President Peter Hofmann celebrates his 60th Birthday

"My mother did not actually want me to play football, but when I was seven years old, my uncle convinced her to give me her permission," told Hofmann about how he joined TSG in 1966. At that time, the pitch was just grassland and would become known as the "Ochsenkopfstadion" (Ox's Head Stadium) which, when coming from the motorway, was situated directly at town's entrance. The venue at Silbergasse had not yet been christened as the Dietmar Hopp Stadium, as it was yet to be constructed.

Hofmann later made the move the SV Sinsheim and subsequently to FC Zuzenhausen. Both clubs played at a higher level than TSG during that period. It was at Zuzenhausen that the defender was selected for the senior men's squad, although his back injury hindered him. The qualified master electrician returned to TSG, where he ended his playing career in 1986 due to a torn ligament. "I had also taken over my father's business and it was getting to the point where football and work were no longer compatible."

President since 1996

However, Hofmann remained loyal to TSG, firstly as match committee Chairman and later as head of the footballing department. In his second year of service, he celebrated promotion into the "Bezirksliga" (County league), though 12 months later, relegation back down to the A-Klasse (District league) ensued. TSG was incredibly unlucky in the relegation play-off against 1. FC Stebbach in Elsenz, losing 4-2 in extra-time, so the arrival of future patron Dietmar Hopp was a turn of the tide. "He was on the way back from a shareholder's meeting at SAP in Karlsruhe and spontaneously decided to drop by to take a look, before going home." The rest was history. The SAP Co-founder, who himself played for TSG for 11 years contacted those responsible for the club and organised a meeting. "The Stebbach game was on the Thursday and on the Sunday, we were in Walldorf," recalls Hofmann. "Dietmar Hopp offered us his support on the condition that - and I quote - everything down to the last sausage be accounted for.

With the contribution of a few balls to the first team and the youth team, Hopp's commitment began and one year later Erwin Rupp joined TSG. The fact that the technically gifted playmaker from SV Sandhausen transferred to the A-Klasse was sensational. "Erwin was a great sportsman, whom we not only have to thank for two promotions, but also for keeping the squad together in tough times," said Hofmann about the late Rupp, who passed away three months back.

At the beginning of the 90s, TSG's period as high fliers started, which Hofmann actively helped to shape. "The initial years were very hard. Every afternoon I would sit together with Heinz Seyfert to discuss all important issues. We were a typical amateur club with a modest old clubhouse, which a cleaning lady would clean once a week whilst a group of pensioners would repair the pitch and fences," remembered Hofmann. It was when the long-time serving President Theo Berberig sought his successor that Hofmann was brought into play and in 1996, "PH" was chosen to become President. Since then, he has been re-elected eight times and is the longest-serving president of any Bundesliga club.

The next step was the construction of the new stadium. "At a meeting in the old clubhouse, Dietmar Hopp gained the approval of the members, without whom he would not have tackled the project." The members did agree and after the completion of the Dietmar Hopp Stadium in 1999, even FC Bayern had the honour of being inaugurated into the venue at Silbergasse. One year later Hansi Flick came to work as coach and led TSG straight up into the Oberliga. Bayern, then Flick, then Oberliga: "Up until that point, Hoffenheim was just the place with a petrol station," said Hofmann. "But suddenly the scent of top football lingered."

One abstention, the rest have been yes votes

Keyword: FC Bayern Munich. During his adolescence, Hofmann was an avowed fan of Bayern Munich. As an altar boy, he once staggered the priest when asked who his role model was. It was not a biblical figure but in fact, "Franz Beckenbauer". There have been no negative consequences of his allegiances, apart from once: "My sympathy for FCB cost me only one abstention in 22 years," joked Hofmann. The rest have only been yes votes. The fact that TSG would one day play against Bayern for points, was unimaginable. "Our modest objective was to be in a league with SV Sandhausen." We had already achieved that in 2000 - and that lasted only one year. Sandhausen went into the 2000/01 season as champions and came fifth, while Hoffenheim marched through and was promoted to the Regionalliga.

53 years at TSG. "Maybe I should write a book," said Hofmann. "There are plenty of anecdotes from my 53 years here." Such as the sensational victory of December 2003, when the Regionaliga club from Kraichgau beat Europa League participants Bayer Leverkusen 3-2. "I wanted to give Reiner Calmund a little tour before the match, but he just said: I know what the stadium looks like, I'd rather take a look at the food menu." Mario Basler also left a lasting impression as co-coach of TuS Koblenz. "When one of the spectators began to have a go at Dietmar Hopp, he got up from the dug-out and went over to the away stand to make it known what he thought of it. I have in the past wished for a similar reaction from other colleagues."

The emotional moments? "There have been a few," a question that "PH" had to ponder on which one to choose. "Promotion in the Regionalliga in 2001 in Heilbronn; of course promotion into the Bundesliga in 2008 and the 2-1 victory in Dortmund which saved us from relegation. But it is noticeable in general what we have done here. We have one of the most watched youth academies in Germany which is where the likes of Niklas Süle have come from. To see Roberto Firmino where he is today, knowing that his path started here, makes one proud."

At the end of August, Hofmann was part of the TSG delegation that flew to Monaco. "There were so many footballing greats such as Luís Figo for example, that was impressive." On the road to success however, there are always low points. "I used to know all the fans personally and even in the second division, I knew people by their names. Today there aren't as many points of contact and I miss that."

60 years - 32 of which he has been married to his wife Marga, with whom he had his son (30) - and he is not one bit tired. "As long as the members want me, I will stay as President," said Hofmann who has become an institution at Hoffenheim. "I spent my whole life here and I don't want that to change." What is it that he wants for his birthday? "Health and happiness, good years and that TSG remains a firm part of 1. Bundesliga.