sv Blauw Geel ’38 (Holland)

sv Blauw Geel ’38 is an amateur football club from the town of Veghel, near Eindhoven in the west of The Netherlands. The club, which translated means ‘Blue Yellow’ were formed on June 21^st 1938.

While the clubs history is difficult to detect, they are an amateur club of substance, being members of the top Sunday Hoofdklasse divisions for many years, with the supermarket giant chain Jumbo becoming partners.

sv Blauw Geel ’38 will play in Zondag (Sunday) Hoofdklasse B in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Monday 20^th January 2014

My final call before relaxing in Eindhoven, my overnight terminus on my travels around the football clubs of Holland saw me arrive on the outskirts of Veghel at the Hintelstraat stop, after taking the no.160 service from Uden.

 

I was taking the full advantage of the excellent 9292 travel app and my £5 daily unlimited internet on my phone. It had paid real dividends throughout my trip in terms of walking and time. My route to my destination took me by the side of several canals and new housing developments. I must confess that it was further than I thought, but I did take one last shortcut down a lane past several pitches and through some hazardous mud before finding the entrance to the Prins Willem Alexander Sportpark.

Although I was tired, weary and really struggling, the sight of a new ground of a decent standard added new enthusiasm to my body. The ground was naturally painted in blue and yellow and had a significant raised seated grandstand on the far side. The near touchline had a full length open terracing. There was a hard standing path all the way around the pitch and grass beyond. The clubhouse and changing rooms were behind the goal at the entrance end, with pitches of grass and artificial surfaces beyond to cater for all the many teams that represented the club.

My map didn’t massively comfort me when I saw how far it was to the town centre. However, someone was looking down at me, because I found the Middlegaal bus stop with the hourly 158 service due in three minutes. Needless to say I took that option! Even further luck fell my way as on arrival at the bus station, the Eindhoven service arrived.

SV Orion (Holland)

  

SV Orion are an amateur football club from the city of Nijmegen in the east of The Netherlands, who were formed on September 19^th1938 by a group of boys of the Young Guard who wanted their own club, with Chaplain Tychon being one of their founders.

The club played at De Ark, but didn’t initially join any league as they struggled for players. By 1941 the players came of age and others joined up to enable entry into Nijmegen league football, playing home games at OBIOD on Kopse Hof. The following year the club moved to a ground on Groesbeekseweg.

Following World War Two, Orion moved to a new ground at Kwakkenberg in the south east of the city as Orion Boys. The club collected some championships and promotions in KNVB eastern competition. By 1960 Orion found themselves in Vierde (fourth) Klasse football, before reaching the Derde (third) Klasse in 1971, when the club’s name was changed to SV Orion.

By then a clubhouse had been built in 1968 at Dommer van Poldersveldtweg, but by the turn of the millennium the facilities at Kwakkenberg became too small because of the increase in membership, particularly at youth level. Close neighbours vv Trekvogels were also growing and only had two pitches, so Orion moved to new premises on the corner of Nijmeegsebaan and d'Almarasweg with the agreement of the club’s General Assembly in 2003. Nijmegen City Council also gave the plans the go ahead the same year.

This period saw an upturn in on the field fortunes with championships arriving at the club as well as two promotions which saw the first team in the Derde Klasse by 2005. A year later after many obstacles, Sportpark de Driehuizen was finally opened. By 2010 Orion had over one thousand members and around sixty youth sides.

SV Orion will compete in Derke Klasse Zontag (Third Class – Sunday) in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Monday 20^th January 2014

Occasionally when I set out on a days groundhopping I come across somewhere totally unexpected. I was heading out to Groesbeek to visit three of the senior clubs in the football heavy town onboard the bus when I noticed a decent ground on the way out of Nijmegen. I noted where it was on the map app on my phone for later.

The no.5 bus dropped me at the Panovenlaan stop and crossed the road to investigate. I found the notice advising me that I was at Sportpark de Driehuizen and the home club was SV Orion. The gate was open in the corner of the ground, which had an artificial pitch and hard standing and high fencing hemming it in with adverts. The stand was a fine structure decked out in orange seats, to reflect the clubs colours. The site also had another couple of pitches and tennis courts.

I continued down d'Almarasweg as I saw further signs of other clubs across the railway level crossing, but they turned out to be the home of NMHC (Nijmegen Mixed Hockey Club) and the Hortus Arcadië botanical garden.

Orion had been a bonus venue for me as I went to catch the no.5 back to Nijmegen station where I realised that I’d had a lucky escape. I thought that I’d secured my rucksack in a locker on the railway platform. The door pulled open, but all my belongings were still in tact. Thanking my lucky stars I went across to the buses to await the no.99 to Uden.

RKSV UDI ‘19 (Holland)

RKSV UDI ’19, Uitspanning Door Inspanning 1919, to give them their full title is an amateur football club from the town of Uden in the east of The Netherlands between the city’s of Nijmegen and Eindhoven. The club was formed on May 11th 1919 at a meeting in the café-restaurant De Korenbeurs.

The club set up its first junior side in 1933 to supplement the seniors. In 1945 the club provided regular opposition to an English Army side, before going on to be crowned champions of the Maas district and winning promotion to the KNVB Vierde (fourth) Klasse competition in the east.

Two years later UDI won another title and climbed to Derde (third) Klasse. In 1954 the club began producing its own magazine; UDI Heraut as well as forming the UDI Eagles Baseball Team and in 1956 the club moved to the Parklaan ground.

1961 saw another championship arrive at the club with UDI ’19 joining Tweede (second) Klasse. However, after two relegations UDI spent their fiftieth anniversary in 1969 as a Vierde Klasse club. The following year a new clubhouse was opened at Parklaan, and in 1973 a women’s side was added to the clubs portfolio.

In 1976 UDI won promotion back to Derde Klasse before marking their sixtieth anniversary in 1979 with an extension to the clubhouse. The following year the Uden club won the league to reach the second tier, before making it back to back titles in 1981 as they reached Eerste (first) Klasse for the first time. After four seasons they side were demoted.

The 90’s saw plenty of excitement at Parklaan as UDI started the decade by winning promotion back to Eerste Klasse. Once more they won consecutive championships, this time reaching the highest level of amateur football, the Hoofdklasse. Unfortunately by 1992 and just one season UDI were relegated once more to Eerste Klasse. The club staged a home friendly against Ajax, with the Amsterdamers winning 2-1.

In 1996 UDI lost a play off game for promotion against EHC as the clubhouse received refurbishment. However they weren’t to be denied in 1997 as the club rejoined the Hoofdklasse, as the ground was renamed Parkzicht.

In 1998 UDI qualified for the KNVB Cup after winning Hoodklasse Zontag (Sunday) B and won through the group stages to be rewarded with an away tie against Ajax. One hundred and sixty eight buses transported fans from Uden to the Amsterdam ArenA, where their side were defeated 9-0. Following a sponsorship deal the club became known as UDI ‘19/Beter Bed.

In 2000 UDI won their second regional Hoofdklasse title, before collecting their third two years later. It proved to be a great year for the club as their second and third teams also won their championships. In 2004 with the club membership continuing to grow a new clubhouse is erected. To celebrate a pre season match with Galatasaray took place in 2005. A partnership was forged the following year with both NEC and PSV.

To celebrate UDI’s ninetieth anniversary in 2009, PSV sent a team to Parkzicht. The Russian State Circus also spent a week performing at the club, as all aspects of the club continued to prosper.

UDI ’19 will appear in Zondag (Sunday) Hoofdklasse B in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Monday 20th January 2014

My long rides around The Netherlands over a tremendous long weekend were gradually coming to an end as I headed to Eindhoven, my final destination. There was just a couple of towns to call in at on route. The no.99 bus took me on the fourty minute ride from Nijmegen to Uden bus station.

It was a dull cold day and not ideal for photography, but I was still keen to see what UDI ’19 had to offer. I set off for the walk of around a kilometer down Kastanjeweg, Prior van Milstraat and Losplaats before passing Stadion De Kuip, which was the town’s athletics venue. Just a couple of hundred yards away I found the entrance open to Parkzicht beyond the car park and clubhouse, with a groundsman tendering a damp penalty area.

Although I’d done pretty well throughout my trip using the excellent 9292 Dutch travel app on my phone, I got lost and confused in trying to work out where my bus may pick me up on the route to Veghel. After much frustration I eventually walked a long way back to the bus station to jump on board the no.152 to my next venue. 

De Treffers (Holland)

De Treffers is an amateur football club from the Gelderland town of Groesbeek in the east of The Netherlands, a few miles south east of Nijmegen. The club were formed in 1919, around the same time as their biggest rivals Achilles ’19 on the other side of town, with Jan Piepenbreier appointed as the clubs first chairman.

After playing in Nijmegen regional football, De Treffers joined the ranks of the KNVB in 1930. In 1935-36 and 1936-37 the club lifted the eastern region Eerste Klasse championships, going on to compete in the national championships.

Following World War Two, De Treffers had a period of struggle as they were relegated on a couple of occasions to find themselves in the Derde (third) Klasse. Promotion came thanks to a title win in 1961-62. Back to back championships elevated the club to Eerste (first) Klasse football in 1963.

De Treffers suffered a relegation in 1971, but they were promoted at the first attempt. The Hoofdklasse was created in 1974 and De Treffers were placed in the Zondag (Sunday) C. The club won the Sunday championship in 1987-88 for the first time before repeating the feat in 1990-91, going on to lift the national amateur title by defeating Quick Boys.

1997-98 saw another national crown as Saturday champions IJsselmeervogels were defeated in the decider. The club also lifted the C Division title in 1986, 1990, 1998 and 2005 making it one of the foremost amateur outfits in the whole of Holland.

De Treffers will play in Hoofdklasse Zondag (Sunday) C in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Monday 20^th January 2014

I found myself in the football mad town of Groesbeek on a bleak winters day on the fourth day of a football adventure across The Netherlands. Having walked from the home of rivals Achilles ’29 along Hulsbroek and then Nieuwe Drulseweg past and industrial estate and then housing I saw the floodlights of Sportpark Zuid down Nijerf.

The entrance to the ground was at the far end and through a large car park, with the magnificent club buildings behind half of the near end of the ground with a few steps of open terracing in front. The far touchline had a cover for standing spectators, with the road side a seated stand across the half way line. The rest of the ground had hard standing and grass, with raised advertising boards at the far end offering an enclosed feel to the arena.

Originally I had intended to head for the home of Groesbeeke Boys, but it was time to prioritise as I was feeling the effects of my exertions and needed to get to my evenings destination of Eindhoven as quickly as I could to have a rest before the evening’s match.

A free small local bus gave me a tour around the houses before dropping me in the town centre, next to where the railway once ran, so I could take a bus back into Nijmegen.

Achilles ’29 (Holland)

Achilles ’29 are a professional football club from the football active town of Groesbeek in the Gelderland province in the east of The Netherlands, close to the city of Nijmegen. The club were formed on June 1^st1929 by thirteen boys around the age of twenty, as a team for Catholics.

Land was donated at the Heikant by Gerrit Derks in the north east of Groesbeek. By 1933 Achilles had won promotion to the top level of Nijmegen district football. The club were crowned as champions in 1935-36, which led to Ben Ostendorp writing the club anthem; "Samen togen wij ten strijd".- Together We Went to War.

Mr Ostendorp’s words were somewhat prophetic as three years later football was abandoned because of the outbreak of World War Two, with Groesbeek located on the front line close to the German border and the village at the time being evacuated.

As peace was restored the members of Achilles returned to find Sportpark De Heikant with craters and the buildings raised to the ground, but the club pulled together and were soon back in action. A second Nijmegen championship arrived in 1954, which led to ‘De Heikanters’ progressing to KNVB competitions.

By 1964 two further title wins led to the club reaching Tweede (second) Klasse football. After having a long spell known as RKSV Groesbeek to reflect the religious orientation of the club and the fact that the amateur association NVB had several Achilles teams registered. In 1969 the club successfully appealed to get their name back and added the ’29 suffix.

After forty years as club president Frans van Bernebeek stood down from his position in 1974 as the team toasted another league success and won promotion to Eerste Klasse. In 1978 the new Hoofdklasse was created at the top of the amateur game, with Achilles being placed in Zondag (Sunday) B.

Relegation was only just averted in 1989-90 under the leadership of Jan van Deinsen, with several other struggles over the following seasons. In 1994 Achilles were relegated for the first time in their history. Their spell in Eerste Divisie lasted six seasons before regaining their Hoofdklasse position in 2000. Unfortunately they were soon relegated once again, before regaining their status in 2002.

With the popular head coach Eric Meijers at the helm the club continued to progress, going on to win Hoofdklasse C ahead of big local rivals De Treffers in 2006. This act was repeated in 2008 when a packed De Heikant celebrated a win against De Treffers to clinch the title to add to a triumph in the Districtsbeker Oost (East District Cup).

2008 saw Achilles achieve publicity through their KNVB Cup exploits as they defeated RKC Waalwijk before going out at the quarter final stage 3-0 to a Louis van Gaal led AZ.

The 2009-10 season was played with places in the newly formed semi professional Topklasse for the following campaign at stake. Achilles finished fourth and made the step up to play their highest ever grade of Sunday football. The team also reached the last eight of the KNVB Cup following notable wins against Oss and then Heracles Almelo before RKC Waalwijk gained their revenge.

Achilles finished as runners up at the first attempt and lost out in the play offs for promotion. However, a second Districtsbeker Oost found its way to the clubs trophy cabinet. The 2011-12 campaign was one of great success as Achilles lifted the Super Cup for amateurs with a 2-1 victory over VV IJsselmeervogels. The team went on to win the Zontag Topklasse title before being crowned overall champions after defeating Saturday title winners SV Spakenburg 3-2 on aggregate. A third quarter final KNVB Cup appearance came following wins against Telstar and then MVV Maastrict before going down 3-0 at De Goffert in the local derby to NEC.

Jan van Deinsen returned to the club in June 2012 to replace successful head coach Meijers who departed to take up the reigns at Helmond Sport. This upheaval didn’t affect the team as they collected consecutive Super Cups, by defeating RKSV Leonidas and then winning the league. However, they were denied the overall title as vv Katwijk won the tie 3-0 over two legs.

Both Achilles and Katwijk had stated that they were not interested in taking up promotion to Eerste Divisie, but the KNVB had a problem as AGOVV and BV Veendam had withdrawn, leaving them with just sixteen teams. They solved this by relaxing the licensing necessities. Katwijk didn’t take up the offer but De Heikanters did as François Gesthuizen took over team affairs.

Achilles continued to build the club. The 2013-14 season saw them field eleven other senior teams, one women’s team and thirteen youth sides. Plans were announced to move from the current main pitch and to build around the artificial surface instead.

Achilles ’29 will play in the Eerste Divisie in the 2013-14 season.

My visit

Monday 20^th January 2014

I was in the small town of Groesbeek on a cold dull winter’s day in search of visiting some of the six football clubs that represented it. Five were amateur, but Achilles had joined the professional ranks. After calling in at Sportpark Noord I undertook a thirty minute walk before finding myself on Cranenburgsestraat and outside De Linde bar and restaurant. The ntrance to the ground was just past it.

To be honest there were no real signs of a second tier club being just behind the building. Beyond a decent sized car park I entered Sportpark Heikant in the corner of the main ground. The near goal was a few steps of open terracing backed by adverts and an electric scoreboard. The terracing continued round the far touchline and right down the side with a cover in the middle third of the pitch called The Egg Side, as patron Gerrit Derks kept his chicken coops on that side. Opposite were the club offices before a seated stand straddling the half way line. The changing rooms then continued around the far corner. Open terracing took up the space behind the far end.

It was a neat ground, but one that would struggle to reach Conference standards in the UK, although in fairness that reflects the silly sanctions imposed by our FA. It had been adapted with the relevant segregation barriers in position.

I left to go on another twenty minute walk to the home of rivals of De Treffers in the south of the town.