Fc Groningen wants people to move more and better. The club thinks it is important that not only children and adults, but also the elderly get the chance to exercisestaying vital and social contacts to create and maintain. In the new video on FC Groningen’s YouTube channel, the viewer acquainted with Jaap, one of the Old Stars of the club, who kicks a ball together with Danny Buijs.
FC Groningen participates in the More and Better Movement program. With this program, the club wants to literally move as many people as possible in the hinterland and fight together with its partners against movement poverty in the Northern Netherlands. One of the many great initiatives to reinforce this ambition is the FC Groningen OldStars.
With the OldStars FC Groningen wants to make people over 55 aware of the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. Every week, these elderly people come together for a nice game of Walking Football – a variant of regular football where only walking is allowed and physical contact is prohibited – and a good dose of fun. Being together and social contacts are therefore just as important as playing football. In addition, the OldStars also act as ambassadors and want to motivate as many amateur associations as possible to offer Walking Football.
Old Star Jaap
In the new YouTube video of the Pride of the North, OldStar Jaap gets a well-deserved spot in the spotlight. The townr in heart and soul has been a supporter of the FC all his life and played football for as long as possible with his amateur club. Because of his age, Jaap stopped playing football, until his wife pointed out to him that FC Groningen was looking for participants for the OldStars. At first Jaap had his doubts, but that quickly turned into pure enthusiasm.
“It is really fantastic, because as an older person you can play football again without the risk of injury. I think it’s really fantastic. Also being with the guys, the locker room talk… It’s just great.”
As much as Jaap likes it at the OldStars, football is not number one. These are the grandchildren, the youngest of which has taken over the love for FC Groningen from his grandfather. Babysitting, fishing together behind the house, it’s the little things that the FC-er enjoys the most: “It’s just nice that the grandchildren enjoy coming here.”
Watch the video now on the FC’s YouTube channel, meet Jaap and see how Danny Buijs got the honor to train with the FC Groningen Old Stars.
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