Netherlands:

He quit top field hockey three years ago. Finished with his old club Helmond, had another great adventure in Italy. Life after field hockey had actually already begun. Until Bob de Voogd fell into the arms of another old love again. The almost 37-year-old former international is back with Oranje-Rood. ‘My shirt is hanging framed in the clubhouse.’

‘Maybe I shouldn’t give any more interviews. Nobody believes what I say anymore.’

Was signed: Bob de Voogd. With a very big wink. And also with surprise. Because of course he never expected things to turn out this way. After all, he was like a fish in the water at Helmond, where he stood on the field with tears of field hockey happiness. It seemed the perfect ending for the 2012 silver Olympian. At HC Bra in Italy – on the second level, by the way – his career still got a chance tail in the fairy-tale Piedmont. To end a rich career with his family among the vineyards sounded like a wonderful ending.

But things turned out differently. Because he couldn’t resist. Another chapter. An unexpected new season. Netflix would kill for a story with so many plot twists. He talks about it with the greatest pleasure, on the field in Breda. There on Sunday, De Voogd played with Oranje-Rood during the ABN AMRO Hockey Weekend against Den Bosch and Braxgata. Coincidentally, two old clubs of the Helmonder. He shuttled as usual between midfield and forward. He eagerly showed that he can still squeeze out his turbo sprints. Took the floor in the circle for a moment, when he had remarks about putting pressure. Quickly shook hands with an acquaintance in the crowd just before the changeover.

Bob de Voogd with OR captain Joep de Mol. Photo: Ewout Pahud

‘It feels very good. But I had to get used to it, in the first five minutes against Den Bosch,’ says De Voogd, in his soaking wet shirt with jersey number 19. ‘Indeed, that is the same as before. It is a new shirt, though. It also has some other sponsors. I got it today. Laughing: ‘There is also one framed in the clubhouse. I said: if we don’t get the new shirt in time, we will take it off the wall.

Helmond Heren 2 or still Italy?

He goes back in time a few months. The De Voogd family had just returned from Italy. Reality awaited the young family. Goodbye adventure, hello real world. Life had to be picked up again. And of course the subject of field hockey came up again. ‘I wanted to play somewhere again, of course.’ Laughing to himself, “Yeah, you’re a fan, or not. I played a few games last year with my friends at Helmond Men’s 2. But did I want that for a whole year? I hesitated. I was still in touch with Bra. Maybe I would go up-and-down a few times, just for the cup. A couple of weekends, or something. Might have done that, if things hadn’t turned out differently.’

In the midst of that period of doubt, he was back on the field. In Belgium, where he stopped playing top hockey with Braxgata in 2019, his extraordinary career took another turn. ‘I participated in an Allstar match in June, in honor of the farewell of some Belgian internationals. I had just returned from Italy and was quite fit. Afterwards, I got several emails. What was the deal with me? Had I quit? Or was I still open for something? I didn’t know myself yet. But it did get me thinking.

Photo: Ewout Pahud

From nice participation to a contract

So his curiosity was piqued. And so De Voogd took the plunge. He approached his old teammate Thijs Bams, recently assistant coach at Oranje-Rood. ‘Could I still do it? At the highest level? I wanted to test myself and was allowed to train with him. OR was still missing guys who returned from the European Championships. So there was room. I got the program for the first two weeks. Nothing more. Just participate. That was the intention.

De Voogd passed his own top field hockey exam. He noticed that he could still keep up. That was also the opinion of the club, which offered him a one-year contract. But it wasn’t just about playing field hockey. It was also about the total picture. I have three young children, ages five, three and one and a half. I can’t leave things to their own devices at home for five days. If I really get into a jam there, we can fix that. I quit my job in June and have some conversations going on now. How that will proceed is still unclear. That’s why we’re going to try it now, because everyone has a good feeling about it. But we’ve also said: if the first three months are mostly bullshit, field hockey is the first thing to go off my schedule.’

That, of course, is absolutely not the plan. Indeed, De Voogd is also employed off the field by OR. ‘The idea is that I will visit companies in the Eindhoven region to tell our story. To help with sponsorship, with presentations. As a showcase for the club. I really enjoy doing that. It makes this whole story even more beautiful and complete. Of course his phone was ringing off the hook when the news of his return came out on Wednesday. ‘Some were even a bit overenthusiastic. Those had overestimated my role a bit. I really like the way things are going. But it’s all about the internationals now. They determine how it goes. I support where I can. Both on and off the field. With a story from the old box, for example.’

It has become too comfortable to go to Eindhoven. They have to hate having to play us again. And have the idea that there is nothing to gain here Bob de Voogd

De Voogd with his new coach Ageeth Boomgaardt. Photo: Ewout Pahud

Speaking of which. De Voogd experienced golden times at Oranje Zwart, one of the merged clubs from which OR emerged. A decade ago he became three-time national champion and won the EHL. He knows the facts. OR has existed for ten years now. In the past nine seasons we have made the playoffs twice. That is too little. Much too little. Especially if you compare it to that period before that. I’m not saying we should do it like we did before. But we must structurally compete for prizes again. I want to contribute to that.

‘I jokingly said the other day: ten years ago, none of the top clubs felt like playing against Oranje Zwart. No way. They hated our field, our dressing rooms. It was a long drive and you often left with few points. As a result, we were instinctively ahead 3-0 before we started.’

He talks faster. With fire and twinkling eyes. ‘Now there is fast pitch. A nice stand. Is it almost cozy for opponents. It has become too comfortable to go to Eindhoven. They must be balking again that they have to play against us. And have the idea that there is nothing to gain here.’

He falls silent for a moment. ‘That I can really care about that again. I love that.’