FC Lewenborg Groningen is betting on the exchange cabinet. ‘It’s strange that we didn’t think of this ourselves’

That is valuable in several respects. Good for the world, the circular economy and certainly for families who cannot simply buy a new tracksuit for their children every year.

Chairman of FC Lewenborg

Mathijs de Rijber (39) is chairman of FC Lewenborg together with Johan Hamstra. It is already the second time that he has wielded the gavel.

De Rijber has been a member since he was four and has done all kinds of things for his club: “I have been on a committee or board since I was seventeen. At the age of 36 I was already appointed an honorary member. Quite special at such an age.”

De Rijber is sometimes surprised by the urban amateur football world: “What is happening at Velocitas now! The technical committee wants to go to the fourth division and the entire main board is resigning. That doesn’t happen here. As a board, you have been elected by the members to implement the policy.”

FC Lewenborg has a waiting list

At FC Lewenborg, every member is of equal value: “We even have a waiting list. We have 500 members and we can’t have more because we only have two fields. There is no more space in our complex. I hope there will be more weekend football, because then we can also have youth teams play on Sundays.”

“We now start at half past eight on Saturday morning. Sometimes a team has to play football at 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon and we also divide that among the teams. Then the opponent calls: “We can’t do it at 4 o’clock, but we can do it at 11 a.m., haha.”

“We entered into a good agreement with the municipality when we had to move from our old building and therefore lost many facilities. We then agreed to rent-free for 30 years.”

The duo chairman also does not judge head coach Bob Pontjodikromo on the performance of the first team: “But whether he deals with players normally.”

The Christian Union wanted to give away two exchange cabinets

De Rijber, who works at WMD Drinkwater in Assen and father of a 2.5-year-old son, was approached by the municipality. The Christian Union wanted to give away two exchange cabinets and the relevant official called Lewenborg.

De Rijber was immediately enthusiastic: “It’s strange that we didn’t think of this ourselves.” We received many positive reactions. FC Lewenborg has 50 families who receive support in paying contributions through the sports fund foundation.

“We still need wheels underneath. On Saturday we roll it out and then anyone who needs something can get it out. On the final day of the season we put a large box next to it, because that’s when all the members come. Children all need a size bigger.”

‘It’s going to be a great success’

“We really want to do this for that group of members that you may not often think about. The Lewenborg district has also been renovated. There are more neighborhoods in Groningen where they can use such cabinets. It’s going to be a great success here. „

“We have a lot of volunteers, but never enough. Our 13-1 and 14-1 play at division level, which is great, but if they play football at a lower level, that is also good. All teams are allowed to train here equally often. It’s about the fun we can offer children.”

“Last summer one went to GVAV and now he is eager to return. However, he must join the waiting list.”