Supporters of PEC Zwolle say goodbye to honorary chairman Gaston Sporre with torches Zwolle

Supporters, sponsors and other interested parties could visit the supporters home between 4 and 7 pm to say goodbye to Sporre, who saved the club from destruction. When PEC Zwolle’82 ran into major financial problems in 1989, Sporre ensured a restart under the name FC Zwolle. He was chairman until 1998 and brought the club into calmer waters.

Sporre remained ambassador of the Zwolle football club in the following years. In 2013 he was crisis manager at sc Heerenveen. He also fulfilled numerous functions outside the football world in his life. For example, he was supervisor of RTV Oost, Museum de Fundatie, the Bas van de Goor Foundation and Intermezzo Aftercare Center for cancer patients. Sporre was also known as the CEO of insurance giant Achmea.

The honorary chairman of PEC Zwolle, who had been ill for some time, died on Sunday at the age of 76. On the day of his death, a minute of silence was observed prior to the home game against Feyenoord. During this match, players wore mourning bands.

On Thursday, hundreds of PEC supporters came to the stadium to pay him one last respect. Supporters carried Sporre outside from the supporters home. ‘Forever grateful. Rest in peace, Mr. Sporre,” said a banner of the supporter group FEU Zwolle. On Friday there will be a farewell meeting in the Odeon theater and the funeral of Sporre.