Fred Patrick

Fred Patrick ( born July 25, 1965 in Paramaribo, † June 7, 1989 at Zanderij ) was a Dutch- Surinamese football player who played in the Eredivisie for AZ'67 from Alkmaar and PEC Zwolle. He died in a plane crash in Suriname.

Patrick grew up in Amsterdam, where he played for amateur club Neerlandia. There he was discovered by AZ'67; together with Paul Nortan, Jerry de Jong and Sigi Lens he made in Alkmaar De Zwarte young brigade, the "black brigade " of players of Surinamese descent. While de Jong in 1984 moved to Telstar, started for the other three, the professional time at AZ'67. Patrick made ​​his debut in the Eredivisie on 5 September 1984. During the 1-2 home defeat against FC Twente midfielder in the 66 minutes came in to replace Peter Arntz. In AZ he came in the next three seasons, 61 times used. His only goal for the Alkmaar he scored on 9 May 1987 an away game in Venlo for a 1-0 lead in a 2-2 draw. For the season 1988/89 he moved to PEC Zwolle, where in 19 games he scored two goals in his first season. In the season 1988/89 he came up with 20 inserts. His only goal of the season, he scored on the final day, May 21, 1989, for a 1-0 lead against BVV Den Bosch. PEC still lost with 2:3 and dismounted in the Eerste Divisie.

After the season concluded Patrick traveled to Kleurrijk Elftal, a team of players of Surinamese descent who should travel to a friendly tournament in Paramaribo. The visit of the Dutch professional player should support the promotion of football in the former belonging to the Netherlands Republic. On the night of June 7, 1989, the flight was from Amsterdam to Suriname. During the landing approach the plane crashed two kilometers of the Johan Adolf Pengel runway of the International Airport. Fred Patrick and 14 other members of the team were among the 176 fatalities.

In honor of the former player's stadium was named the East Stand by Fred Patrick in the new FC Zwolle.