A Reunion of Footvolley Legends at GASSAN
A few months after the Life After Football Footvolley event brought plenty of energy in December, the group reunited in March for a special Footvolley Legends Lunch at GASSAN. This time, the pace was slower. The tournament buzz had settled, making room for a more reflective afternoon centred on reconnecting with the people who had shared the experience.
A Table Full of Familiar Faces
Set in a stylish and relaxed environment, the lunch brought together a group with plenty of shared history and personality. Orlando Engelaar, Ryan Donk, Demy de Zeeuw, Kevin Strootman and Jeremain Lens were there as the players at the heart of the occasion. Life After Football was represented by Regi Blinker and Soufian Asafiati. Benno Leeser, Dustin Huisman, Calvin Jong-A-Pin and Michel Vorm attended on behalf of GASSAN.
A Gift that Set the Tone
Early in the afternoon, one gesture immediately gave the lunch its character. In collaboration with Trophy by GASSAN, Life After Football presented the players with tennis bracelets set with black diamonds. The gift felt elegant and personal, and it set the tone straight away. More than simply marking the partnership, it expressed appreciation for the players who had taken part in the footvolley tournament.
What made the moment stand out even more was the fact that everyone was together again with the event already behind them. The filming had been completed, the pressure of the day had passed, and there was finally time to revisit the stories in a more relaxed way. Conversations moved naturally from memories of the tournament to the atmosphere that had defined it. There was plenty of laughter, plenty of familiarity, and a real sense of friendship and camaraderie around the table. In many ways, it felt as though the spirit of December had returned for one more afternoon.
More than a Post-Event Lunch
That feeling continued through the lunch itself, which matched the mood of the gathering perfectly. Charcuterie, insalata caprese and bruschetta with tomato salad were served first, followed by Italian classics including spaghetti aglio e olio, pappardelle with salmon, spaghetti alla puttanesca and aubergine. Tiramisu rounded off the afternoon.
Because the tournament itself had already taken place, the Footvolley Legends Lunch carried a different kind of value. It was not about anticipation or build-up, but about looking back together on something that had already been created. The result was no longer the focus. What mattered here were the memories, the connection and the shared experience behind the production. Even so, one detail remains under wraps for now, as the winner is being kept secret a little while longer.
Seen that way, the afternoon at GASSAN became more than a follow-up moment. It felt like a stylish pause after the event, with the energy of footvolley still present but translated into a more intimate setting. It was a reminder that the meaning of an event does not end when the filming stops. Sometimes the moments afterwards tell their own story. One shaped by appreciation, reflection and the kind of off-pitch memories that stay with people just as strongly. In that sense, the Footvolley Legends Lunch became a fitting continuation of a successful Life After Football Footvolley edition.
Ready for more?
If you want to read more about GASSAN, check out article on the 80 Year GASSAN anniversary.
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