Another weekend packed with voetball. Sunday is the day that most of the professional league matches are being played. This past weekend was even more important then most, as it was the last game for most teams. It was this weekend that the league champion would be announced and what team would be relegated or in a playoff to stay in the Premier Division. Excelsior was in tough, they needed the last place team to lose or they needed a big victory against Heerenveen, a very tough opponent, the story goes a little like this….

Marco picked me up at 10:45am, we drove to the stadium to meet 2 full bus loads of fans. The majority of fans seemed to be middle class weekend warriors, probably worked 8-5, monday to friday, in which following their local team was the main past time on the weekend. Loyalty, was the first thought that came to mind, the stadium was 3 hours away, most fans had some sort of Excelsior clothing on, for most, it was the scarf, not just to keep you warm but a symbol that can be stretched from arm to arm showing to the rest of the world who you support. 

The bus ride there was full of optimism, laughing and singing, playing cards, watching movies, eating and drinking.  3 hours seemed like an hour. What was most interesting, a police officer escorted us on and off the highway to ensure our safety. When we arrived to the stadium we did not even have to stay in a traffic jam, the motorbike police officer stopped and moved traffic clearnig the way to the visitor entrance of the stadium.

Visiting fans have there own entrance, when we got off the bus, I noticed two undercover police officers, standing, pretending to chit chat, but really were looking for any danger that we may cause or dangers against us, all protocol. We entered the gate, I felt like I was going to jail, I was patted down from head to toe, as was the rest.  I then climbed the stairs to a fully caged tunnel.  

As I walked closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, I felt like I was Maximus from the movie “Gladiator” just before a fight, the drums thumbing, and the mob chanting, ready for the battle to begin.

Ok, so the battle was not as fierce as the lead up, Heerenveen scored in the first 10 minutes on a goal in which the defenders were sleeping, they took most of the play; however, it was still 1-0, until the last minute of the first half, Heerenveen scored again. 

Our chanting became a dull roar, swearing in dutch was evident based on the amount of saliva that was protruding out many of the disgusted Excelsior fans. Nerves were high, I counted that one man rolled over 6 cigarettes and smoked them all in a 90 minute span. 

The second half started to in misery as Excelsior scored on their own net, at the same time the score board showed the last place team Venlo was ahead 2-0, which if they won would seal Excelsiors fate… relegation.

As the 80^th minute came, Excelsior’s destiny was to be relegated, with the lowest payroll in the league and two of their top players with season ending injuries, it was not meant to be. I sat in my seat as did Marco, pouting and pissed; I hate losing no matter what it is.

 But then all of a sudden, 

Quietly the chant “oh laa o laa” (followed by a pause except for one or two people echoing oh la oh la)  “Oh laa Oh laa”. “Oh Laa Oh La”….. “Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam, Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam, Ex-cel-sior Rot-ter-dam”, it started with a few, then turned to a group, it then got louder and louder, everyone in our section was standing and singing as loud as they could.

It was like the Dr Seuss movie “The Grinch that stole Christmas” when it was Christmas morning and the Grinch had stolen everything and the little Who people started singing together.

Usually a chant only lasts a minute or so, not this one, it only grew stronger, my hair went on edge, just as it is again now, re-living the moment as I type. The chant lasted for over 10 minutes, the raw emotion was in the air, to the point, the Heereveen fans were not going to interject and over power this chant…Unbelievable!

Pride, Loyalty, Integrity! Truly a moment I will never forget!

              EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM  EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM EX-CEL-SIOR  ROT-TER-DAM

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