It is impossible to ignore that PSV became Dutch champion around here

Back in the day when I was doing a lot more with sports, it also meant that I was around the soccer fields a bit more. I like the game, I hate the drama. But the cool thing back in the days always was going to the training fields here 'de Herdgang' where in general the training of PSV was open to the public, except around big matches. It seemed more than valid and you always felt welcome, especially as a kid.

That was around the time where PSV became Dutch champion a couple times in a couple of years. The group with Ronald Waterreus, Luc Nilis, Ruud van Nistelrooij and those kind of guys were the hot shots at that moment.

From the current team of PSV I literally could not name a single player of the team, that is how much I am into soccer at the moment. Non existent. So as always, I had missed all of the memos that they were becoming the champion this weekend.

Sure I will take an extra shift so others can go to the celebrations, as long as you leave me out of it! Yesterday was the final match in the late morning but the whole day the city was red and white. I though that was about all it and I dodged all of the celebrations nicely.



This is what I saw when I passed the stadium just now


So today I was running some errands in the city and I already was finding it a lot more crowded there than I had expected. As in....there was not a spot in the bus anymore and the bus just drove by without even stopping. Also a lot of cyclists were heading towards the city centre, and a lot of roads were blocked still.

Was that still? Or was there something else today?

The missed memo

The more that I came into the city, the more people were gathering there and it was only early afternoon. I started gathering some information on what was going today on this Monday, because the championship festivities were yesterday right? RIGHT?

Omroep Brabant by Rob Engelaar


Well guess again. Yesterday was the match and people were just sticking around after the match. But today is the 'official' celebration and also the day where the big truck carrying all the team members will be driving around the city from the stadium to the city hall. At the city hall there will be the 'official' part of receiving the 'winnersplate'.

And all of a sudden I understood it. Already weeks ago one of the guys from work had asked me for an extra shift, and I thought it was because of dealing with the hangover after match day. But this dude was smart and was calculating ahead considering that today would be the official day. Sure, no problem

But that I had no idea that all of this was going on? An additional 70.000 people are expected on this random Monday. I know those are not the numbers that you are used to in bigger cities, but for here...That means a decent crowd.

I'm staying out of it! But still I had almost pulled it off ignoring this was going on :D