Just four years later, FC Süderelbe secured the Verbandsliga runners-up spot behind the amateurs of Hamburger SV.

This qualified the team for the promotion round to the Oberliga Nord, where FC Süderelbe won both games against Kickers Emden.

In the mid-1990s, the football department of Hausbruch-Neugrabener Turnerschaft joined FC Süderelbe, who again focused more on their own youth work.

[1] Three years later, FC Süderelbe missed out on promotion to the Verbandsliga after a 1–4 defeat in the decisive game against TSV Wandsetal.

After Oststeinbeker SV withdrew their team to the Kreisliga, FC Süderelbe were allowed to be promoted to the Oberliga.