There was a very special group of guests at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Pitching In Southern League Premier Central clash with Leiston at the weekend.
They travelled over to the Victoria Ground from the Netherlands as part of Vincent van der Lugt’s Stag Weekend.
Why Sporting, you might ask? Well, the party was visiting Birmingham and chose to visit Bromsgrove to take in some football action - a clincher for Vincent was that the Rouslers play in red and white, the same colours as his beloved Ajax!
The club's amazing group of volunteers worked extremely hard to ensure Vincent's day was brilliantly fun-filled. Firstly, Anita from the club shop kitted Vincent out in a Sporting home kit, hat and scarf. Then, Matt from the club's commercial team gave the stag party a tour of the ground. Here, they met, amongst others, first team manager Scott Adey-Linforth, along with Chris and Max, from Sporting's media team, who helped to promote the event and took photos of the day.
Far from his experience being over, Vincent then led to the team out onto the pitch as a mascot, shaking hands with players and match officials, before partaking in the club's 'Chip and Bin' half-time game, in which the aim is to volley a football into a waste bin (a game usually played by Sporting's Colts youth set-up!).
Adam, Vincent's best man, who had helped organised the day with Sporting's commercial team, said: "We wanted to pass on how welcome everyone made us feel - from the catering team to the bar staff, the PA playing Dutch music, the stewards, the wonderfully helpful lady in the club shop, the chairman, the social media team, all the fans (many of whom said hello to us and taught us songs), the players who signed his shirt, the manager who introduced himself and, of course, Matt from the commercial team for helping to get us there.
"We're going to try and come back at least once a year - we've all got a new club to follow!"
Vincent's brother, Edward, added: "What an unbelievably amazing day! The staff and volunteers did an excellent job and really went the extra mile. The welcome was warm and kind - the Anglo-Dutch Bromsgrove Sporting fan club is officially here!"
Another member of the stag party added: "It was an incredible day - there can't be a friendlier club in the whole country! We're all Sporting fans now!"
Sporting Commercial Manager, Matt Foden, concluded: “Everybody at the club is delighted that Vincent and his party had an unforgettable day, and we look forward to welcoming them back soon!”
WORDS: Max Banner | IMAGE: Chris Jepson
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