Schalk’s cult fan “Erich” has passed away. He is to be buried on the Schalke fan field. Now the date for the funeral service has been set.

Erich Wehner passed away a week ago on Monday. But nobody in Gelsenkirchen knew the 68-year-old by that name. Almost everyone knew him as “Asi-Erich”. For many S04 fans, he stood for the fact, like hardly any other fan, that at Schalke it doesn’t matter whether you are rich or poor, whether you are at the top of society like the also self-confessed Schalke fan and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier or on its fringes. What counts is the passion for royal blue.

For more than 30 years, “Erich” was one of them at the Knappen’s home and away games. Often supported by other S04 supporters who made the trips and tickets possible for him as a matter of course. Until his health put a spanner in the works. In the end, he lived in a nursing home. Olivier Kruschinski already took care of him there. The Gelsenkirchen native visited him and organised fundraising activities.

After he passed away, Kruschinski started an appeal. For “Erich” was to receive his final resting place on the Schalke fan field. There, where, among others, championship players “Ala” Urban and Reinhard “Stan” Libuda are buried. It quickly became apparent how great the sympathy of the Schalke fan community was for the death of “Erich”.

Within 48 hours, Kruschinski had collected 15,000 euros. That’s enough for the funeral and a beer or two for the mourners. Because, Kruschinski is sure, that is exactly what “Erich” would have wanted.

In the meantime, the date for the funeral service has been set. It will take place on 28 December at 11:30 a.m. in the mourning hall at the cemetery in Beckhausen-Sutum (Harpenstraße 26). Afterwards, the urn burial will take place on the Schalke Fan Field. “Erich would certainly have liked us all to drink to him once again and reminisce together, exchange anecdotes and tell each other stories. That’s why this time it’s Erich who’s inviting us for a beer or two afterwards,” writes Kruschinki on his Facebook account.

Since it is not yet foreseeable how many Schalke fans will want to say goodbye to “Erich”, he asks for a short info via the account. Kruschinski was therefore unable to give an exact estimate. But it will probably be quite full. That is already foreseeable from the entries. There could be several hundred Schalkers who want to accompany him on his last journey.

Anyone who would like to help organise the funeral service, please get in touch at [email protected]. “Erich would certainly have been super proud of all of you. All of us together will now ensure a dignified funeral and accompany him with God’s blessing on his final journey,” writes Kruschinski.