A few hours before FC Volendam’s first Eredivisie match since the promotion, the supporters are ready to board the bus at the stadium. It is immediately a distant trip, because their team’s kick-off against FC Groningen is scheduled for 12.15 pm. Cor de Vries and his friends are ready for it: “You come to bigger stadiums with more fans. This is the real thing.”
Since the promotion of Volendam, this is the moment they have been looking forward to. “We have waited 14 years for this,” says Cor. At the site where the promotion party was celebrated frantically, he got on the bus together with friends Mike Sens and Mark Heilig. For years they have been going to every game, home and away. They are certainly not the only ones today: more than 200 men are cheering on Wim Jonk’s team this afternoon.
Admiration for Wim Jonk
They are pretty positive about the odds this season. “I hope top 10,” laughs Mark. “We have to be positive, we’re going to surprise.” Cor adds: “The supporters are ready, the players too. I see it all going well, I’m looking forward to it.” Mike: “Wim Jonk is a trainer who knows what to do at the right moments, he has proven that for a number of years. He will certainly show that to us again this year.”
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An older gentleman who has just arrived by bike also speaks positively about the team, and especially the trainer. He used to work with him. “I know how he works. Everything will be fine.”
Early kick-off
The supporters still have to get used to the early time of the game. Mike is glad he doesn’t have to drive himself. “Luckily we have the bus. I just came to roll out of bed.”
With the support of the accompanying audience, the Volendam team managed to drag a point away from Groningen: it became 2-2. read here the match report.