"Plauen" returned to the second division in 1964 as "BSG Motor WEMA Plauen" where they played until relegation in 1973. They languished in lower divisions until a resurgence soon after German re-unification in 1990 that began with the side reclaiming its traditional name of "1. VFC 1990 Plauen". A championship in the Landesliga Sachsen (V) was followed by a dismal campaign in the NOFV-Oberliga Süd that saw the club concede 108 goals while scoring only 12, and finishing last in the division. "VFC" soon recovered, earning a second Landesliga title in 1994 to return to the Oberliga. In 1996 a successful campaign led to another title and promotion to the third division Regionalliga Nordost. The club once again found itself sent down through league restructuring in 2000, landing in the NOFV-Oberliga Süd (IV).