Ajax once again commit to annual 'Volendam United' event
26 January: For the fourth year in a row Ajax
have accepted an invitation from the Volendam United
foundation, committing to the annual football event in the
fisherman's village in commemoration of the so-called 'pub
inferno' of 2001. The event will take place at Volendam's
Veronica Stadium on Tuesday 29 March. For the second
consecutive year it will not be a simple friendly between FC
Volendam and Ajax, but a night of six-a-side soccer between
'Old Ajax' and 'Old Volendam' teams as well as the current
squads of both clubs.
The tragic 'pub inferno' occurred in the first minutes of
the year 2001 in a Volendam pub packed with local youngsters
celebrating a New Year's party. The Christmas decorations
hanging from the low ceiling caught fire. The brief inferno
that followed had a devastating effect. Ten youngsters were
killed instantly, another four died in the weeks after the
tragedy. Over 150 young Volendammers were hospitalized, covered
in burns. The 'pub inferno' changed the close community of
Volendam forever and permamently scarred the face of its new
generation.
The Volendam United foundation organizes an annual football
event for the victims, to commemorate those who died and
to show commitment to those who survived. The local football
club is a symbol of Volendam's unity and the
most appropriate opponent is the 'big neighbour' from
Amsterdam, as there has always been a remarkable sense of
brotherhood between FC Volendam and Ajax. In January 2002 and 2003 Ajax played
a friendly fixture against Volendam in commemoration of
the victims. However, due to the disappointing public turnout
in 2003 Volendam United decided to organize a different kind of
event in March.
This event, named Volendam Na
6ûûûh (best translated as 'Volendam
After Sixxxx'), was first organized on
29 March 2004. The formula was succesful, so that the
second edition will have the exact same set-up: it will be
opened by a six-a-side match between the 'street soccer'
champions (primary school teams) of Amsterdam and Volendam.
After that two teams of former Ajax and Volendam players will
play each other and the 'main course' of the evening is a
six-a-side match between players from Volendam and Ajax's
current first teams. Musical accompaniment will be supplied.
(MP)
Source: Volendam United.nl
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