudolf Schwarz was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s.
Ernst Gass was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s.
Rudolf Iselin was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder in the late 1890s.
Adolf Rittmann was a Swiss footballer who played mainly as goalkeeper and sometimes as forward in the 1890s.
R. Sommer was a Swiss footballer who played as midfielder and forward in the late 1890s.
Josy Ebinger was a Swiss-French businessman and founder member of FC Basel. He was long-time player in their first team and played as defender and midfielder. He was active as a club official in various offices and was club chairman from October 1902 to May 1903. He was vice president of the Swiss Football Association in 1900. As businessman he was a well-known personality in the city and held high honorary positions in his hometown.
Alfred H. Devick was a Swiss footballer who played as defender or as midfielder in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Edmond Racle was a Swiss footballer who played as striker and as midfielder during the late 1890s and the early 1900s.
(NB: Despite all efforts, the editors of these books and the authors in "Basler Fussballarchiv" have failed to be able to identify all the players, their date and place of birth or date and place of death, who played in the games during the early years of FC Basel.)