Martin Schindler on his love for Hertha BSC: "I've always been able to identify with it very well"

Martin Schindler has made a rapid rise in recent years. Three years after regaining his Tour Card, the 27-year-old is ranked 23rd in the PDC Order of Merit. In the recent past, 'The Wall' has had to observe a less pleasing development at a club close to his heart in Berlin - Schindler has supported second-division German club Hertha BSC since he was a child.

"Hertha once visited us in Strausberg. That's where I got to see players like Artur Wichniarek up close," Schindler explains in an interview on the club's website. 'The Wall', who was considered one of Germany's biggest darts talents at a young age, has always had an eye for talented players: "I thought it was great to see Marcelinho and Baştürk play together. In FIFA career mode, I always picked Hertha and really got to know the whole squad."

Schindler has special memories of the glorious times of his favourite club. "The 2008/09 season was probably one of the best periods. Hertha were on the verge of becoming champions - unfortunately the boys then slipped to fourth place," recalls the German number two. After their fall into the football lower house, the Old Lady is currently trying to build on previous successes via the 'Berlin way' - not a bad idea, Schindler thinks: "The club has always produced great talents and players. I've always been able to identify very well with that."

So it's no coincidence that we usually see the Strausberg native on the PDC stages with a combination of blue flights and shafts. Although Schindler is now focusing on his own sporting career, he always keeps an eye on Hertha's performance: "Of course I look at the results to see who has scored and how Hertha is doing at the moment. There's still room for improvement at the moment, but of course you always hope for the best and that things will go up again!"

After a disappointing start to the season and just three wins in the first four Players Championship tournaments, there is still room for improvement, even with regard to Schindler's current form. Last weekend, however, The Wall presented himself in strong form at the UK Open, first beating Gerwyn Price 10-9 and then losing 10-8 to Luke Littler in a top-class match. Schindler will take part in the first European Tour event in Wieze, Belgium on Friday.