Kilby’s cheers & beers
K-Park facility manager Ian on how Dutch got in touch in secret for help surprising all-conquering East Kilbride
There were some sensational scenes at K-Park on Saturday as Dutch football club Ajax made a special presentation to East Kilbride FC.
Kilby surpassed the club’s world record for consecutive wins with a 27th straight victory and Ajax got the party started, delivering a van full of beer and a special video message from Ajax legend Edwin van der Sar.
Imagine knowing Ajax are coming to town but being sworn to secrecy?
Could you keep it under wraps? Or would you let it slip?
Well, that’s exactly the predicament Lindsayfield man Ian Aitchison found himself in last week.
The Dutch football club wanted an ‘inside man’ to ensure a presentation to East Kilbride, recognising them for beating their 44-year-old world record for consecutive wins, went down without a hitch on Saturday.
And Aitchison, facility manager at East Kilbride’s home ground, K-Park, proved to be a valuable ally.
He was trusted with helping Ajax pull off the stunt that would make headlines around the world.
The Amsterdam outfit delivered 27 crates of beer (one for each of EK’s victories) and a special video message from their former keeper and current marketing director Edwin van der Sar.
Following the News’ story about Kilby’s winning run and Ajax tweeting the club last week, Rudolph Hülsenbeck from Ajax TV got in touch by email to find their insider.
Aitchison was the only man in the town who knew of Ajax’s intentions and managed to guide club officials to K-Park, before sneaking them into the ground.
He told the News: “After the emails from Rudolph, he called last Thursday night to check my position with the club and the Community Trust, who operate K-Park.
“He told me he needed some help from the inside and asked if I would be prepared to keep a secret.
“Rudolph mentioned they had a small gift for East Kilbride and that he would explain more when he arrived.
“I had to sit on that for days and it was very difficult to keep it a secret because I was quite excited about it.
“I was a bit suspicious of it as well, for a club of that size to take an interest in us. But it was true and something really special.”
Hülsenbeck and his colleague Jamie Suarez arrived in Newcastle on the morning of the game, which Kilby won 3-1, after catching a ferry from Holland to the UK.
They arrived at K-Park just over half-an-hour before kick-off, with their ‘insider’ giving them directions to the ground, hidden away in Calderglen Country Park.
The 56-year-old continued: “They didn’t know how to find us but I managed to guide them in.
“When they arrived, I sneaked them round the back of the ground and then they did some filming, using drones as well to get some footage.
“We managed to keep it under wraps and it was only after the third goal went in (85 minutes) I felt confident enough to announce the presentation to the crowd over the PA.
“It was amazing to see the reaction of everyone when the van came on at the end. It wouldn’t have had the same effect if everyone knew.”
Ajax have certainly played a PR blinder with their trip to EK. The story has gone viral, with the official Ajax video of the events racking up almost half-a-million views on social media.
Aitchison explained how the reaction to the club tweeting Kilby last week was the catalyst for the incredible scenes and revealed Ajax’s official beer partner, Belgian firm Jupiler, footed the bill for everything.
He added: “The idea of a presentation was first mentioned at an Ajax weekly meeting.
“It all came from the story about the tweet and the reaction it got.
“Somebody suggested that they come over and give them 27 cases of beer for the number of wins.
“And that’s when they went to Jupiler, who have paid for the whole thing. It’s tremendous.”
The idea itself was the brainchild of Hülsenbeck, Ajax TV’s executive producer for nearly a decade.
He told the News: “My colleague at our social media department picked up on the story about EKFC matching the record, so I suggested to deliver some beers and Edwin and his commercial team okayed that.
“I helped organise the whole thing We are really happy for East Kilbride Football Club.”