“The distinction between reserve matches and first-team games is all about the atmosphere,” stated defender Adam Eckersley. “In the first team, you feel valued. You’re fulfilling a role, competing for points, for people’s livelihoods, and even for the manager’s position. We’d have 6,000 or 7,000 fans at Antwerp, compared to just 300 at Altrincham for the United reserves. I viewed my career as a ladder, and this was another rung upward.”
Being away from family and friends naturally gave the loan players plenty of free time. Bistiaux humorously remarked that the young players “explored the charming city, savored delicious Belgian cuisine, and occasionally hit the clubs.” Striker Fraizer Campbell, however, shared some wild stories from his time living with Jonny Evans, Darron Gibson, and Danny Simpson.
“I remember one day we were feeling a bit restless, so we went to a toy store and bought super soakers and water balloons. We ended up driving around the streets, soaking people from the car,” Campbell recalled. “Then we got a call from the manager asking, ‘What on earth are you doing?’ It didn’t help that we were cruising around in a car with the team logo on the side. Nonetheless, those experiences contributed to my growth; some of the most formative moments in my life happened there.”
While nurturing individual talents was important for United, the overall success of Antwerp was always the primary concern for the club’s fans. Witnessing these skilled young loanees give their all for the team endeared many of them to the hearts of Antwerp supporters.
<p“Some players gained a significant fan following,” noted Bistiaux. “Danny Higginbotham, Luke Chadwick—who was instrumental in our promotion in 1999/2000—and Fraizer Campbell are just a few examples. I could also mention Danny Simpson, Jonny Evans, John O’Shea, Kirk Hilton, Phil Bardsley, and Ryan Shawcross. They all became very popular figures among the fans.”
