Steven de Bruin

Flamingo since 2007

Born on the cricket ground

When you have ACC stalwarts like Max de Bruin senior and Max de Bruin junior as your grandfather and father, you cannot help being heavily infected with the cricket virus, and that was no different for Steven. Grandpa is honourary chairman and father of ACC, rewards they have more than earned through years of loyal service. All three are members of the Flamingos, Max sr. only since 2020. A bit late, everyone thought. Steven: "I was born at the cricket club. As a small man I looked up to big men like Flavian Aponso and Roy Dias. I was always on the field or in the changing rooms, sometimes slept in my father's cricket bag between his leg guards and jerseys. When I was at school, I often ran fast to my nearby house during recess to catch the sounds of Booker T and the MGs and their Soul Limbo at noon, a sure sign that a Test Match was about to begin.”

Just not good enough

Steven developed into a more than creditable left-hand opener and his wicket keepers also attracted attention. His great examples at the time were Matthew Hayden, Mark Boucher and Ian Healy. He enjoyed a four-week stay in England, where he enjoyed cricket lessons at the European Academy with Alexei Kervezee. The highlight of that year was 127 in a two-day against the Second XI of Warwickshire, a performance that fuelled the urge in him to become a professional and reach the Dutch XI. 

"When I was fifteen, I made my debut in the premier league in ACC. In May 2011, I was selected for the Dutch national team. In a four-day against Scotland I scored a thoughtful 30. Fairly okay, but it was already clear to me that I would never become a permanent fixture. The undeniable talent I showed in my early years did not come to fruition. Until 2013 I continued to play for ACC. Unfortunately, I never made it to a century in the main class. I got stuck against Hermes at 78. In the meantime, I had completed my business administration studies at the VU and working life was calling."

Beautiful trips with Flamingos

Steven became a Flamingo member in 2007 after a tour led by the skilled entertainer and former top cricketer Jacob-Jan Esmeijer. The Flamingo atmosphere is no stranger to him, because during the tours he experienced in his youth, he had already met cricket fanatics and Flamingo members such as Derick Maarleveld, Ed de Moura Correia, Gijs Tettelaar, Albert van Nierop jr. and coach Roland Lefebvre. And that took him to faraway places such as India, Kenya and South Africa. These were beautiful experiences, and the exotic destinations left deep impressions. As did the Flamingo Junior Tournament in which he participated from the age of sixteen and once excelled so much that he was named the best player.

Future of the Flamingos

The Flamingos came back to prominence in his mind around 2015 through a survey by Derick Maarleveld and Lucas Hendrikse in which a number of pressing issues were raised. "I was confronted with the facts when I read questions such as: How would you like it if The Flamingos no longer existed in a while? What do you expect from De Flamingos? And What would you like to do yourself?"

The cries of the heart seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, because not long afterwards Steven was made competition secretary. In that position he benefited significantly from the contacts of new Flamingo chairman Wulf van Alkemade, who often arranged a great match, on an impressive field, with one phone call to one of his countless contacts. There was a new impetus in the club, as shown during the 2016 tour to England. There we played, against old rivals such as the MCC and The Free Foresters and enjoyed an impressive black-tie dinner at The Oval on the 160th anniversary of the latter club. 

It was a tour full of great matches, played in a pleasant atmosphere due to the presence of many cricketers and golfers who really meant something to the club. Once again, it became clear just how well the different layers of De Flamingos understand each other.

The New Decade

When Wulf became chairman of De Flamingos in 2016, it was intended that he would be succeeded after one year. As stated elsewhere in this book, things were different, and it might have happened that Steven did not receive a request to succeed Wulf. His first reaction: "I'm busy. How can I combine this with my job? "His second, after careful consideration," I am doing it. With Wulf as vice-chairman by his side, Steven led the Flamingos into the new decade. Steven: "After a transition period, I will take the helm. The Flamingos are in good shape. I will strive to keep it that way. "