Spreading the word of Walsall in Austria...
Walsall FC’s Car Park Supervisor David Whitehouse has been made an honorary member of the Austrian league team SV Sierndorf.David regularly visits Vienna, the capital of Austria, and has followed Sierndorf’s fortunes for the last four years.
He donates €100 to the club each season and, as a result of his contribution, David has been made an honorary member.
“It’s something I’m very proud of,” said David.
“The club is formed from a small town and they came round asking people for money.
“I give the club €100 each year and my photograph now stands in the club house as one of their honorary members.
“It’s a really nice club with a good fan base.
“They’re a semi-professional team and there are some good lads there, with three ex-international players.
“We can get up to 1,500 fans at home games and it’s a good standard of football.”
During his association with the Austrian outfit, David has become friends with Sierndorf’s player-manager Harold Weiser.
And through their friendship, Harold’s two-year-old son Samuel (pictured below) now takes a keen interest in Walsall’s fortunes and even sports a Saddlers shirt on home matchdays!
“People in Sierndorf are now interested in Walsall through Harold and his son,” David added.
“On matchdays, some fans who don’t speak much English will ask Harold how Walsall are getting on.
“They think Walsall’s strip is absolutely wonderful.
“They’ve got the home and away kit now and one of the earlier Walsall home shirts I gave them is now hanging in the club house.
“It’s great to spread the word of Walsall in Austria.”