2026-07-05, 01:49 PM - Word count:
We had a reality check on the pitch over the last two matchdays. After our opening win, we hit a rough patch, losing 1-2 to F.C. Kaapstad at home and getting thoroughly beaten 5-1 away by AS Paris. My own performance mirrored the team's slide. While I managed a goal and an assist against London during a cup fixture earlier in the week, the league match against Paris was tough.
To clear my head this weekend, I did something completely different. My home collection has gotten completely out of hand, the shelves are running out of space, and my wife was losing her patience with the clutter. Because I’ve spent years collecting all types of books and vintage comics from charity shops and flea markets, I decided it was time to share a part of this vast treasure trove of knowledge and humor. Today, I set up a stall at the Dordrecht book market (Dordtse Boekenmarkt) to part with a big chunk of my collection.
I wasn’t looking to make a massive profit, so I sold everything with a very small markup just to make people happy. Naturally, quite a few football fans recognized me. We ended up having fantastic conversations about all kinds of topics. Depending on the person, age, and gender I could be talking about football tactics, old Dutch football memories, or literature one at the time or even all at the same time. This experience boosted my mental to a good state. However, this would not be the only way this day made me feel on top of the world again.
A lot of people were genuinely surprised by how diverse my stall was. Because I’m a veteran of the game, I brought along some serious nostalgia. I had old Fred Julsing comic strips like Okkie and classic stories of him that used to run in the old Taptoe magazines. Alongside my old Donald Ducks, Suske en Wiske albums, and Douwe Dabbert comics, I had piles of Dutch literature ranging from Gerard Reve and Gerrit Komrij to Jeroen Brouwers and Jan Mulder. The crowd also loved the weirder stuff I’ve picked up over the years: Parody books like The Timewaster Letters or Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, and picture books dedicated to weird British street signs, odd American roadside art, or vintage advertisement illusions.
Standing at that stall all day reminded me a lot of our current situation in the Minor League. A football season, much like a giant flea market, is full of unpredictable pieces. Some matchdays are brilliant classics, and others are just weird anomalies you want to clear off the shelf as quickly as possible. It was an amazing day to connect with people over a shared love of print, comedy, and sport. Getting rid of the extra weight on my shelves has given me a lot of mental clarity. Now that the clutter is sorted at home, it’s time to head back to the training ground. I will train hard with a new sense of purpose and we will fix the defensive leaks. That's how we are getting Krung Thep FC back into the win column.
Market Success: 5/5 Next Week:TBD
To clear my head this weekend, I did something completely different. My home collection has gotten completely out of hand, the shelves are running out of space, and my wife was losing her patience with the clutter. Because I’ve spent years collecting all types of books and vintage comics from charity shops and flea markets, I decided it was time to share a part of this vast treasure trove of knowledge and humor. Today, I set up a stall at the Dordrecht book market (Dordtse Boekenmarkt) to part with a big chunk of my collection.
I wasn’t looking to make a massive profit, so I sold everything with a very small markup just to make people happy. Naturally, quite a few football fans recognized me. We ended up having fantastic conversations about all kinds of topics. Depending on the person, age, and gender I could be talking about football tactics, old Dutch football memories, or literature one at the time or even all at the same time. This experience boosted my mental to a good state. However, this would not be the only way this day made me feel on top of the world again.
A lot of people were genuinely surprised by how diverse my stall was. Because I’m a veteran of the game, I brought along some serious nostalgia. I had old Fred Julsing comic strips like Okkie and classic stories of him that used to run in the old Taptoe magazines. Alongside my old Donald Ducks, Suske en Wiske albums, and Douwe Dabbert comics, I had piles of Dutch literature ranging from Gerard Reve and Gerrit Komrij to Jeroen Brouwers and Jan Mulder. The crowd also loved the weirder stuff I’ve picked up over the years: Parody books like The Timewaster Letters or Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, and picture books dedicated to weird British street signs, odd American roadside art, or vintage advertisement illusions.
Standing at that stall all day reminded me a lot of our current situation in the Minor League. A football season, much like a giant flea market, is full of unpredictable pieces. Some matchdays are brilliant classics, and others are just weird anomalies you want to clear off the shelf as quickly as possible. It was an amazing day to connect with people over a shared love of print, comedy, and sport. Getting rid of the extra weight on my shelves has given me a lot of mental clarity. Now that the clutter is sorted at home, it’s time to head back to the training ground. I will train hard with a new sense of purpose and we will fix the defensive leaks. That's how we are getting Krung Thep FC back into the win column.
Market Success: 5/5 Next Week:TBD
In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia, even the guillotine.
