BALLACK SHOWS SUPPORT

Michael Ballack has lent his support to his first professional club, as they seek to regain their German national league status.

Ballack recorded a special video message at Cobham this week for Chemnitzer FC, who are trying to win over supporters to help progress back up Germany's footballing ladder after being relegated into a regional league.

The Germany captain made his professional debut in August 1995, when Chemnitzer were the equivalent of an English Championship side, but they were relegated that season, and have since fallen further down, as attendances and support have slowly waned.

Now though, the club, based in the Saxony region of the former East Germany, have launched an ambitious project to get back into the national leagues, calling on the support of high-profile people like Ballack and the town's mayoress to get fans behind them.

Michael, taking a break from rehabilitation on his ankle injury, said: 'Chemnitzer has always had a place in my heart. I grew up there and they gave me my first chance as a player.

'I fully support their campaign, and it's very important that local fans, people and businesses get behind the club as they try to return to where they belong.'

Ballack left Chemnitzer in 1997 for Kaiserslautern, before moving on to Bayer Leverkusen in 1999 and Bayern Munich in 2003. He signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2006, and has so far made 45 appearances in all competitions.