Piet Damen (91) was a supporter of FC Den Bosch for more than 45 years, but has not been in the stadium for decades. During a meeting of Talking Football in De Vliert stadium, he and other elderly people reminisced about the club for the first time. Beautiful, but also unpleasant memories. “It’s crazy, but it’s nice to be back.”
The 91-year-old supporter enters the Business lounge of stadium De Vliert with his walker. From there you have a view of the field and the stands. “It looks different, but I do recognize the place where I spent years,” says Piet.
The Talking Football project was set up for elderly people like Piet who are housebound and have little or no social contacts. “I have really looked forward to this day. Normally I’m alone at home and now I can talk to people who have the same passion. Football and FC Den Bosch,” he says.
On the table are old magazines, photos of former players and there is a laptop with images of FC Den Bosch. Piet, together with other former supporters, reminisces about the club. “We talked about players like Ruud van Nistelrooij and Wim van der Horst, the prizes won and what you have experienced as a supporter.”
“If FC Den Bosch lost, I was sick of it.”
In 1946 Piet went to a game of the Bossche club for the first time. Back then it was still called BVV. “On Sunday I quickly went to church. At home I ate a sandwich and then I had to go to the game as soon as possible.”
In 1966, two football clubs, including BVV, merged to become FC Den Bosch. Even then Piet remained a supporter. “If they won I had a good day. But if FC Den Bosch lost, my mother didn’t have to make dinner for me. Then I was literally sick of it.”
Piet did not miss a home game. Until 1991. Something went wrong when purchasing a season ticket. “The administration said that we had not deposited any money. While that was the case,” the supporter recalls. “When I asked if I could still get a ticket for the game, I couldn’t. While I was a supporter for so long. I was very angry and disappointed.”
When it turned out that the money had indeed been deposited, Piet was allowed to come and collect his season ticket. “Then I said in Bosch style, just rub it in your hair, because I don’t need it anymore. After that I never went to a game again.”
“It’s nice to be back in the stadium.”
The fact that Piet no longer went to the stadium did not mean that he no longer supported ‘his’ club. “After the incident, I just didn’t feel like going to the stadium anymore. I’ve been watching football ever since, including FC Den Bosch, always with my neighbors. That’s tradition now,” he says.
As a result, since 1991, Piet has only been to the stadium twice. The fact that he is now back in De Vliert for Talking Football is double. “I now regret not going in recent years, because it feels good to be back.”
