Adolf Kuch passes away

ASKÖ Schlaining mourns the loss of its last founder

Adolf Kuch passed away at the age of 99.(Bild: Pressefoto Weber)

ASKÖ Schlaining mourns the loss of Adi Kuch. The deceased, who was 99 years old, was the last living founding member of the soccer club, which was founded in 1949.

The first soccer club in the town, the "Sportclub Stadtschlaining und Umgebung" with the club colors blue and white, was originally founded on March 31, 1928 (having emerged from the "Radfahrerverein Stadtschlaining und Umgebung"), but was dissolved in 1937. After the Second World War, the decision was made to found a new club, which was implemented in the spring of 1949 by Gustav Wallner, Adolf Kuch, Josef Seper and Robert Bauer. However, the club colors were now green and white, as both Wallner and Kuch had always been Rapid fans. The first friendly match was played in Eisenberg, followed by others against Tauchen and the Catholic Youth of Oberwart. On August 7, 1949, the sports foundation festival took place. 

The Schlaining team photo on the occasion of the founding festival on August 7, 1949.(Bild: Repro Franz Weber)

With the horse and cart to the soccer match

"Adi Kucher carried out practically all functions in the club and was always on the sports field until the end," says Horst Kirchknopf, himself chairman for eleven years and a member of the BFV certification committee for 25 years: "He always told us anecdotes from the early years." For example, that they first traveled to away games by horse-drawn carriage, then by truck, on which they brought benches for the spectators, and later also by fire engine. "They looked for the players from the surrounding villages and built up a team that way."

Adi Kucher (3rd from right) was honored on the occasion of the club's 70th anniversary in 2019.(Bild: Pressefoto Weber)

The club joined ASKÖ in 1953, and Adolf Kuch, who also published a book about the village, was honored on the occasion of the 70th anniversary in 2019. The farewell ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 2 pm, in front of the funeral home in Altschlaining.