“I didn’t dare to dream,” says Leroy Verhaar, Vitesse supporter from Alkmaar. “The tears flowed down my cheeks.”
Hollywood on the Rhine
In recent months have been abandoned for the supporters of Vitesse. In July, the KNVB officially withdrew the professional license because the club would have circumvented and undermined the licensing system over the longer period of time. In particular, there was no transparency about the financial resources of foreign investors. “Hollywood on the Rhine,” said Verhaar.
Nobody really expected that Vitesse can now participate in professional football again. “Yet this turn at Vitesse fits. The chance that we were right was so small. It is incredible.”
Ootje
The Alkmaarder has been traveling to Arnhem for every match since 2016, together with a friend from Groningen. To his relief, Verhaar had taken his parents to a match last season, against Roda JC. “They didn’t understand what I was doing there as an Alkmaarder. But once in the stadium they understood my feeling.”
The first times alone to the Gelredome were not easy either, says Verhaar. “Try to talk to a group.” Hey Alkmaar “they said. I felt taken in the ootje.”
But the more often he took place in the stands to support the team, he and Vitesse grew towards each other. “I once cried for the thought that if I ever get it, I could no longer take my children to Vitesse.”
Many players are gone
It seems that Vitesse will play the first game on September 12 against Young AZ, for Verhaar half an hour drive. It is still unclear which football players are on the field. Twelve players left last month.
But according to Verhaar, that is no reason to panic. “That German trainer has just trained with the players who have stayed. Now pick up a few transfer -free players. And then you can imagine that the sense of togetherness will be stronger than ever this year.”