September 6 – Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 have taken the unusual and laudable step of renaming their stadium in memory of a supporter who died in March from cancer at the age of 26.
An agreement with sponsors Merck will see the stadium named the Jonathan-Heimes-Stadion am Bollenfalltor for the remainder of the season.
Heimes raised hundreds of thousands of euros for charity before he died and the move is also designed to support the non-profit organisation ‘Du Musst Kampfen’ which supports young cancer sufferers.
Heimes’ father, Martin, said: “It is a great gesture that Merck has enabled the stadium where the club he loved and supported so much to be named after our son. This way the ‘Du Musst Kampfen’ initiative is better known.”
Darmstadt, who played in the third division of German football until 2014, finished 14th in the Bundesliga last season, following back-to-back promotions. “Jonathan was a strong companion of Darmstadt success,” said club president Rudiger Fritsch.
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