VV
Nieuwerkerk is a Dutch amateur football club from the town of Nieuwerkerk aan
den Ijssel, which is located on the right bank of the Hollandse Ijssel river,
around ten kilometres
Football
in the town had a rich heritage, with the game being played in informal mode at 's-Gravenweg, de Kerklaan and de Vijf Boeken. Some years later a team called
DOS was formed from workers at 'De Struischvogel' glassworks. When the factory
went bankrupt, the team ceased.
The
club trundled along for several decades playing Zondag (Sunday) Vierde (fourth)
and Vijfde (fifth) klasse football. In 2008-09 the team led by Ed Graper won
the Vijfde klasse title. In 2001-02 coach Willem den Besten’s side won the
Vierde klasse championship.
In
the 2011-12 season, De Rode Boeren were promoted to the Tweede klasse. The run
nearly continued the following season, but Nieuwerkerk were defeated in the
play-offs 3-1 to DVC at the home of VV Cappelle in front of 3,000 spectators.
Ron
Timmers was in charge of the team in 2006-07 as the team finished as runners-up
in Tweede klasse before losing out 4-2 in the play-offs to ADO Den Haag
Amateurs. Club membership reached the 1,000 mark in 2006 as Nieuwerkerk
continued to prosper.
At
last the club won the Tweede klasse title in 2010-11, seeing off nearest
challengers Jai Hind Rotterdam. After a couple of seasons finishing as
runners-up in the 1e klasse B, Nieuwerkerk won promotion to the Hoofdklasse at
the culmination of the 2014-15 season.
Their spell at the higher level would last just one season as Nieuwerkerk were relegated through the play-offs to Zondag Eerste klasse B where a fifth place finish was achieved which was backed up with third place in 2017-18.
The club decided to switch to Saturday football, winning the 4E Klasse F title in 2018-19 to progress to 3E Klasse C where they were in second place when the season was ended early owing to the Coronavirus outbreak.
VV
Nieuwerkerk will play in Zaterdag 3E Klasse C West 2 in the 2020-21 season.
My
visit
Friday
29th January 2016
It
was only a few days before my departure that I came across both BVV Barendrecht
of the Topklasse and VV Nieuwerkerk who competed in the Hoofdklasse. Both
venues seemed reasonably accessible from Rotterdam Centraal station and worth a
visit.
I
only just caught the train east, which went by Alexander station, which I’d
gone by on my way into Rotterdam the previous day. If only I’d have researched
a bit more! It was a sixteen minute journey on the Sprinter train to
Nieuwerkerk aan den Ijssel before another twelve minute walk along Batavierlaan
to Sportpark Dorrestein.
The
venue had two full sized artificial pitches, three more for juniors and three
full sized turf pitches aside from the main arena. Hockey was also catered for
with two artificial pitches. It really was a tremendous venue. Naturally there
was a large dressing room block and clubhouse, which backed onto the first team
pitch.
This
also had a fine raised seated main stand down one side with the rest of the
ground been made up of open hard standing being backed by raised advertising
boards surrounding its artificial pitch. Although the ground was locked I got a great view over the wire gate
from one end.
As
trains only ran every half hour I was soon on my way. Despite carrying my
rucksack to save on another discussion with staff at Rotterdam station, I made
the train with plenty of time to spare and had to hide from the inclement
weather.
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