Inspiring a struggling team took a new turn when Dutch side RKC Waalwijk hosted FC Emmen and the footballers on the pitch were joined by a host of lingerie models. Most football teams come onto the pitch with young mascots but this certainly was a different take on the pre-match ritual.
The stunt was coordinated by one of the sponsors for the Dutch second division side (RKC Waalwijk) for Valentine’s Day and the models posed for the shutterbugs before and after the game, which certainly increased the glamour quotient of the game.
RKC Waalwijk, who were bottom of the second division coming into the game also tried to drum up support with another novel scheme of providing free tickets to any women who were to attend the game.
Both ideas failed to inspire the players on the pitch as Waalwijk ended up losing against Emmen and stay rooted to the bottom of the Eerste Divisie (Second division) standings. The home team were relegated from the Eredivisie (First division) at the end of the 2013-14 season and were also rock bottom of the Eerste Divisie last season but escaped relegation.
The side though were saved from going into the Topklasse (lower division) as the winners of the Topklasse declined the chance of going into professional soccer. It seems a similar story will follow Waalwijk this season as well but at least they have one unique tale coming out of their rather dire season.
Supporters though will hope that such promotions can motivate the players as they look to somehow get off the bottom of the table. Waalwikj haven’t won a game since the 16th of January when they beat SC Telstar and next face the Go Ahead Eagles on the 20th of February in the league.
