Picking up the threads of a recently dominant but now
becalmed feature here at TOoT, we present the latest addition to our collection
in the form of an historic crest representing Carl Zeiss Jena of, at the time
of the badge’s obvious vintage, the then-East Germany (the previously-named ‘Motor Jena’
having being ‘re-founded’ under the company-sponsored identity in 1966,
although they had also borne the ‘Carl Zeiss’ prefix twice before during their
history): as ever, such an object is hauntologically rich, & can’t help but
inspire a little ‘Ostalgie’ in those so inclined.
One recalls Carl Zeiss Jena being a name that came to
attention early in one’s football-following days, via their domestic successes
& profile frequent entrants in the European club competitions & subsequently
appearing in the final of the Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1981, losing 2- 1 to Dinamo
Tblisi (another of the continent’s instantly-attractive names), eliminating
Wales’s Newport County at the quarter-final stage (much to the satisfaction of this Wrexham supporter, under the circumstances not in the least seduced by the possibility of the minnows progressing, particularly beyond the stage Wrexham had once achieved themselves), with research revealing that
they had previously overcome AS Roma, remarkably overturning a 0 – 3 first leg
deficit to prevail 4 – 0 in the return (one of very few instances of such comebacks
in the history of the European club competitions), & then the holders
Valencia, before going on to beat Benfica in the semi-finals, something of an epic
campaign & a tribute to the team’s qualities in achieving their place in
the final: the badge will serve as suitable tribute, & to the enduring
romance of the name.
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