Romée van de Lavoir: ‘I give everything for this badge’

Family
“The Feyenoord feeling – for me, that’s a sense of family. Literally, because my whole family supports Feyenoord. But also figuratively. I remember we always went to the Open Day. It felt so familiar, like coming home. All those different people together, but all sharing the same passion. And also the same attitude: not arrogant, no big talk. Just do your best and we’ll see what happens. No words, but deeds.”

Standing out
“I’ve been at the club since 2017, I was part of the very first girls’ team in Feyenoord’s history. Before that, I played in a boys’ team at XerxesDZB. I even played one season together with Gjivai Zechiël there. I scored more goals than he did, haha. I also trained at the football school of Dwight Blackson, who also worked at Feyenoord and played for the first team in the late eighties and early nineties. Apparently I stood out, because Feyenoord wanted me for the Under-15 girls’ team. If I complete my current contract, I’ll have been here for ten years.”

Badge
“The first time I wore the Feyenoord shirt – not as a supporter, but as a player – man, that gave me an indescribable feeling. I remember it exactly: it was a friendly match against the boys of ASWH, a draw. We played in red and white. I immediately realized: two months ago I was standing on the Coolsingel celebrating the championship, and now I actually get to play for that club myself. Yes, then you want to fight, win every match. That feeling has never changed all these years. I give everything for this badge. I also think I can give just that one percent extra compared to teammates without a Feyenoord background. Simply because I know and feel what it means.”

Role model
“Now I’m the one standing at the Open Day. It still feels strange to take photos and be a role model for young girls. But I also really enjoy it. For me, players from men’s football were my idols; for example Jerson Cabral, who I once walked onto the pitch with as a mascot. Women’s football existed, I knew Manon Melis from the national team, but not at Feyenoord. It’s really great that this is the case now. As a women’s section, we’ve made huge progress. I started training on a side pitch at LMO, but now we truly belong.”

Sold out
“Playing in De Kuip is amazing; the first time I almost cried. My big dream is to play in a sold-out Kuip. We’re still a few steps away from that. Other clubs haven’t managed to fully fill their stadiums either, although we once played De Klassieker in the Johan Cruijff Arena in front of more than 33,000 spectators. We also have an influence on it ourselves; the better we perform, the more interest there will be in us, in our team. And if there’s one club that can achieve a sold-out stadium, it’s Feyenoord.”

This article previously appeared in Feyenoord Magazine.