Do you collect autograph cards from footballers? If so, good and good luck! But we can assure you of one thing: you definitely won’t be able to get close to the collection of Jörg Heinrich from Rohrbach.
Decades ago, when his father brought him autographs from the former Sturm kickers, Jörg Heinrich from Rohrbach near Hitzendorf’s passion for collecting was awakened. To date, the automation technician and goalkeeper trainer has collected over 5,500 autographs from kickers from Sturm, GAK, DSV Leoben and Co., from the 1940s to today. “I not only had classic autograph cards and press photos signed, but also pictures of the players that I had designed myself,” said the father of two. Heinrich carefully collected the autographs in dozens of folders and also saved them digitally on dozens of data carriers. “For Sturm, for example, I have all the squads from the 1970s, and I’m only missing a few from GAK, DSV and Flavia Solva.” How did Heinrich get signatures from the 1940s or 1950s? “I use internet research to find the addresses of the players at the time, write a polite letter and enclose a photo to sign. I have now received countless letters of reply to the autographs. The kickers are happy that they are not forgotten.” With his positive persistence, Heinrich found players in the USA or Brazil, such as storm legend Tesourinha from Porto Alegre. To this day, the autograph hunter’s passion has not waned, on the contrary. “As soon as a new kicker joins one of the Styrian professional teams, I make sure I get his signature. I even get them from test players.” He has taken storm captain Stefan Hierländer to his heart, “I also collect for him in the crown footballers’ election.” Heinrich has already made provisions for the future: “My son will inherit the collection . And if there should ever be a Styrian football museum, I would like to give my autographs to one.” Philipp Braunegger/Kronen Zeitung
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