By some strange twist of fate this weekend Leeds United play Belgian side FCV Dender in a pre-season friendly. Leeds were due to play Lokeren but they pulled out and Dender stepped in. Why should this interest me? FCV Dender are managed by former Stoke City manager Johan Boskamp. 
In April a collection of mad Stokies went to Brussels for a weekend of drink, culture and football. The football element was listening via webcast to Stoke City’s big game which might have led to promotion, and a trip to FCV Dender to see them play in an equally big match. Their win that evening secured another season in the Belgian top flight against all the odds and to defy all the “experts”. After that game we met Johan and were treated to hospitality in the players’ lounge. Unfortunately it was brief meeting and one arranged for the next day never materialised.
Today on a whim I thought I might try to met up with “Bossie” again, cursing myself for not sorting something sooner. An email to FCV Dender brought nowt. A call to Leeds Utd was equally useless. So I thought I’d be cheeky and text Johan a “welcome to Leeds message”, never expecting a reply. Much to my amazement Johan rang me back very shortly to say they had just arrived at the hotel and I was welcome to meet up before or after the game. By chance the hotel is outside the city centre and only five minutes walk from my work place. It was lunchtime, and working on the premise that “shy bairns get nowt” I set off with my camera to see if I could speak to the Boss Man. I found him eating lunch. Rather than being annoyed by the interruption he invited me to sit down and join him and the team. I spent a very amusing fifty minutes with him before I had to return to work. I’ve been invited to bring some other Leeds Stokies over to see him later today or tomorrow. For all other Stokies Johan has a message for you (below). Top guy, the Boss. Approachable, friendly, funny and by his own admission, totally crazy! A very memorable afternoon. Thanks Johan.
