Decrease home: 27 years at one membership

In right this moment’s world, years of membership loyalty have turn into an absolute rarity – Schärding footballer Karl Freihaut is the exception personified: In 1997, on the age of eight, he began his soccer profession within the youth workforce of regional league membership SK Schärding – and hasn’t performed for some other membership since then. “I stay simply 5 minutes away from the pitch. I’ve at all times connected nice significance to camaraderie, to feeling comfy in a workforce and to enjoying with my childhood associates,” says Freihaut. In any case, the soccer membership can be one thing like a second household: “The membership must be a great match, however so do the colleagues, since you spend loads of time with them. It must be enjoyable, that is the one means you possibly can carry out on the pitch.”

What stays will not be solely good friendships, but additionally recollections that Freihaut will always remember: “On the age of 15, I joined the primary workforce, the derbies towards Esternberg or Andorf, which at all times attracted round 1,000 spectators, have been actual highlights.”

However one sport specifically will stay in his reminiscence – even when the sport didn’t have a contented ending: “In 2012, we suffered the identical destiny as Schalke: earlier than the final spherical, we have been fourth and performed towards Gurten. On the similar time, the duel between Mondsee and Unhealthy Ischl was happening. All 4 groups may have turn into champions.” And his workforce already thought they have been champions – sadly mistakenly: “We gained 3:1, the opposite sport was 1:1. Many spectators had already congratulated us on the title, and the stay ticker for the second sport had additionally ended. The double liters had already been handed out when it all of the sudden went very quiet. We have been instructed that the opposite sport was nonetheless occurring. Within the 94th minute, Unhealthy Ischl scored the successful aim and have become champions.”

“Will get pleasure from video games”

A defeat that’s as a lot part of his profession within the Schärding jersey as many victories. After this season, nonetheless, this period will finish – with the native duels like on Saturday in Andorf (1:2) and on Friday towards Esternberg. “I’ll actually get pleasure from these video games yet one more time.” Earlier than he maybe opens a brand new, ultimate chapter in the summertime after 27 years in a decrease league: “By no means say by no means.”