22 March 2014 was one of the best days of Michael Maul’s life so far. It was not only his 30th birthday but also the day on which he was ordained as an Protestant priest in the parish of Affalterthal-Biberbach in the picturesque landscape of Franconian Switzerland. Many of his "flock", some of the 850 inhabitants of neighbouring villages Affalterthal and Biberbach, flooded to attend the event, headed by the local Bishop of Nuremberg and flanked by the area’s clubs, the event was reminiscent of a local flag consecration ceremony. "Everyone’s support really touched and moved me," said Maul, "and I felt as though I was here to stay."
In the midst of the crowds was a 20-strong delegation from Kreisklasse [district league] side SV Wolfsberg from the nearby Trubach valley, where Michael Maul is as well-known as a footballer as he is as a member of Affalterthal’s trombone band. Maul has been a dedicated member of the side throughout his two-and-a-half years of training to become a Protestant priest. After successfully passing his exams, his first pressing question was whether, as a fledgling vicar, he would be moved to another parish.
Formerly a Bezirksliga footballer
The path to a happy ending now requires additional considerations. Michael is trying to arrange his tightly-packed schedule to allow a little room for football alongside his job and family. After all, the role of priest encompasses a wide range of tasks: leading services in Affalterthal and Biberbach’s churches, baptisms, confirmations, funerals, pastoral conversations, visiting parishioners and soon religious education lessons at the local primary school too.
At the same time, his attention is naturally focused on his family too: wife Anne, who works as a physiotherapist, and their sons Noah, 3, and Emil, 1. As a result, he often cannot make it to training so plays for SV Wolfsberg’s second team, despite having previously competed at Bezirksliga [regional league] level for SC Hummertal near Bayreuth and making several appearances for Marburg University’s team during his student days.
"A godsend"
SV Wolfsberg’s Marcus Egloffstein once called the priest "a godsend, because he has been a lucky find for us, both in sporting terms and as a person", with Maul mostly starting matches in his favoured spot in central midfield before slipping forward into attack and occasionally back into defence during the match.
"I play wherever the need is greatest," is how Maul explains his unorthodox role. Having grown up as a sweeper in SC Hummertal’s youth ranks, he is prepared to put in the big tackles "when the situation demands it". However, Maul has never been sent off. Fairness is a valuable commodity to him, and he provides a calm influence and appeasement in heated moments.
"The God I believe in is not just a god of football"
However, he was met with some scepticism on his arrival in Wolfsberg. The sight of the onrushing priest with the purple football boots, wearing the colours of the Protestant church, caused many to wonder "What have we got here?" Nowadays, he is simply "Michl", and happy to be part of jokes such as "Ah, you’re back again today. Now we’ve got a bit of help from above, surely nothing can go wrong."
Despite this, the idea of a football god that shows mercy on the team is not part of Father Maul’s belief system: "I don’t like to pray for a win. The God I believe in is not simply a god of football." Nevertheless, he quietly prays before each match "that I’ll come through the game intact; I’ve already had a few ligament injuries."
The self-confessed 1. FC Nürnberg fan, who hopes his side will remain in the Bundesliga next season, is convinced of sport’s power to develop character. "There’s hardly anything better for children and young people as they grow up." And, as if he is not already busy enough, Maul is inspired to use this power in his community: "It’d be great to have a kickabout with kids and parents on a playing field in Affalterthal. We don’t have that kind of outreach opportunity here yet. We’ll see if I can wangle that one day."
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22 March 2014 was one of the best days of Michael Maul’s life so far. It was not only his 30th birthday but also the day on which he was ordained as an Protestant priest in the parish of Affalterthal-Biberbach in the picturesque landscape of Franconian Switzerland. Many of his "flock", some of the 850 inhabitants of neighbouring villages Affalterthal and Biberbach, flooded to attend the event, headed by the local Bishop of Nuremberg and flanked by the area’s clubs, the event was reminiscent of a local flag consecration ceremony. "Everyone’s support really touched and moved me," said Maul, "and I felt as though I was here to stay."
In the midst of the crowds was a 20-strong delegation from Kreisklasse [district league] side SV Wolfsberg from the nearby Trubach valley, where Michael Maul is as well-known as a footballer as he is as a member of Affalterthal’s trombone band. Maul has been a dedicated member of the side throughout his two-and-a-half years of training to become a Protestant priest. After successfully passing his exams, his first pressing question was whether, as a fledgling vicar, he would be moved to another parish.
Formerly a Bezirksliga footballer
The path to a happy ending now requires additional considerations. Michael is trying to arrange his tightly-packed schedule to allow a little room for football alongside his job and family. After all, the role of priest encompasses a wide range of tasks: leading services in Affalterthal and Biberbach’s churches, baptisms, confirmations, funerals, pastoral conversations, visiting parishioners and soon religious education lessons at the local primary school too.
At the same time, his attention is naturally focused on his family too: wife Anne, who works as a physiotherapist, and their sons Noah, 3, and Emil, 1. As a result, he often cannot make it to training so plays for SV Wolfsberg’s second team, despite having previously competed at Bezirksliga [regional league] level for SC Hummertal near Bayreuth and making several appearances for Marburg University’s team during his student days.
"A godsend"
SV Wolfsberg’s Marcus Egloffstein once called the priest "a godsend, because he has been a lucky find for us, both in sporting terms and as a person", with Maul mostly starting matches in his favoured spot in central midfield before slipping forward into attack and occasionally back into defence during the match.
"I play wherever the need is greatest," is how Maul explains his unorthodox role. Having grown up as a sweeper in SC Hummertal’s youth ranks, he is prepared to put in the big tackles "when the situation demands it". However, Maul has never been sent off. Fairness is a valuable commodity to him, and he provides a calm influence and appeasement in heated moments.
"The God I believe in is not just a god of football"
However, he was met with some scepticism on his arrival in Wolfsberg. The sight of the onrushing priest with the purple football boots, wearing the colours of the Protestant church, caused many to wonder "What have we got here?" Nowadays, he is simply "Michl", and happy to be part of jokes such as "Ah, you’re back again today. Now we’ve got a bit of help from above, surely nothing can go wrong."
Despite this, the idea of a football god that shows mercy on the team is not part of Father Maul’s belief system: "I don’t like to pray for a win. The God I believe in is not simply a god of football." Nevertheless, he quietly prays before each match "that I’ll come through the game intact; I’ve already had a few ligament injuries."
The self-confessed 1. FC Nürnberg fan, who hopes his side will remain in the Bundesliga next season, is convinced of sport’s power to develop character. "There’s hardly anything better for children and young people as they grow up." And, as if he is not already busy enough, Maul is inspired to use this power in his community: "It’d be great to have a kickabout with kids and parents on a playing field in Affalterthal. We don’t have that kind of outreach opportunity here yet. We’ll see if I can wangle that one day."
