FC Eindhoven (Holland)

FC Eindhoven is a professional club from the city of the same name, from the east of the Netherlands. The club was formed on the 16th November 1909, as EVV, or Eindhovense Voetbal Vereniging, five years before neighbours PSV, starting out playing in the regional Brabantse Voetbalbond.

By 1912-13 EVV had joined the NVB national competition as a team in the Derde, third klasse. Promotion was won in their second season where a couple of runners-up spots came in 2E Klasse B before they lifted the league title in 1921-22.

This came after the club merged with local side Gestel at the start of the season to become EVV Eindhoven. The promotion placed the club in Eerste Klasse Zuid, one of five regional divisions, from which each winner played in a group to decide the Dutch champions.

The team finished as Zuid runners-up in 1931-32, prior to moving to their home ground at Aalsterweg in 1934. 1936-37 saw the first honour arrive at the club as they lifted the KNVB Cup by defeating De Spartaan 1-0.

In 1938-39 Eindhoven finished fourth in the championship play-off after winning the Zuid title prior to finishing regional runners-up the following season. The 1941-42 campaign saw another Zuid championship before finishing as Dutch runners-up.

The championship was extended post War to include six regional sections with EVV finishing Eerste Klasse Zuid I runners-up in 1947-48 followed by another second place in the streamlined competition in Eerste Klasse E.

The competition was cut to four sections in 1951-52 with EVV coming second in Eerste Klasse C before winning the Klasse D title in 1952-53 before ending as national runners-up. Eindhoven retained their Klasse D top spot before being crowned as national champions in 1953-54 under coach Wim Groenendijk.

Throughout this period EVV were the biggest club in the city as they competed in the Lichtstad, or City of Light Derby. The club provided Dutch internationals Noud van Melis, Frans Tebak and Dick Snoek as professional football was introduced in the Netherlands.

The goals of Jan Louwers helped Eindhoven to the Eerste klasse D in 1954-55 before the competition was cut to two Hoofdklasses the following season so to get to one national Eredivisie for 1956-57 Eindhoven finished bottom and were relegated to the Eerste Divisie.

A sixth place in 1961-62 in section A under coach Jan Bijl was timed well to allow Eindhoven to maintain their status as the division was cut to one section for the following season. The team comfortably held their own for many seasons before being relegated in 1968-69.

English coach Lesley Talbot was appointed to try and restore Eindhoven’s status with his side finishing third in 1970-71 which was enough to restore Eerste Divisie football. Hans Alleman took over as coach for a season before being replaced by Rinus Gosens.

The goals of Anton Jacobs helped the side to promotion to the Eredivisie via the play-offs in 1974-75. Their spell lasted two seasons before being relegated in 1976-77 where future international Cees Schapendonk scored the goals upon their Eerste Divisie return.

The team drifted along in mid table before finishing bottom of the table in 1984-85 at which point 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 while retaining the old clubs league position.

League placings improved year on year with coach Jacques de Wit in his third spell at the club taking his side to fifth place in 1989-90 before Mario Verlijsdonk’s side missed out on promotion via the play-offs twelve months later.

It was the same result in 1991-92 with Chris Dekker in charge of the team with the next unsuccessful play-off campaign for promotion coming under the tutelage of Willem Leushuis in 1997-98 before the club changed their name to FC Eindhoven in 2002. In 2004 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 with Ernest Faber at the helm.

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. His side reached the play-offs in 2013-14 where they were defeated by Sparta Rotterdam.

A league runners-up spot followed in 2014-15 but FC Volendam came out on top in the play-offs. Mitchell van der Gaag took over as coach in the summer of 2015 as the goals of Jinty Caenepeel took Eindhoven back to the play-offs which ended in defeat to NAC Breda.

Mart Lieder finished as the league top scorer in 2017-18 under coach Wilfred van Leeuwen who was then replaced by David Nascimento. Eindhoven, coached by former international Ernie Brandts were in thirteenth place when the COVID-19 pandemic abandoned the 2019-20 season.

FC Eindhoven will play in the Eerste Divisie in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Jong PSV 0 De Graafschap 2 (Monday 20^th 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 it 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 headed back and 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, click here:

PSV (Holland)

Philips Sport Vereniging or PSV or even PSV Eindhoven is one of the most prominent football clubs in The Netherlands. The club were formed on August 31st 1913, originally as Philips Eftal until 1916.

This was shortly after the team was relegated from Tweede, second klasse football, from where they recovered in 1917-18 prior to winning promotion to Eerste Klasse Zuid in 1920-21 with Wout Buitenweg in charge of the team.

Eerste Klasse Zuid was one of five top tier regional divisions from where each winner played in a group to decide the Dutch champions. Despite being relegated in 1924-25, they regained their status at the first attempt. Frans Otten became chairman of the Philips sports organisation and set about setting high standards of play and facilities.

In 1928-29 PSV reached the championship play offs after finishing top of the Zuid table, with a win over Velocitas seeing them crowned as champions for the first time. A second success arrived at Philips Sportspark in 1934-35 following a championship victory over DWS.

The first post war triumph came in 1949-50 as the KNVB Beker (Cup) was lifted for the first time as HFC Haarlem were beaten 4-3 under English coach Sam Wadsworth. The following season saw a third championship title as Willem II were defeated in the deciding match with Coen Dillen’s goals proving invaluable.

He departed in 1961 by which time Ben van Gelder had taken over the running of the organisation as players from nationwide joined the club for the first time and the club embraced professionalism.

A 5-2 victory over Ajax in June 1963 sealed a fourth national title for PSV under the management of Bram Appel as head coach. After a couple of other coaches had spells at the helm, Kurt Linder arrived at Philips Stadion in 1968.

His side lost two KNVB finals; to Feyenoord in 1968-69 and Ajax in 1969-70, as well reaching a European Cup Winners Cup semi-final in 1970-71. Kees Rijvers was appointed as head coach in 1972 as he signed the brothers Willy and Rene van der Kerkhof and Ralf Edstrom to augment the likes of Jan van Beveran and Willy Van der Kuijlen.

The team won the 1973-74 KNVB Beker with a 6-0 hammering of NAC Breda as van der Kuijlen netted a hat trick, before going on to win the Eredivisie title the following campaign as well as reaching another Cup Winners Cup semi-final.

In 1975-76 PSV returned to De Kuip to lift the Beker once again; this time by courtesy of a 1-0 extra time win against Roda JC thanks to an Edström goal to complete the double after securing the clubs sixth league triumph.

The team narrowly missed out on a European Cup Final as they bowed out to St Etienne 1-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. In 1977-78 PSV won the league and ended unbeaten as well as claiming their first European trophy.

After a Nick Deacy goal proved decisive against FC Barcelona in the semi-final, Bastia were beaten 3-0 on aggregate to lift the UEFA Cup with the goals coming from Willy van de Kerkhof, Willy van der Kuijlen and Gerrie Deijkers.

After a few seasons without success, Hans Kraay was appointed as the new director of football. He immediately looked to sign players of flair such as Ruud Gullit, Soren Lerby, Gerald Vanenberg and Eric Gerets. The Eredivisie was sealed in 1985-86 under coach Jan Reker with Hallvar Thoresen chipping in with his share of goals.

Gullit departed during the following season to AC Milan as Guus Hiddink came in as head coach, signing Ronald Koeman and leading the side to another championship in 1987-88 with Wim Kieft finishing as Eredivisie top scorer.

The 1987-88 campaign proved to be the greatest in the clubs’ history. The Eredivisie was won with ease and the KNVB Beker was lifted against Roda JC 3-2 as Gerets’ brace was added to by a Lerby goal. The icing on the cake was the European Cup campaign.

Victories over Fenerbahce, Rapid Wien, Bordeaux and Real Madrid set up a final against Benfica in Stuttgart. The game ended 0-0 but PSV lifted the trophy on penalties after Hans Van Breukelen proved to be the hero in goal.

To see the victory against Benfica in the 1988 European Cup Final, click here:

In 1989 PSV signed the Brazilian Romário, prior to going on to lift the 1989-90 KNVB Cup with a 1-0 victory against Vitesse thanks to a Stan Valckx penalty. Hiddink departed afterwards to be replaced by England boss Bobby Robson.

Robson’s rein lasted two seasons at the Philips Stadion, leading the team to the Eredivisie titles in 1990-91 and 1991-92 with Juul Ellerman and Kalusha Bwalya helping out with goals. Romário departed to FC Barcelona in 1993.

Dick Advocaat took over team affairs in the 1994-95 campaign, taking the team to another KNVB Beker win in 1995-96 with a 5-2 win against Sparta Rotterdam, with a young Ronaldo up front, before leaving for FC Barcelona.

With the likes of Phillip Cocu, Jaap Stam, Boudewijn Zenden and Wim Jonk in the team and Luuc Nillis leading the scoring charts with assistance from strike partner Marcelo Silva Ramos, PSV won the Eredivisie title in the 1996-97 season.

The players were sold on as Advocaat departed, as he was replaced by former playing hero Eric Gerets. A young Ruud van Nistelrooy broke onto the scene to provide the goals. A fifteenth Eredivisie was secured in 1999-00, with PSV retaining the crown the following season.

Gerets departed with Hiddink returning and Arjen Robben and Park Si-Jung arriving. The team won the league in 2002-03 with Hiddink’s squad adding another title in 2004-05.

From 2005 one specific seat in the stadium - Section D, Row 22, Seat 43 — was kept permanently empty. This was the seat occupied by former Philips chairman Frits Philips. During the latter part of his life, he chose not to use any of the stadium's hospitality facilities and instead took his place in the general crowd.

After his death at the age of 100, the PSV administration chose to keep his seat empty as a tribute. In effect the Philips Stadium was "his house". The first ever kick off at the stadium had been made by him, as an eight year old.

The KNVB Beker was captured in 2004-05 with a 4-0 win against Willem II as a fine side including the likes of Mark van Bommel, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Dennis Rommedahl and Lee Young-Pyo impressed.

PSV came agonisingly close to reaching the Champions League final in 2005-06 but were thwarted in the semi-final by AC Milan. Solace came by way of yet another Eredivisie triumph that arrived at the club with Jefferson Farfán leading the scoring.

The league title was retained in 2006-07 before Ronald Koeman came in to replace Hiddink as the team went on to make in four Eredivisie titles in a row with goals coming from Danny Koevermans and Kenneth Pérez.

Koeman departed to Valencia in October 2008, to be replaced for a short spell by Huub Stevens, before Fred Rutten took over. Towards the end of Rutten’s reign much money was spent on new signings without success, leading to the return of Advocaat after a caretaker spell from Cocu.

The team went on to lift the KNVB Cup in 2012 with a 3-0 win over Heracles Almelo at De Kuip with the goals being provided by Nils Toivonen, Dries Mertens and Jeremain Lens. van Bommel returned to the club but Advocaat’s team ended up as runners up in both Eredivisie and then Beker after a 2-1 defeat to AZ.

Cocu was named as permanent head coach in the summer of 2013. At the same time Jong PSV, the clubs under 23 team were admitted into the Eerste Divisie to help raise the standards of the league and to help younger players develop in senior football.

Cocu took the team to the 2014-15 Eredivisie title, for the first time in seven years to end the previous four year dominance of Ajax with the trio of Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum putting away the chances created by Jetro Willems and Luciano Narsingh.

The title was retained in 2015-16 aided by the creativity of Jürgen Locadia and Andrés Guardado and goalkeeping of Jeroen Zoet. Cocu picked up a third Eredivisie title as coach in 2017-18 with the goals coming from Hirving Lozano and Marco van Ginkel.

Former player Mark van Bommel took over as coach with his team ending as league runners-up in 2018-19 before he was replaced by Ernest Faber in the Eredivisie winter break in 2019-20. The season was ended prematurely owing to the COVID-19 pandemic with PSV sitting in fourth place with Donyell Malen leading the scoring.

PSV will play in the Eredivisie for the 2020-21 season.

My visits

Friday 6th July 1990

I visited the Philips Stadion with my brother Nick after we had travelled to Italia 90 on the trains and we were now returning home. On the train journey on the way to Cologne a couple of weeks earlier, we had noticed the proximity of the stadium to the railway station. 

We were due to change trains in Utrecht for our last ride on foreign soil to reach Rotterdam and our ferry back to Hull. I checked out the timetable I was eventually mastering and we realised we could kill some time in Eindhoven. It seemed a good idea to see where Bobby Robson would be working for the foreseeable future.

Unbelievably we had one ticket for the World Cup Final with us. Nick had agreed to try and sell it for one of our pals we had met in Italy, but because there was only one, no travel firms were interested. Do they really think we’d have looked to sell it if there’d have been two of them?

We walked round to the stadium and saw an open gate. A club worker was standing nearby so we approached him and explained where we’d been and asked if it was OK if we had a look inside. He said it was fine and seemed a friendly chap. It was a relief not to be asked if we were hooligans for the first time in twenty four hours.

We went inside the ground behind a goal. The stadium was extremely smart and functional. There was benched seating on three sides while the other was taken up by a large two tiered stand divided by corporate boxes. There was a section of terracing which was heavily segregated for away fans in one corner. Philips heaters hung from the roof to keep fans warm in the winter.

We continued on to Rotterdam to catch the ferry to take us back to Blighty. It had been a long tiring trip and I was glad to be returning!

Monday 20^th January 2014

My planning and improvisation had been absolutely top notch, even if I said so myself. The Philips Stadion was to stage PSV’s under 19 team, Jong PSV’s Eerste Divisie live TV game against De Graafschap on a cold Monday evening. 

My budget room at Broodje Smits was just a clearance or an England players penalty kick away. I was looking forward to seeing a game in the magnificent arena, twenty four years after my previous call.

However, before hand I decided to visit the Jan Louwers Stadion on arrival in the city. This was the base of the city’s ‘second’ club FC Eindhoven and dropping in would save me time before my flight the following morning.

I was very glad to make the decision, as when I to the kind lady who let me inside to take photos that I was going to the game, she broke the news that it had been moved there. This was not what I wanted to hear. However, I had to call back at the Philips Stadion to collect my ticket anyway. 

With nothing left to lose I decided I’d try and get inside for a look if nothing else. I couldn’t see any open gates at a place that had doubled in size since 1990. Seeing a groundsman I attracted his attention. He said he couldn’t let me in, but he told me that a bar by gate 7 would offer me views inside.

After taking the lift I entered the empty bar and restaurant. The kind lady showed me to the door at the front and told me to help myself taking photos. I’m glad that I made the effort. On my previous visit, only one side was two tiered. Now all four sides were, with boxes dividing the two levels. The corners were filled in a continuous rake downstairs. 

The latest addition had been to complete the upper corners in 2001 with a window blind type arrangement with gaps between the rows allowing air to flow inside to assist the pitch’s growth. The bright lamps were on the pitch and turned on, giving off a yellow glow.

I departed to collect my match ticket from the huge store on production of an email allowing me to obtain one as a non member. I presumed that this indicated that the fixture would be categorised as high risk. How little I knew!

To read about the Jong PSV v De Graafschap match, click here:

Unfortunately, I have had to use images from the internet to supplement this post of the Philips Stadion as it was on my first call, as I cannot locate the ones I took at the time. 

NEC (Holland)

Nijmegense Eendracht Combinatie, or NEC as the club are more commonly known are a professional football club from the city of Nijmegen, which is located near to the German border in the east of The Netherlands.

Eendracht were formed on the 15^th November 1900, going on to merge with Nijmegen in 1910 to form NEC. The club were the domain of the working class, whereas the game at the time was quite elitist, with neighbours Quick 1888 amongst others created by industrialists and the middle class.

Eendracht (meaning unity) had been successful despite having little money. The small subscriptions went towards buying a new football from time to time. The Nijmegen club had been formed by those feeling out of place at Quick.

Gradually the club found its feet and purchased some land on Hazenkampseweg to build their own base. Membership grew but the team was denied promotion to the top level of football in the east of the country. To reach the first division, clubs had to win play off matches against other regional winners. NEC missed out in 1927-28, 1928-29, 1930-31, and 1933-34.

Finally in 1935-36 NEC reached the top level, going on to win the East title in 1938-39. NEC ended third in the title deciders behind Ajax and DWS. On the resumption of football after World War Two, NEC won consecutive East titles, becoming one of the foremost clubs in the country.

Professional football arrived in Holland in 1954, but NEC was not in the best of states at the time. They only just avoided being left behind in the amateurs at the last minute as the club moved into the Goffertstadion or De Goffert as the locals call it. In the early 60’s the club began to grow as the local authority recognised the importance of the club to the city.

A promotion was won in 1962-63 as long serving coach Jan Remmers began to make his mark, before NEC reached Eredivisie for the first time in 1966-67. Hans Venneker put away the goals for the promoted side prior to Jürgen Jendrossek leading the line.

Wiel Coerver took over as coach in the summer of 1970 as Theo de Jong scored regularly for a side that saw the development of youngsters Jan Peters and Frans Thijssen who pulled in full houses regularly at Stadion de Goffert.

The team reached the 1972-73 KNVB Beker Final as strong favourites, but NAC Breda pulled off a shock by winning 2-0 at De Kuip. The star players were sold on and crowds began to drop which led to NEC being relegated in 1973-74.

However, the goals of Jan Hoogendoorn for Piet de Visser’s team went a long way to the Eerste Divisie title win and promotion at the first time of asking. The team coached by Hans Croon and then Leen Looijen maintained their top flight status, albeit towards the wrong end of the table.

Pim van de Meent was at the helm when the team went down in 1982-83 despite reaching a second KNVB Beker final. Ajax won both games 3-1 to take the beaker 6-2 on aggregate. Yet a loophole in the competition meant that NEC played in the European Cup the following season where FC Barcelona ended their run.

NEC recovered to win the play-off group in 1984-85 to return to the Eredivisie where they lasted just twelve months. Sandor Popovics was the coach when the team missed out on promotion in the play-offs in 1986-87.

The side made no mistake through the same route in 1988-89 under returning coach Looijen. NEC survived the relegation play-off on their return before going down in 1990-91. Once again, the play-offs offered a route for promotion that was taken in 1993-94.

The same season saw the team in another KNVB Beker final. On this occasion they went down 2-1 to Feyenoord at De Kuip. NEC survived a couple of relegation play-off seasons before consolidating as the goals of Jack de Gier helping Jimmy Calderwood’s side in 1998-99.

Ron de Groot had taken over as interim boss when NEC made it four KNVB Beker final defeats out of four in their centenary season of 1999-00. This time Roda JC did the damage at De Kuip in Rotterdam breaking the hearts of the 20,000 expectant fans from Nijmegen. At the same time the rebuild of De Goffert was completed.

The 2002-03 season saw unparalleled joy come to NEC as the team finished fifth in the Eredivisie thanks to a late Jardr Simr goal at Waalwijk meaning that the club qualified for the UEFA for the following season with Dutch legend Johan Neeskens as head coach.

The team steadied and settled into a stable mid table outfit under coaches Cees Lok and then Mario Been, whose team went on a remarkably thirty one game unbeaten run to reach the play offs for European football in 2007-08.

After qualifying for the Europa League, Dinamo Bucureşti were defeated before NEC qualified to the knock out stages from a group including Tottenham Hotspur, Udinese, Spartak Moskow and Dinamo Zagreb. The run ended in the knock out stages against Hamburger SV.

Following Been’s reign, a succession of coaches, including Wiljan Vloet and Alex Pastoor came and went at De Goffert as the team maintained their status with Björn Vleminckx finishing as Eredivisie top scorer in 2010-11.

Anton Janssen's side were relegated at the end of the 2013-14 season after losing 4-1 on aggregate to Sparta Rotterdam in the play offs, to find themselves in the second tier for the first time in twenty years.

Ruud Brood was employed as the new manager and he took the team straight back up as champions. Brood was replaced for the 2015-16 campaign by PSV assistant boss Ernest Faber with top scorer Christian Santos helping his side to tenth place.

Defeat in the play-offs to NAC Breda saw the team that had been under coach Peter Hyballa until his dismissal the following season relegated to the Eerste Divisie. Adrie Bogers was appointed for the 2017-18 campaign until he was replaced by Pepijn Lijnders.

Anass Achahbar led the scoring helped by the creativity of Arnaut Groeneveld as NEC reached the play-offs which ended in defeat to FC Emmen. 2018-19 saw former playing favourite Jack de Gier coach the side until his dismissal in April 2019.

The side’s hopes of going up were ended in the play-offs by RKC Waalwijk before NEC ended the aborted 2019-20 season in eighth place with three coaches; François Gesthuizen, Rogier Meijer and a returning Bogers all having spells in charge of the team.

NEC will play in the Eerste Divisie in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

NEC 3 ADO Den Haag 1 (Sunday 19^th January 2014) Eredivisie (att: 10,550)

My fourth match of the long weekend saw me in the beautiful old city of Nijmegen. After catching the train from Zwolle, dropping off my bag and then visiting the homes of SCH, SV Blauw Wit and Quick 1888 I was tiring. It was somewhat of a relief when I saw the growing crowds heading towards the large Goffertpark.

I had arranged my ticket in advance, through a very helpful member of the club staff via email communication. However, I did still have to collect it from the information point by the main entrance. As I couldn’t even see the stadium through the park and I had no idea of its lay out I was still a trifle apprehensive.

There was no need to worry. My luck was in as the paths led straight to where I needed to be. A few minutes later I had my ticket for a reasonable $23. I couldn’t see anyone selling programmes, but that could wait until later. Kick off was fast approaching and I wanted to get inside.

Once more fortune was on my side. The decent programme was free inside and left by the bins. I wasn’t sure where my seat was so I walked down the steps to the moat where the staircases led upstairs. However, I saw an opportunity to get a real feel for the occasion beforehand as I could walk right up to where the players crossed the moat before going up to the pitch.

To see the video of that, and some action, click here:

A steward put me right when he saw my confused look and soon I was in my seat high up in a corner of the stadium, with the notorious Den Haag fans further along behind the goal. I really liked De Goffert. 

It was relatively small but neat, with a single tier of raised covered seats separated from the pitch by the moat. The only obtrusive fencing was the netting keeping in the away fans and stopping any silly throwing of missiles in either direction. A nice touch was the heaters blowing down hot air from the roof.

The game was a real basement battle with both teams in the bottom three before play with the hosts occupying bottom spot. NEC lined up with Michael Higdon as centre forward. 

In a remarkable coincidence I’d seen him score a hat trick for Motherwell against St Johnstone on the corresponding weekend the season before. He looked like he’d enjoyed a good Christmas, although he also used his strength to good effect throughout the match.

On eighteen minutes NEC were awarded a penalty. The offence from visiting skipper Danny Holla looked to have been just outside the box. The visiting Robert Zwinkels keeper saved the kick. With just over half an hour on the clock Kevin Conboy put NEC ahead with a fine curling free kick. Two minutes later the scores were level as Den Haag were awarded a penalty of their own. 

Holla scored to send the away fans wild with delight. Right back Marnick Vermijl had given the spot kick away but he soon made up for it by restoring Nijmegen's lead by scoring off the far post a couple of minutes later. It had been a tremendous first half.

By now I was gradually feeling normal after my heavy night, so I got stuck into the snacks and coffee on offer by using the token system. I felt seriously rough when the bloke next to me had bought a beer in the first half. My sausages and coffee went well on its way to restoring me.

The second half wasn't as action packed, but NEC were full value for their lead. With twenty five minutes left Rene van Eijden made the game safe with an excellent looping header. The majority of the away fans made their way out to sit on the buses in the compound, to much mocking from the NEC fans as their side saw out the game.

I had really enjoyed the game and atmosphere in such a tight stadium, but still wanted more. I had an amateur game in my sights in nearby Wijchen, but first had to find the bus stop, while hoping the players of VV Alverna and LONGA ‘31 would save some entertainment until my arrival! 

Quick 1888 (Holland)

Quick 1888, or Quick Nijmegen as they are otherwise known, are an amateur football club based in the west of the city of Nijmegen in the Gelderland region of The Netherlands. Originally Quick were formed as a cricket club by four boys on the 10th April 1888, making them the oldest in Holland.

The club started out playing on the Kronenburgersingel in the city centre, before it was decided that it was too small. This necessitated a move to a new ground on St. Annastraat, at which point the club decided to play football in the winter months.

In May 1895, the club committee decided to abandon cricket at the club, while membership began to grow while the football team won its first honour by gaining promotion to Eerste Klasse by defeating PW.

A series of third place finishes in Eerste Klasse Oost came before the side dropped down to the second level in 1907-08 before returning to the top level a year later. On their return the side won the Oost title before losing on aggregate to HVV in the 1909-10 national final.

Quick finished runners-up of their division in 1910-11 before membership continued to grow leading to the cricket section being reintroduced in 1915 while the football side finished Oost runners-up in 1915-16. In September of that year, land was purchased on Hazenkampseweg where a ground with a grandstand was laid out.

The mayor of Nijmegen was the guest of the official opening, before Quick drew 2-2 with Sparta Rotterdam in front of a crowd of 4,000. Athletics and hockey were soon added to the club’s portfolio. 

Dutch football was gradually growing, with the Eerste Division consisting of four before eventually growing to six regional divisions from which each winner played off to decide the national champions.

Quick were relegated in 1925-26 while the club was compensated when the cricket side lifted the national knock out trophy a year later. The Tweede Klasse 2B title was lifted in 1931-32, 1936-37 and 1937-38 with the final success rewarded with promotion.

The team went on to become Eerste Klasse Oost runners-up in 1941-42, a performance that was repeated in 1947-48 before Quick won the KNVB Beker in 1948-49 after beating Helmondia 2-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

SVV of Schiedam were the league champions with the two sides meeting for the Super Cup at De Goffert. SVV won the game in the last Super Cup to be held until 1991. Han Engelsman and Felix von Heijden were both capped by the Dutch national team in this period.

Stanley Rose, a soldier from England had attached himself to Quick during the War as a very capable footballer and cricketer. He continued to travel to Nijmegen each week once peace was restored even after the side were relegated in 1949-50.

He was about to play in a championship decider in 1950-51, but opponents Vitesse complained that Rose should not be allowed to play as he was not Dutch. Their appeal was withheld as they went on to win the game and return to top level football.

However, twelve months later Quick dropped back down to the amateur second klasse as a Sunday side, which was about to become the fourth tier after the introduction of the Eredivisie. The 2B championship was won in 1952-53 and then again in 1956-57 leading to promotion to Eerste Klasse football.

The 1E Klasse B title was won in 1957-58 and 1959-60 before a switch to 1D heralded further championship wins in 1961-62 and 1962-63. The complex at Hazenkamp was required for housing so Quick moved to a large site at Dennenstraat, where neighbours Blauw Wit once played.

In 1965 the club’s supporters donated the ironwork reading ‘Sportpark De Dennen’ for the main entrance. The team was relegated the following year before returning as 2E Klasse A champions in 1970-71 under coach Wim Groenendijk.

Around this time the Eerste klasse became the fourth tier after the Hoofdklasse had been introduced. The main pitch and grandstand had to be rebuilt and moved as the new main Graafseweg road was built. In 1973-74 Quick won Eerste Klasse 1B, to go up to Hoofdklasse football.

Their spell lasted just one season before further relegation followed in 1976-77 before climbing back as Tweede Klasse 2A champions in 1979-80. Another promotion and league title followed the following season.

Hoofdklasse status lasted just the 1981-82 campaign, prior to runners-up places in 1D in 1982-83 and 1986-87. Eventually the hockey and athletics sections moved on from the club to develop properly. Meanwhile tennis, badminton and bowls were added for members to enjoy.

By 1989 an indoor sports hall was opened at De Dennen prior to Quick being relegated in 1990-91. The Tweede Klasse 2A title was won at the first attempt to regain their previous status. However, the team struggled before dropping back down in 1994-95.

Aside from a runners-up spot in 1998-99 there was little cheer for Quick fans before the team was relegated further in 2001-02. There was a gradual recovery with a runners-up place in Derde Klasse 3D in 2006-07 before the title followed in 2007-08 and then 2008-09 which was rewarded with promotion.

Tweede klasse football lasted three seasons before Quick were relegated in 2011-12 before regaining their status at the first attempt. In the summer of 2012, De Dennen was given a facelift in readiness for the clubs one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary.

The main pitch was re-laid with an artificial surface and the grandstand was fitted with new seating while a lacrosse section was added to the club which also had a new clubhouse added in 2015 before the 2015-16 brought the Tweede Klasse 2I title and promotion.

By now Eerste klasse was the sixth tier of Dutch football. A runners-up place came in Klasse 1E 2016-17 before Quick were relegated a year later. Back in Klasse 2I the team finished in seventh place.

The 2019-20 campaign was ended early owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the abandonment Quick were second from bottom of the table.

Quick 1888 will play in Zondag Tweede Klasse 2I Oost in the 2020-21 season.

My visit

Sunday 19^th January 2014

When researching for my long weekend of football and socialising in The Netherlands I had rapidly pencilled in a visit to Quick while in Nijmegen as soon as I saw their cricketing pedigree and long history.

I was running a bit late for my destination of De Goffert for the lunchtime kick off for the NEC v ADO den Haag game, but I thought I had it still under control as I’d seen a couple of fans heading in the direction of the stadium.

It was a lovely winter’s day and the sun put De Dennen Sportpark in excellent light. The driveway past the old gates led me past the indoor hall and then the clubhouse on my left, while four other football pitches, with the artificial cricket strip and tennis courts were to the right. The main pitch was straight ahead.

The artificial surface was surrounded by hard standing. Grass banking gave the ground an enclosed feel at the top end. Sett back down the near touchline was a large bank with occasional bench seating offering patrons a raised view. The crowning glory was the excellent stand on the far side. It was an ideal venue for the standard of football played by the club.

I continued on completion of my look around, up to the brow of the hill and over the railway line. It was of great comfort to see large groups of fans heading to the main event of the day. I was heading in the right direction, and I was going to be on time. 

Even better was that I was beginning to feel human again after a good old walk from the socialising of the previous evening in Zwolle.