Almere City in front of around five thousand fans honored for promotion to premier league

Almere City FC was honored Monday night for promotion to the premier league. According to Omroep Flevoland some 4,000 to 6,000 supporters descended on the festivities.

The inauguration took place at the Esplanade in the city center. Almere City is the first club from the province of Flevoland to play at the highest level.

Under loud cheers from the supporters, the staff members and players were called on stage one by one.

“Almere, Almere, how long have we waited for this day?” shouted promoter general manager John Bes to the crowd. “We knew promotion was coming, but not that it would happen this year.”

“This season was the strongest KKD (Keuken Kampioen Divisie, ed.) ever. We finished third and won a period title. We won for the first time at ADO, at NAC and at De Graafschap,” Bes listed enthusiastically. “And then came that iconic nacompetition. And next year we are just going to survive in the premier league, you bet!”

Hedwiges Maduro was also applauded by Almere’s supporters. That will probably be the last time, as the former international will in all likelihood leave for Ajax, where he will become assistant to new coach Maurice Steijn. Maduro did not want to confirm the news just before the inauguration.

After the players’ inauguration, the musical party began with several performances. Among others, singer René Schuurmans appeared on stage. After each goal of Almere, his song Let the sun into your heart shot at Yanmar Stadium.

The evening ended with an emotional moment. Jergé Hoefdraad’s two children appeared on stage to loud applause.

The former Almere player was shot dead at a party in Amsterdam two years ago at the age of 35. Hoefdraad played intermittently for Almere City from 2009 to 2019 and played 145 games.

Watch the reaction of Mayor of Almere and two players after reaching the premier league below: