This was one of the proudest days the club have ever seen, and they’ve seen a few of those over the years. This was history. Union started the day as the newcomers to the 2. Liga. They ended it as champions.  

You could see it in their faces what this meant even before the game started; on all those thronging in record numbers to the Alte Försterei, and on those of the players as they bounced on their toes during the wild downpour and hailstorm that accompanied their pre-match walkabout.  

The Alte Försterei was abuzz from the first sound of Nina Hagen’s anthem, boiling and brimming with the passion of the largest crowd the second division had ever seen. But the Union players showed few nerves, they set about their task with typical patience, but predictable verve. Marie Becker laid down a marker, advancing over the halfway line with Hanna Krohne at her back, playing a simple ball out wide to Judith Steinert; Dina Orschmann trie to slip Athanasia Moraitou inside; Korina Janež found Lisa Heiseler, but the ball was hacked away before she had time to squeeze off a shot.  

But it was Cara Bösl who had to make the first save, tipping Lilly Stojan’s drive past the post, before taking Chiara Tappe’s header from the ensuing corner with preternatural calm. 

The rain came down heavily, the pitch was slick and showing early scars already.  

Gütersloh were sitting deeper as the opening phases went on, the sides already seeming light years apart from when they met on the very first day of this season, daring Union to pick them apart. Antonia Halverkamps held her hand up after her attempted cross grazed the crossbar, having caught everyone off guard. She was aiming for the back post and was quick to acknowledge her near stroke of immaculate fortune. She won a corner a minute later after a bit of neat interplay with Anna Weiß on the right. Heiseler whipped it in to the near post, but there was no space for Dina Orschmann to work with.  

With 12 minutes gone, Tomke Schneider was up next, showing the adventurousness of Union’s defence, playing a one-two with Heiseler, and shooting just over the bar; she took Moraitou’s free kick on the chest with her back to goal a little later, trying to hit it on the volley as she turned, but again her shot flew over.  

The pressure had to tell, and after 16 minutes Halverkamps hit a gorgeous low ball, fizzing off the pitch to Orschmann, having ghosted into space. She had no trouble in making it 1-0. Lisa Heiseler made it two within two more minutes when she slotted home a penalty, given for a handball. She hit it as nervelessly as ever, hard and low to Janne Krumme’s left.  

Union were now flying, and the irrepressible Orschmann made it 3-0 almost straight away as she danced onto Heiseler’s clever ball inside. They’ve known each other for most of their lives, they’ve played together hundreds of times, and this was a move they could have made blindfolded. Her old friend found her all alone, took a touch and slotted past Krumme superbly.  

Wary of the two goal leads they had let slip the last two weekends, Union were quick to twist the knife. They were now utterly dominant, and Steinert had the ball in the net before 30 minutes was up, though she was also the first to see the assistant referee’s flag go up for offside as  soon as the ball hit  the back of  the net.  

There was a brief moment of worry as Orschmann was caught hard on the shin having burst 20 yards up the middle. But she was up soon enough to see the next chance and determined enough to point out in its aftermath that she wanted Moraitou to come a bit closer next time; shortly after she slipped trying to run into the box, but was aware enough to spring back to her feet as Krumme scuffed her clearance back her way. Off balance, she couldn’t make the most of the unexpected opportunity.  

With the sun now out over Köpenick, the Union players came out for the second half unchanged, and they wouldn’t need long for the next goal to come. Lisa Heiseler bundled the ball over the net after Becker’s perceptive longball found Steinert reaching it at the byline, squaring for Union’s skipper who fought tooth and nail to force it over the line. It was her 21st of the season and gave the home-town, one-club hero a three-goal advantage in the race for the top scorer’s trophy.  

When she received it - bronze cannon on a wooden base, a traditional looking trophy for the most traditional of players - it was the icing on the cake.  

This was the stuff of dreams, and the fans were having a ball, exchanging calls and responses from Waldseite to Gegengerade and back again. Kids everywhere - boys and girls - were falling in love with this team. Their parents were, too. And on the pitch the players were enjoying themselves. Moraitou having a go from 25 yards, Janež twisting and turning.  

Things would get emotional after that. Having covered 25 yards to catch Ronja Leubner, Becker went down hurt. She limped off surrounded by her team-mates, the stadium singing her name. Her last ever game of profesional football was also on her 30th birthday. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  

Replaced by the similarly departing Charleen Niesler, she was joined on the bench by Janež, who made way for another departing star in last season's top scorer, Sarah Abu Sabbah. 

It was Heiseler who would take the roof off though, when she scored a  wonderful third to make it five nil for Union. She had been found in far too much space, but her shot was true, and hit high enough to beat Krumme, and well-placed enough to nestle underneath the bar.  

Union would have plenty more chances as the party mood took hold in Köpenick. Zita Rurack came close, as did Heiseler again, and Abu Sabbah. But it was the latter who provided the gloss, finishing strongly in the 90th minute to round things off. Her friends and team-mates fell onto her in delight. 

At the final whistle, the Alte Försterei fell into delirium. The fans stayed fo an age as the league, and then the top-scorers' trophies were given to Heiseler, the undoubted star of the day. It was astonishing. When these two sides drew 2-2 in the cup back in August it seemed that this season would be one of many challenges for the women of 1. FC Union Berlin. But then she lifted that silver plate high abover her head. 

Rarely has a club been so proud.