The club song of FC Den Bosch was sung on Saturday afternoon in a packed Sint Janskathedral. Supporters and players of the Kitchen Champion Division Club came for the blessing of the selection for the new football season. Plebaan Vincent Blom, for the occasion with a scarf of the football club, blessed them with loud cheers and clapping the massively emerging followers.
Normally Stadium de Vliert is the football temple of FC Den Bosch. This Saturday the otherwise Serene Sint Jans was that. Under loud drum rolls and with waving FC Den Bosch flags, a team of clergy, led by the Plebaan, entered the Sint Jan. Purpose: blessing the players. And the supporters could appreciate that. “We will need it,” says a fan who, dressed in his club’s shirt, attends the ceremony in the front row.
“We have been doing this for years with only the players and staff of FC Den Bosch. But one of the people of FC Den Bosch had been to the Dom in Cologne last year, where there was a big celebration. And we thought we should also do here with the supporters,” says Plebaan Vincent Blom. And so it happened, a packed Sint Jan in the middle of the holidays. The Plebaan itself is not a loyal FC Den Bosch supporter, but he does a warm heart for the club. The blessing will always help, the Plebaan thinks: “I hope that a packed Sint-Jan, with supporters and all praying, gives the push to the Eredivisie.”
A group of young supporters, also dressed in FC Den Bosch shirt, is very enthusiastic: “I think this will help. We’ve come far last season, but now there is a change, Telstar and Den Bosch in the Eredivisie,” says one of boys. “This simply gives courage to start popping this year and becoming champion of the Kitchen Champion Division,” thinks another young fan. They find the ceremony very beautiful. “All benches are full and the supporters have all come together.”
The players also thought it was a wonderful meeting: “It was enjoyment, sure. And we assume that this will help,” says midfielder Thijs van Leeuwen. Defender Stan Maas is also enthusiastic: “Yes it was great, I did not expect so many people to come. But I thought it was impressive and I assume it will help yes.” And so a blessed team of FC Den Bosch can start a new football season with confidence.