Soccer. Coupe de France: Lorient Sports, the “second family” of the mayor – football
Coupe de France (6th round). Lorient Sports (R2) – Plédran (R3), Sunday (3 p.m.), in Kerfichant
“More than my recreation, Lorient Sports is my breathing”, says Fabrice Loher bluntly. So, impossible for the mayor (UDI) of Lorient to miss an extremely rare sixth round of the Coupe de France of “his club at heart”: “I had to accompany FC Lorient to Strasbourg, to observe the renovation of the Meinau stadium. We had started to organize things but, after this (historic) qualification, I consider that my place is more in Lorient with my club. For us, it’s an event! There will be a lot of people in Kerfichant… ”. At the height of its 105 years, Lorient Sports would not – as Lorientais remember – reached such a level during the 1972-73 season (eliminated by the professionals of FC Lorient). Or exactly, when the new mayor of « the city of five ports » joined the oldest of the Lorient clubs.
The dean « of the Deans »
“Fabrice is the oldest member of the club,” assures Michel Jégat, the “archivist” of Lorient Sports. Me, I arrived four years after him ”. “I’m 54 years old and I had to take my first license at the age of six. I have been licensed since. Without interruption ! », Confirms Fabrice Loher, not without an ounce of pride. This makes him the dean of “Doyens”, as the members of Lorient Sports are nicknamed.
« More than my recreation, it’s my breathing »
During his (almost) 50 years at the club, Fabrice Loher married various functions, player, of course, but also educator. « And, he was not there for the glory, he hung in there », also remembers Joël Fouillé, his successor at the helm of the club. Because, of course, Fabrice Loher did not limit himself to typing in the leather: he was also a director for a long time. From his last year as a junior, he was president of the supporters’ club. « In a club like ours, it means above all to organize things », resitates the mayor of Lorient. Before becoming its president at the age of 28 for eleven years in office. “I then remained in the ruling movement, before becoming its president again around 2018 for a short year to be of service, when that did not suit me at all. But I couldn’t let the club down. For me, it’s a second family, a great human adventure ”.
For me, Lorient Sports is a second family. It is my club of heart, I built part of my life there, what I am today …
« A team of muscular brains »
A recreation which still regularly leads him to put on his crampons for a few veteran matches, in all modesty. « I was mostly a district player, » admits the former right-back easily. But I had good years in the cadets and juniors, especially in Critérium de l’Ouest. These are my best memories. We had a good trip in Gambardella. «
“It was a team of strong brains, as I called them. They were all highly educated. One was doing Maths Sup, doing Science Po for him… ”, Michel Jégat still remembers.
For me, Lorient Sports is a second family. It’s my heart club, I built part of my life there, what I am today
“My friends at the time have become my friends ever since. We stayed very close. For me, Lorient Sports is a second family. I built part of my life there, which I am today ”.
Michel Jégat confirms again: “Even when he worked in Paris, he never stopped playing for us. He was there almost every Sunday. He never abandoned us. It is a pure! « Who will be there, Sunday, among his family, to support as best he can, those who have taken over on the lawn …
