When passion for football rhymes with fierce dedication. Tuesday March 15, 2022, the DFCO welcomes Le Havre for the 29th day of Ligue 2. About fifty volunteers will swarm inside the Sports Park, to welcome and guide the public, recognizable by their blue jackets with this inscription on the back : “Need help?”. Among them, Robert Colin. This retiree from the Post Office has been a volunteer for Dijon football for 39 yearsfirst for the Cercle Dijonnais, then for the DFCO – since 1998. As a symbol, we meet him in his house, located a few tens of meters from the Stade des Poussots which still houses the training center for a few months.
“Apart from president, I have done a bit of everything”
On the dining room table, notes and binders, which he quickly leaves behind to reminisce. His “career” as a volunteer began during the Easter holidays in 1983, when he went to the Cercle Dijonnais to enroll his son in football. Quickly, the leaders ask him to render services, to take care of the children, to train a team. He accepts, with pleasure. Then the years pass, his sons move up the categories, Robert Colin takes on more responsibilities.
He takes care of the bar, the ticket office, security, he organizes tournaments, even becomes club steward in charge of outfits and equipment for all teams, from children to seniors. “Apart from president, I have done a bit of everything”he jokes. “When you put your finger in the gear…”. With the rise in Ligue 2 in the early 2000s, this function of steward – like many others – is professionalized. But Robert Colin continues his idyll with the club.
A few regrets in retrospect, quickly dissipated
When he looks back too deeply, his gaze blurs a bithis graying mustache droops, and his voice drops. “I feel like I’ve ruined my family life a bit. Running the bar, getting around, it took time. I had a job where I was often on the move. I feel like having sometimes abused the absence a little. I think that each volunteer must tell himself a little too”. Marie-Aymée, his wife, confirms with a smile: “It’s true that I didn’t see him often, I also worked on my side. We shouldn’t just think about it. He was happy with it, I wasn’t going to stop him from doing that”. Today, she is also a volunteer at the Stade Gaston Gérard for DFCO matches. The melancholy fades quickly, and the altruistic passion takes over.
“Don’t play too many games”
In this year 2022, Robert Colin celebrates his 73 years. The “responsible for the main courtyard” could be tired, wanting to enjoy a deserved retirement. But no, he really appreciates these stadium atmospheres, these requests from other volunteers in the walkie-talkie, these discussions with the security team standing guard. The hugs of former players, the friendly smiles of supporters and partners, who have paraded for years and recognize it. He still likes to remake the world so much before the game, then redo the game by eating a bite after the meeting with his “friends” volunteers – mostly retired. “Friendliness is the most important”repeat Marie-Aymée and Robert together.
Until when does Robert Colin intend to continue? “I told my wife: ‘I’m stopping this year, 40 years, that’s going to be enough'”. However, as since 1983 and again this season, holidays with the in-laws in Ariège are organized so as not to miss any match. “We can say: ‘we no longer put football first, it’s stronger'”. He and his wife affirm it: they will not be ten years older. Without giving an end date. “The day I stop having fun, I’ll stop. As they say, you shouldn’t play too many matches”concludes Robert with a burst of laughter.
- DFCO – Le Havre, 28th day of Ligue 2, to live in full on France Bleu Bourgogne from 6:45 p.m. for the pre-match, 7 p.m. for the kick-off. With Robert Colin’s long interview to be found at half-time of the match!
– Adrian Beria