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Hamburg fans set off flares to try to delay first ever relegation

Hamburg's proud record of never being relegated came to an end on Saturday as they dropped into the second tier, which led to ugly protests from a number of their fans.

As the only club to have played in every Bundesliga season since its inception in 1963, supporters of the six-time German champions have proudly displayed a clock at Volksparkstadion which keeps a record of their top-flight status.

That will have to be stopped now, however, as their 2-1 home win over Borussia Monchengladbach was not enough to save them due to Wolfsburg thumping bottom club Cologne 4-1 to secure 16th and a play-off against Holstein Kiel of Bundesliga 2.