Résumé:
Joël Leroy, a faithful supporter of AS Monaco, shares his lifelong passion for the club, including over 500 match attendances and an extensive collection of memorabilia.
Histoire complète :
Joël Leroy, a loyal supporter of AS Monaco for over 50 years, has shared his love for the club in an interview with Monaco Tribune. Leroy, originally from Mers-les-Bains in northern France, first became a fan of AS Monaco in 1963 when he watched them on television for the first time. Since then, he has dedicated his time to following and documenting the club’s achievements.
Leroy’s passion for AS Monaco began after watching a match against Lens on TV. He decided to support Monaco and started collecting newspaper clippings about the club, which he still has today. Over the years, he has accumulated 15 notebooks filled with photos and information about the team.
His first away match to support AS Monaco was in 1969 when he traveled to see them play in Valenciennes. Over the years, he has traveled to numerous matches, often alone, and has become a familiar face to the players. Leroy considers AS Monaco to be like a family to him.
Leroy has attended over 500 matches throughout his life, and he recently realized this milestone during the last game of the 2023-2024 season. His late wife had kept all his tickets, which he treasures.
Regarding the future, Leroy is excited about the upcoming Champions League matches and is looking forward to reliving the club’s past European successes. He also expressed his sadness about the departure of Wissam Ben Yedder, who he believes could have made a significant impact in the Champions League.
Leroy has many fond memories, including interacting with coaches and players like Arsène Wenger and Didier Deschamps. However, one thing he still hopes to achieve as a fan is to have his photo taken with Prince Albert II, which would symbolize the completion of his journey as a supporter. He has been informed that he will be invited to the club’s centennial celebration, an event he is eagerly anticipating.
Source:
Monaco Tribune
