Werder Bremen celebrates 10th anniversary of 60+ programme

Werder Bremen celebrates 10th anniversary of 60+ programme

220 participants of the 60plus programme of Werder Bremen came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the various sport and cultural programmes that the German club offers to its 60+ fans. Since 2008, Werder Bremen brings its 60+ fans together and gets them physically and socially active on a weekly basis. 

Former Werder Bremen player Klaus-Dieter Fischer, launched the programme in 2008 and it has become an integral part of the green and white club culture. The club works together with a great number of volunteers, who are vital for the success of the programme. Without their support, it would not be possible to organise and deliver the individual 60plus activities and events.

Nadja Pilzweger, head of the 60plus project, appreciates the work of the volunteers: “I am very grateful for their support in this project. We give and take on both sides and really appreciate each other. Therefore, I would like to express my special thanks to all volunteers who have been organising the 60plus programme on a weekly basis for years. ”

In the upcoming years, the club will invest even more in the 60+ programme with a dedicated team that will organise and further develop the clubs 60+ activities and programmes. Werder staff members Johann Gröne, Detlef Mauritz, Birgit Konetzny and Sabine Eilers have been involved in the preparations for the anniversary celebration and will continue to play a supporting role in the future.

The celebration event started with a ceremonial speech of the President and Managing Director Hubertus Hess-Grunewald. Former player Klaus-Dieter Fischer described the start and developments of the 60plus initiative. After the group photo on the grandstand of the Weser Stadium, all attendees were invited to a nearby restaurant to chat with each other and discuss the successful events of the 60+ programme.

Birthday wishes from an EFDN member

An unexpected highlight of the celebration event was a personal birthday wish from the Netherlands. Herman van Laar, player of the walking football team of Dutch EFDN Member Feyenoord Rotterdam travelled all the way to Bremen to celebrate the anniversary together with the green and white walking footballers that he had met at the European Legends Walking Football Festival in the Netherlands.  Herman said that “The event in Arnhem was the start of an intensive and hopefully very long-lasting friendship”.

The EFDN team congratulates Werder Bremen on the 10th Anniversary of their 60+ programme and we hope that the initiative of Herman will be followed by many others. He proved that Football really brings people together!