By Chris Wright
Club Brugge fan Lorre Schoonbaert and his young daughter Dina
Club Brugge’s 3-0 home win over local rivals Mouscron in the Belgian top tier was notable for two reasons.
Firstly, the victory kept Club Brugge at the top of the table and on course to win their first league title in a decade.
Secondly, and more importantly, the game marked the final trip to the Jan Breydel Stadium for lifelong Brugge fan Laurenzo Schoonbaert.
Laurenzo, known as ‘Lorre’, was terminally ill and scheduled to be after undergoing 37 unsuccessful operations to cure him over the last 20 years.
With Belgium’s laws on euthanasia being a lot more liberal than most countries, doctors had run out of options and as such agreed to allow Lorre to bring his years of suffering to an end.
However, Lorre had one last wish before he passed – to see Club Brugge in action one last time, writing on Facebook: “This is my dearest wish before I die to see my team win one more game.”
Thankfully, Lorre was able to realise his dream and, with his seven-year-old daughter Dina by his side, was given the full VIP treatment by Club Brugge (and the 20,000 fans in attendance) before, during and after Sunday’s victory.
Club Brugge fans hold aloft a specially-prepared banner reading “You’ll Never Walk Alone Lorre”
Lorre delivered a touching speech before kick-off, thanking the club and their supporters for such an emotional send-off, before being invited to start the game by blowing the referee’s whistle.
Indeed, Australian goalkeeper Maty Ryan said he was “lost for words” after meeting Lorre for the first time.
Lost for words yesterday meeting Lorenzo. Thoughts are going out to him and his loved ones for tonight #inspiration pic.twitter.com/mE6L7jQpEM
— Maty Ryan (@MatyRyan) March 2, 2015
After meeting with the Club Brugge players after the match, Lorre told the local press with tears in his eyes:
“I am unbelievably happy now. This will be a treasured memory for my daughter which she can enjoy all her life.”
“My last dream has come true. I can die in peace now. I will celebrate from heaven.”
The very next day, Lorre’s family confirmed via Facebook that he’d been administered with an injection to send him peacefully off into the cosmos beyond.
“As he himself said, we must look up… there we will see a star that shines, that’s Lorre…” the post read.
“He will forever be treasured, loved and missed… Lorretje was brave until the last minute, had everything under control and had enjoyed his last moments with people who were close to his heart.”
Amazing. As clear an example of true football fandom as you’re ever likely to see.
May he rest in peace.
(Via Mirror/Image: Club Brugge KV)