Who says Club Brugge, says family. One big Blue-Black family accessible to everyone and where everyone is always there for each other. From players to staff to fans and volunteers. Over 500 volunteers are on hand every home and away match to help keep everything running smoothly. Two of these volunteers are Johnny and Barbara. Both members of SFCB On Wheels, supporters with a Blue-Black heart, but above all companions of Club Brugge's wheelchair zone.
WHO ARE JOHNNY AND BARBARA?
Johnny works in the oil sector, is a member of the steering committee of Club Brugge Foundation and the supporters' federation, but all his free time goes to "their rollers. Johnny can be described as a hard worker with a heart of gold. A few years ago, when someone from the supporters' federation ended up in a wheelchair, Johnny was the first to accompany him in the wheelchair zone. This would only last 14 days, meanwhile Johnny has been in the wheelchair zone for 7 years. Barbara used to have no feeling for soccer. She ended up at Club Brugge because of a joke that got out of hand. Whenever Colin Coosemans would be in goal, Barbara would come with a friend to watch a Club match. In time, both Colin and Barbara her friend left. Barbara herself decided to stay and joined a supporters club with one roller. With this person she immediately clicked, and the rest is history. Barbara and Johnny have been the figureheads of the wheelchair zone for several years now. A solid team that is always there for their 'guests'.
BEING A VOLUNTEER AT CLUB BRUGGE IS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE
When asked why they do this now, there is a clear answer. Both Johnny and Barbara want to give something back to society and to Club Brugge. The gratitude of everyone in and around the wheelchair zone is what our fantastic companions draw strength from. It's the small gestures like handing out hot chocolate during the winter matches, or water during the sun-drenched weekend matches that give volunteer work that extra meaning. The indescribable satisfaction. Recently Barbara and Johnny received the comment from visiting Gent fans that, here at Club Brugge, we have the best reception in the Jupiler Pro Laegue. A compliment that is incredibly gratifying and demonstrates once again why it is necessary to invest time, love and commitment in making the wheelchair zone work.
ONE TEAM, ONE FAMILY
Like any family, Barbara and Johnny have experienced some ups and downs in their years on the Bridge turf. For Barbara, the 2-2 on the Real Madrid pitch was one of the most memorable moments in her volunteer career. As a wheelchair zone attendant, she goes with them every European match during the away games. Thus, during the match at Real, she and her rollers experienced a historic moment. Then again, the most memorable moment for Johnny is the 2015 cup final against Anderlecht. At the final whistle, the rollers then flew meters into the air, so to speak. The 2-1 result in the 92nd minute still gives him goosebumps to this day. Speaking of an unforgettable moment!
"EXPERIENCING GOOSEBUMPS MOMENTS WITH OUR LITTLE GUESTS, WE WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD. WE ARE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL MOMENTS TOGETHER!"
Unfortunately, there are also more difficult moments. This season, sadly, Johnny and Barbara have had to give up three of their regular rollers. Terrible news that cuts through the marrow. At times like that, you notice how important it is to be a close-knit family, and soccer takes a back seat. As Johnny beautifully describes it, "Football becomes the most important side issue in life at times like that."
The respect they receive and the way they are able to make "their little guests" happy and welcome every match gives them both enormous satisfaction. So they are happy to be able to contribute a little bit to our Foundation, but make that little bit a whole concrete block. Hats off.
