FC Eindhoven is a professional club from the city of
Eindhoven, in the east of The Netherlands. The club were formed on the 16th
November 1909, five years before neighbours PSV, as EVV, or Eindhovense Voetbal
Vereniging, starting out playing in the regional Brabantse Voetbalbond.
Within a couple of years EVV had progressed to the NVB
national competition. In 1921 the club merged with local side Gestel to become
EVV Eindhoven. 1937 saw the first honour arrive at the club as they lifted the
KNVB Cup by defeating De Spartaan 1-0. Two years later they ended fourth in the
league play off.
Throughout this period EVV were the biggest club in the
city as they competed in the Lichtstad, or City of Light Derby.
In 1954 EVV were the last champions of the old national
league before the introduction of professional football to Holland. However in
1957 the club were relegated to the Eerste Divisie. Things were to get worse as
they went down to the third tier Tweede Divisie in 1969, before climbing back
in 1971.
1975 saw Rinus Gosen’s EVV Eindhoven team reach the
Eredivisie, but there spell in the top flight lasted just two seasons. A decade
later EVV took the decision to become an amateur club, but a new professional
club SBV Eindhoven (Stichting
Betaald Voetbal Eindhoven) was formed to replace them, changing their name to
FC Eindhoven in 2002. Two years later the club set up a deal with PSV to allow
the swapping of youth players between the clubs.
2009-10 saw FC
Eindhoven under head coach, former Dutch international Jan Poortvliet, reach
the end of season play offs, but they were defeated 3-2 on aggregate by Willem
II. In 2011-12 they narrowly missed out on promotion as they ended in third
place.
Jean Paul de
Jong arrived at the Jan Louwers Stadion in the summer of 2013 after a poor
previous campaign saw the team finish third from bottom of the table.
FC Eindhoven
will play in the Eerste Divisie (First Division) in the 2013-14 season.
My visit
Jong PSV 0 De
Graafschap 2 (Monday 20th January 2014) Eerste Divisie (att: 250)
I was on the fourth
day of a most enjoyable journey around The Netherlands visitng clubs and
watching games. I’d already been to visit grounds in Groesbeek, Nijmegen, Uden
and Veghel. Fortunately buses were on my side and I arrived in Eindhoven
earlier than schedule, so although the light was closing in I decided to head
down to FC Eindhoven.
A kind lady
invited me in to take photos and comment that she'd maybe see me later for the
match? It turned out that had been moved from Philips Stadion, which was a
shock and a disappointment as I had it down as one of the highlights of my
visit. However, these things come to test us, so I headed to Philips Stadion to
collect my ticket and book into my digs for a much needed siesta.
After a bite
to eat it was time to catch the bus back to the south of the city. After a mix
up I found the right stop, with the no.171 dropping me at the Theo Koomenlaan
stop, just a short walk away. I was slightly perturbed to see only a couple of
others getting off and then see an empty stadium under the lights through a gap
in the corner.
I entered the
ground by the corner of the Main Stands with my €10 ticket. It was the only
side apparently open. A kind steward by the players tunnel went to get me a
free teamsheet, as no programmes had been printed. I climbed up the steps at
the front to survey the scene.
The Jan
Louwers Stadion, named after a former player and businessman, was a perfect
size for a club of FC Eindhoven’s status. The original Main Stand was a raised
seating deck, with two newer additions on either side filling the whole of one
side. Similar newer stands were behind the south goal, which half of which was
segregated by a basic electronic scoreboard for away fans, and along the far
touchline. The north end had no spectator facilities, but the large sports
centre had windows facing the pitch.
It’s fair to
say that there wasn’t much of an atmosphere inside the sparsely populated
stadium. The away section had just seven De Graafschap fans in it, with four stewards
looking after them!
The first half
was really poor, and it was cold. De Graafscap were coached by ex Aberdeen boss
Jimmy Calderwood, while Bolo Zenden was Jong PSV's second it command. The head
coach was Darije Kaleziæ who had a disastrous two month spell in charge at
Stockport County a year or two previously.
I managed to
talk my way into the immaculate club bar at the top of the stand for the second
half. It was like the member’s area of a cricket ground with free nuts on the
bar and an area to watch the game through the glass. I did my bit for league
sponsors Jupiler over the following hour or so. Indeed, I did my best to remain
a fine diplomat. There were no cash transactions, so I had to purchase tokens,
or munts as they’re called. I miscalculated how many I needed, but managed to
return some of them. The beer was excellent.
After the
break the poor affair came to life when PSV were awarded a penalty, but Alex
Schalk's effort just about reached the keeper. The game looked certain to be a
draw before defender Vlatko Lazik broke a challenge near the half way line and
went on a run before slotting the ball through Benjamin van Leer's legs into
the net with five minutes to go. A few cheers went up in the bar from those visiting
from Doetinchem who'd used common sense and avoided the cold. Nathan Kabasele
made it 2-0 with a minute to go.
I retired to
the highly recommended De Gaper pub, which had eight beers on draught and 185
whiskies. The fifteen year old Bowmore malt ended the day well. It was over the
road from my budget hotel near to the Philips Stadion. Local fans seemed amazed
at my adventures. I lasted until closing time as my new pals insisted I hung
around while we picked each others brains talking about the beautiful game.
To read about
Jong PSV’s senior team, go to:
http://worldgroundhoptwo.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/PSV%20%28Holland%29
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