| John Van Zweden on 17:45 - Sep 5 with 2836 views | Darran |
| John Van Zweden on 17:42 - Sep 5 by Oldjack |
no. but i did wear bracer's for a time |
They're good for giving a forearm smash. |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 17:47 - Sep 5 with 2836 views | MagicDaps |
| John Van Zweden on 17:42 - Sep 5 by Darran |
Well in all fairness he brought it up. |
He may have brought it up but it doesn't mean they can 'exclusively' reveal it, it's not news |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 17:51 - Sep 5 with 2808 views | Darran |
| John Van Zweden on 17:47 - Sep 5 by MagicDaps |
He may have brought it up but it doesn't mean they can 'exclusively' reveal it, it's not news |
They can do what they want Butt. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 17:58 - Sep 5 with 2784 views | WarwickHunt |
| John Van Zweden on 17:42 - Sep 5 by Oldjack |
no. but i did wear bracer's for a time |
There's no 'arm in 'em. Gay as f*ck though...
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| John Van Zweden on 18:03 - Sep 5 with 2763 views | jackonicko |
I'm surprised the Sun didn't run with this, slightly bigger, news story.
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| John Van Zweden on 18:31 - Sep 5 with 2697 views | Uxbridge |
| John Van Zweden on 18:03 - Sep 5 by jackonicko |
I'm surprised the Sun didn't run with this, slightly bigger, news story.
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In fairness a peaceful day in Ireland is newsworthy.
As for this story, all I'm thankful for is that nobody's dug up Huw's dark past  |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 18:36 - Sep 5 with 2682 views | Uxbridge |
| John Van Zweden on 18:34 - Sep 5 by jackonicko |
I think you'll find the real dirt lurks in the trust board, not the club board.
Especially the co-opted members. [Post edited 5 Sep 2014 18:34]
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You've done it now. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 18:47 - Sep 5 with 2645 views | Swanseajill |
| John Van Zweden on 17:07 - Sep 5 by Darran |
Yes who's been nicked for giving it large in the lower leagues? |
I thought it was well known by most people anyway? |  | | |
| John Van Zweden on 18:48 - Sep 5 with 2641 views | Phil_S |
Didn't John's book come out about 12 months back? |  | | |
| John Van Zweden on 18:58 - Sep 5 with 2611 views | Uxbridge |
| John Van Zweden on 18:48 - Sep 5 by Phil_S |
Didn't John's book come out about 12 months back? |
Have you tried putting Dutch in Google translate? And wasn't all this known about 12 years ago?
I dunno. I suppose I'm just surprised it's taken this long for it to come out. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 19:02 - Sep 5 with 2597 views | Phil_S |
| John Van Zweden on 18:58 - Sep 5 by Uxbridge |
Have you tried putting Dutch in Google translate? And wasn't all this known about 12 years ago?
I dunno. I suppose I'm just surprised it's taken this long for it to come out. |
I share the same surprise to be honest but then again we haven't been top of the league after 3 games before now  | | | |
| John Van Zweden on 19:18 - Sep 5 with 2563 views | ScoobyWho |
Oh my lord, this is news isn't it !!!!!
And apparently up until now it was a secret  |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 19:20 - Sep 5 with 2557 views | ScoobyWho |
| John Van Zweden on 17:06 - Sep 5 by Jon76 |
A FOOTBALL director at Swansea City FC has a violent hooligan past and spent time in jail for attacking rival fans, The Sun can reveal.
John Van Zweden, who sits on the board of the Premiership club, was part of a gang of Den Haag fans convicted of throwing explosives into a rival supporters’ stand.
The wallpaper salesman from Holland has also boasted of giving a policeman “a hiding” and “hating the English”.
In a new biography, sold only in the Netherlands, Van Zweden tells how he was banged up after two “bombs” were thrown into a stand of Ajax supporters.
Despite claiming he was innocent, Van Zweden was arrested following the incident on January 9, 1983.
In the book — titled Behangkoning in de Premier League (Wallpaper King in the Premier League), which has not been authorised by Swansea City — he revealed: “I remember the days after I was arrested after the bomb incident in ‘83.
“I was stuck in jail at the police office and I got fed up with all the s*** because I was innocent.”
But he was later brought to justice. He said: “During the court case in Amsterdam the whole court room was chock-a-block with Ajax Amsterdam supporters.
“It was a massive headache for the police who had to escort us safely back out of Amsterdam after the hearing.
“Eventually, we all got suspended jail sentences or community service so I was pretty chuffed not to have to go to jail to be honest.”
As a result Van Zweden, who has recently been pictured shaking hands with Man Utd legend Bobby Charlton, became the first Dutch football fan to be given a stadium ban for two years.
He said: “I was a fanatical supporter, but in retrospect I have not done everything my mates did.
“I never wrecked train carriages or carried clubs or firearms.
“I for instance would not contemplate using a bicycle chain, but preferred to use my fists. I found that much fairer.
“I coordinated gatherings, so that we always arrived in groups and not alone. I guess that’s why they considered me one of the ringleaders.”
Outspoken Van Zweden has been a long-term fan of Swansea FC after joining fellow hooligans there to cause trouble.
Talking ahead of a friendly clash between Holland and England in 1988, he told an English newspaper: “We’ve got hundreds of real hardcases coming.
“There’ll be no little boys with us. Up to 40 of us travelling in advance. We’re linking up with my mates in Swansea.
“They hate the English as much as we do. We would not be going over if it wasn’t for the fighting. I’m not bothered about the game at all.
“I’ve been with Swansea fans regularly at Cardiff games because I know there will be trouble.
“Blokes from Cardiff have been given a kicking by us, whether or not they’re football fans.
“And I went to Birmingham when we gave a policeman a good hiding.”
Van Zweden, who hails from The Hague, was part of the take-over that saw Tony Petty ousted as chairman of Swansea City FC in 2002.
A Swansea City spokesman told The Sun: “The football club has been aware of Mr Van Zweden’s past since becoming a director 12 years ago where he helped save Swansea City from possible extinction.
“We do not condone his past actions and as a football club we have worked extremely hard to establish ourselves as a well-respected and family-orientated community club.
“Unfortunately, we have no influence over an individual’s past or their ability to publish a book which has not been recognised, or condoned, as an official club release — a matter which will be discussed internally.
“However, since becoming a director of Swansea City, overall Mr Van Zweden has conducted himself impeccably and respectfully for the betterment of the football club.
“No doubt Mr Van Zweden may regret many of his past actions, but he has since gone on to become a director and successful Dutch businessman in his own right.
“Swansea City does not condone any form of hooliganism and has worked tirelessly and diligently over many years to make the Liberty Stadium — and away fixtures - a safe and friendly environment for all supporters.’’ |
Don't mention Greece in 89, I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it ;-)
[Post edited 5 Sep 2014 19:21]
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| John Van Zweden on 19:53 - Sep 5 with 2507 views | exiledclaseboy |
I'd imagine JVZ is pretty chuffed with the article. It's not as if he's trying to keep "his past" a secret because he's put in in his book an no doubt this will help shift a few copies. |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:12 - Sep 5 with 2463 views | Jajess |
Why on earth does he bring this on himself. STFU, would have been a good aproach. Tosser |  | | |
| John Van Zweden on 20:13 - Sep 5 with 2453 views | Darran |
| John Van Zweden on 19:18 - Sep 5 by ScoobyWho |
Oh my lord, this is news isn't it !!!!!
And apparently up until now it was a secret |
Yeah all of Britain knew about this anyway like. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:15 - Sep 5 with 2447 views | oh_tommy_tommy |
Ha ha
The press will build you up only to try & knock you down .
This is commen knowledge & the club should say so& he's a changed man etc.
So back off The Sun or he will kick your head in. |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:24 - Sep 5 with 2418 views | Brynmill_Jack |
Perhaps he will get some work decorating now too |  |
| Each time I go to Bedd - au........................ |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:26 - Sep 5 with 2412 views | union_jack |
| John Van Zweden on 17:00 - Sep 5 by londonlisa2001 |
We're beginning to rattle the big boys and I'm not sure they will like it ......
For anyone saying - this looks crap etc etc - really - compared to the past of the board members of a lot of premier league club, our board are verging on saints. |
Not saying you are wrong, but back it up? |  |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:48 - Sep 5 with 2368 views | ScoobyWho |
| John Van Zweden on 20:13 - Sep 5 by Darran |
Yeah all of Britain knew about this anyway like. |
Not sure what your point is , mine is simple, this is hardly news to many people.
And as ECB says, he put it in his book, and he did it for a reason. He ain't hiding nought. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:51 - Sep 5 with 2359 views | Darran |
| John Van Zweden on 20:48 - Sep 5 by ScoobyWho |
Not sure what your point is , mine is simple, this is hardly news to many people.
And as ECB says, he put it in his book, and he did it for a reason. He ain't hiding nought. |
Yeah it is it's news to many thousands of people. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:53 - Sep 5 with 2357 views | swanny |
| John Van Zweden on 20:51 - Sep 5 by Darran |
Yeah it is it's news to many thousands of people. |
I thought you'd been banned.... |  |
| 'Sorry, your password must contain a capital letter, two numbers, a symbol, an inspiring message, a spell, a gang sign, a hieroglyph and the blood of a virgin" |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:54 - Sep 5 with 2344 views | Darran |
| John Van Zweden on 20:53 - Sep 5 by swanny |
I thought you'd been banned.... |
Shhh don't let on. | |
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| John Van Zweden on 20:57 - Sep 5 with 2332 views | ScoobyWho |
| John Van Zweden on 20:51 - Sep 5 by Darran |
Yeah it is it's news to many thousands of people. |
Ok! I understand. | |
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