In the 1950s the rivalry between our neighboring clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia was still one of peaceful coexistence. There was limited interest in one another, but no deep dislike. Borussia were even the first team to visit Köln’s new Geißbockheim.\n\nFor Köln, the main Rhineland rivals came from Dellbrück; against Gladbach they still generally had the upper hand.
But my quarrel with Franz Kremer changed everything. We carried our private conflict into our football clubs.\n\nWhat had once been a manageable local rivalry slowly hardened into something far more poisonous.