A historic European campaign for the first British club ever to reach the EGCA Champions League Finals.
Fen Tigers headed into the EGCA Champions League Finals in Berlin as underdogs. It was their first appearance at this stage, and they arrived knowing they would be facing some of Europe’s biggest clubs and national‑team players, many of whom train between two and five times a week. Tigers, by contrast, train together just once a month. Yet across four days of competition, they proved they belonged on the European Finals stage.
A challenging start.
The group stages brought immediate tests. Tigers faced several teams they had never played before, many with new line ups, making preparation difficult and leaving little opportunity for analysis. Even so, they pushed hard from the first whistle.
They opened strongly with a 17-7 mercy win against the hosts Füchse Berlin. They followed with a narrow one‑goal loss to Cankaya, one of Europe’s most formidable Turkish sides and the tournament silver medalist. showing discipline in defence and confidence in their penalty work. Their match against Poland was another highlight; despite initial disappointment, a review of the game showed Tigers performed impressively against Marcin Czerwiniski, one of the continent’s most dangerous attackers and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Old Power closed out the group stage, where Tigers made the strategic decision to rest key players and test new combinations. It cost them the result but strengthened the squad for what came next.
Quarterfinal Controversy.
Their quarterfinal against RGC Hansa brought drama. A timeout was mistakenly recorded as a goal, restarting the second half at 9–4 instead of 8–4. Tigers contested the decision, and the goal was later removed, but not before it affected the flow of the match. Despite frustration, the team regrouped, stayed composed, and prepared for the placement rounds.
Showing the True Tigers.
The placement games revealed the team’s true level.
First came Gothenburg, a familiar and respected opponent consisting of the full Swedish national team. Tigers delivered one of their best performances of the tournament, outplaying the Swedish side with confidence, control and sharp attacking play. It was a statement win that reminded everyone what the Tigers are capable of.
That victory set up a 5th–6th playoff against Aarhus Goalball, another club team featuring a full national team line up. The match had added spice because Aarhus featured Sigurd “Siggy” Lund and Mathias Jensen, both former Tigers players, creating a friendly grudge‑match feel. With plenty of good‑natured rivalry in the air, Tigers rose to the moment and produced a dominant performance, securing a superb 14–5 victory to finish fifth in Europe.
A Standout Individual Performance.
Alongside the team’s achievement, there was a special milestone for Dan Roper, who finished as the tournament’s third‑highest goalscorer, scoring an outstanding 36 goals in six games.
A European Achievement to be Proud of.
Finishing fifth might sound modest on paper, but in context it is extraordinary. Fen Tigers are now officially the fifth best club in Europe, having competed against teams with far greater resources, access to training and experience at this level. They became the first British club ever to reach the Finals and leave Berlin having surpassed expectations, grown as a squad, and shown that they can compete with Europe’s elite.It was a weekend of highs, lows, challenges and breakthroughs, and a performance everyone connected with the club can be proud of.
The first British club to reach the finals and now the fifth best club in Europe. A remarkable achievement for Fen Tigers Goalball.
