11 October 2024
World Design Embassies
- Design
- Regio Deal Brainport Eindhoven
In 'We are fans together' we speak to PSV supporters from the entire Brainport Region and ask them about what it means to be a fan of PSV and the region.
The Brainport region is growing fast. We live and work together with more and more people from all corners of the world. This creates enormous diversity and living together does not always come naturally. The partnership Brainport Eindhoven & PSV re-released the song '7 days long' by BOTS with La Fuente and Eindhoven's Finest. The PSV players therefore showed up in unique shirts with gold stripes and a Spotify code. Because here we work, fight and celebrate together. We speak to winners who received these unique, signed shirts.
Quincy (25) has been a fanatic PSV fan since his youth. And when he saw PSV come on in this gold-striped shirt, Quincy was sitting with his brother in the Philips Stadium. After the match they sprinted to the PSV Fanstore to see if they could buy these shirts. Unfortunately, this special edition is not for sale, but it can be won. “I'm so happy I won one! I don't know yet whether I will frame it or wear it. Moreover, I didn't realize at first that it was signed, I thought: what is that stain? Turns out it was Boscagli's signature!”
What does it mean to you to be a fan?
For me, being a PSV fan is more than just watching football. It is a feeling of connection and pride. I used to live near the PSV stadium, in Zeelsterstraat, and have always had an annual pass. When I lived in Belgium for a year, I let a friend of mine borrow it, but unfortunately that's over for him. I love going to the matches with friends and experiencing the atmosphere in the stadium.
How do you experience living in Eindhoven?
I grew up in Strijp and it feels even more like home than Eindhoven. It is a neighborhood where everyone knows each other with a real sense of community. The baker still knows you by name and my grandfather and grandmother live two streets away. Eindhoven feels like a city and a village at the same time. I am proud of what Eindhoven has achieved, especially with companies like ASML and Philips. What was once a small village has now become a metropolitan region. They can't compete with that in Amsterdam.
I always take PSV shirts with me on holiday to show that I am from Eindhoven. That's just being proud.
How do you view the Brainport region?
The Brainport region has undergone enormous development in recent years. First, of course, Philips was on the shirts. But after having an energy supplier as the main sponsor, it really made me happy that 'Brainport Eindhoven' was written on the shirts. Brainport Eindhoven is now really on the map.
At my work as a digital team lead at a large supermarket, I work with people from all kinds of countries, 80% do not speak Dutch and they often have a different way of looking at 'the boss'. But I think it is the most fun and most important to give my team a nice place to work. I would rather have happy employees than have the figures be a little deeper in the green.
For me, Brainport also means volunteer work. Even though my work is sometimes chaotic and busy, I try to make time for volunteer work at a youth association. It gives me satisfaction to see young people grow and help them. You make a difference for someone else.
What do you think of our '7 days long' campaign from Brainport Eindhoven?
I love the campaign. I myself come from 1997, a symbolic year for the entire region in which Brainport was conceived. The message of fighting, working and celebrating together really appeals to me. I don't think we celebrate enough. We're always busy, always fighting. We should reflect on and celebrate our successes more often. Both at work and in our private lives, I can also simply say “Quin, well done!”
What have you really celebrated lately?
The recent PSV championship was a real highlight for me. That Sunday evening it was so busy in the city, I found that really impressive. On TV you saw images that everything was fixed, but we were just relaxed. Our mom called to warn that it was so busy, but it wasn't that bad once you got inside. Went to bed with enough beer that evening and arrived early again on Monday for the ceremony on the town hall square. I met all kinds of colleagues and everyone was just a PSV fan without any hassle. It was just all of us together. Celebrate together.
Thank you Quincy! Have fun with the unique shirt!