PEC Zwolle UK: Meet The Members : Joe Smith

PEC Zwolle UK - Meet The Members : Joe Smith


In this edition we meet Joe Smith who has visited Zwolle with the group twice back in 2017. He's hopeful of more visits over in the future and actively keeps an eye on PEC's progress.

Why do you love PEC Zwolle?
"I love PEC Zwolle because like my team Preston North End back home, they are a local team for the local people". The group always call their walk from their City Centre hotels to the MAC3Park 'The Pilgrimage', this add's to Joe's affection: "The iconic walk past the windmill towards the stadium along the river makes it a wonderful sight. You feel the atmosphere and the buzz of the ground the nearer you get to it".



Thoughts on Zwolle the City?
From Joe's experience the City is a "place for making memories that will last a lifetime". He adds, "I've met and come across loads of welcoming people and friendships have been built on that". This echoes across all the British Blauwvingers in the group. The People of Zwolle have been so kind and friendly to us. In our second trip to Zwolle the group hired a boat to go on the River IJssel for an afternoon. Joe highlights that trip as a great way to "take everything in and a great way to see Zwolle". Joe's appreciation of the beauty of the city was hightened by taking a cruise around the City.

First Memory of Dutch Football?
Without hesitation he responds "Watching the Champions League and seeing the great Ajax sides over the years". From a young age he harboured a desire to coming over to the Netherlands to watch a game someday, little did he know or realise that the club he was going to follow was PEC.

Favourite Dutch Player of All-Time?
"Dennis Bergkamp - he played with such power and grace"

Favourite PEC Zwolle Game?
As a bit of a biased choice, he selects the only PEC game he has attended. A 1-0 win back in 2018 on the groups first visit over to The Netherlands. He joyfully recounts "Youness Mokhtar scored an absolute worldie in the first few minutes" and re-lives the moment adding "the ground went wild".
Joe was going to pick the 2014 KNVB Cup final triumph over Ajax, but it wasn't about big scoring games or memorable wins. His Favourite game for now is his one and only experience of the club he loves. He hopes he can experience more PEC games in future.

Favourite All-Time PEC Player:

Joe chooses Club Captain, Bram Van Polen citing him as "Legendary and Long Serving". This is very true especially with BVP signing for his Fourteenth season with the Club and will go down in Zwolle folklore with his goal in the KNVB Cup Final. He adds Van Polen is "a solid and dependable pro who can operate right across the back four".

Hopes for Next Season and Who would you like to see wear the famous Blue & White?
Joe believes next season will be more focused on finding young talent "within the Dutch system" to further the club in years to come. One Day he would like to see FC Utrecht's Sander Van Der Streek play for Zwolle. Van der Streek has been one of the groups favourite players in the Netherlands since impressing at Cambuur. 

Best Moments on our PEC Zwolle UK Trips So Far?
"There are so many!"
Obviously the match he attended as previously mentioned is an experience he will not forget. 
"The second trip via Amsterdam and Eindhoven was immense". Joe pointed out he just likes being in Zwolle taking in the sights and enjoying the city by day and the bars at night. 

Which English Team do you support and why?
"Preston North End are my team in England, their my hometown team and i was brought up to follow them all over the country by my Dad and my closest friends". Many who know Joe, know him as one of the biggest Preston fans out there. He is a season ticket holder at the club, travels to away games rarely missing a single game supporting the club. Joe is Blue and White in England and takes that mantra to his club in Holland. 

We Hope to see Joe on more future PEC Zwolle UK Trips to the Netherlands.
Twitter: @joesmith2610 

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