Top Players? | Coach?
| Links With NUFC? | Euro
Form? | Vs British Clubs? |
Stadium? |
Fans?
By
Howaythetoon
Next up in our exclusive European Opposition Guide are Dutch side
SC Heerenveen who United play in the 3rd Round of
the UEFA Cup with the away leg to be played first on the 17th of February
at the Abe Lenstra Stadium and the second leg at St. James's the following
week on the 24th.
Heerenveen share many similarities with Newcastle United. Like our
good selves they too are a one Town/City club, and like Geordies,
they have their own national anthem (blasted out at the start of every
home game) as well as their own language - Frisian (more Anglo-Saxon
than the Germanic Dutch) - which is officially recognised as a separate
language to Dutch. Indeed, like our own City - Heerenveen are seen
as a nation within a nation. A small Town with over 42,000 inhabitants
in rural Friesland which has a population of 650,000 people.
Formed in 1920 as 'Athleta' and then later as 'Spartaan', Heerenveen
came to be because of a mix up at the Dutch Football Association,
who in October '22 registered the club as V.V. Heerenveen, so the
name stuck... for a few more years anyway.
Before Hitler's Nazi Germany rolled into middle Europe Heerenveen
had won their regional Championship 3 times in succession. Football
in the Netherlands was played on an amateur basis up until 1954 and
split up unto North/South regions. After World War II Heerenveen carried
on where they left off, winning their regional League a further 6
times (making it 9 titles in a row all in all).
Their post War success was largely owed to the mercurial talents of
Abe Lenstra, Heerenveen's legendary playmaker. The
"Dutch Stanley Matthews" who many believe to have been an
even better player than the great Johan Cruyff.
A star of the Dutch national team of the 50's, winning 40 caps, Abe
Lenstra had everything; technical ability, fine passing skills, power
in his boots and an eye for goal - a big game player and a one man
super show at times. His finest hour and arguably Heerenveen's came
in a home match in 1950. Up against the mighty Ajax the countryside
team of Heerenveen were 5-1 down with 30 minutes to go but an Abe
inspired performance saw the plucky minnows claw their way back, goal
after goal, eventually winning the enthralling match 6-5 in the dying
moments. A match reminisced over even today with Lenstra regarded
as a legend. So much so Heerenveen's Stadium is named after him with
a statue of their former hero greeting fans at the main entrance.
Not
only was Lenstra a great player he was also a great man, a loyal one
who turned down offers from France and Italy to stay with his hometown
team. Like how Jackie Milburn become known as "Wor Jackie"
to United fans in the '40s and '50s, Lenstra came to be known as "Us
Abe" to Heerenveen fans. Translated as "Our Abe".
On the 1st of June 1977 the club was split into two sides, an amateur
side and a professional side - with the pro team being renamed SC
(Sporting Club) Heerenveen.
In the 1988-1989 season Heerenveen were finally promoted to the top-flight
of Dutch football. Having been in the 1st Division, the club won a
play off match against Emmen over two legs to become an Eredivisie
side for the very first time. However their stay was a short one,
suffering relegation the following season but the ground work had
been set in place for the club to continue to make inroads in the
Dutch game.
2 years after winning promotion, Heerenveen were back amongst the
big boys thanks to Chairman and local business man who poured his
money into the club Riemer Van Der Velde
and coach Foppe De Haan, both Frisians. Since then
they haven't looked back and have grown into the second favourite
club of most Dutch fans.
A first major final was achieved in '92-93 and although the blue and
white striped team were beaten 6-2 by Louis Van Gaal's young Ajax
team in the Dutch Cup at Feyenoord's De Kuip Stadium (where the Toon
would be celebrating in joy a few years later), Heerenveen won many
admirers and took over 20,000 fans with them (half the population).
The following season more Cup success followed, reaching the Semis
and a year later they made it all the way to the Final once more -
unfortunately losing in the Capital again, going down 4-2 to Roda
JC.
Established in the top League the club moved into a new Stadium in
'94 and with that came more revenue from larger gates and more advertising.
But they still couldn't compete with the top teams like PSV, Feyenoord
and Ajax, relying on their youth set-up to fill their team and to
earn them more money.
Producing
numerous talent including a certain Danish striker named Jon
Dahl Tomasson who Newcastle signed in '97 for £2.5m,
Ruud Van Nistelrooy, now at Manchester United, former Aston
Villa striker and Swedish international Marcus Allback
and recently Erik Edman, another Swede who was signed
by Tottenham Hotspur a couple of months ago, Heerenveen have paved
the way for similar small clubs to operate outside of the traditionally
big 3 clubs of Holland.
For a couple of seasons Heerenveen flirted with the InterToto Cup
(meeting England's West Ham United along the way), participated in
the Cup Winners Cup (reaching the 2nd Round) and in the 2000-2001
season they caused a huge shock in Holland by qualifying for the Champions
League after finishing 2nd in the Eredivisie. Drawn against Valencia,
Lyon and Olympiakos Piraeus, the Dutch side were always going to struggle
in the competition and that's what they did - finishing bottom of
the group with 4 points - beating Piraeus and picking up a point away
to eventual Finalists Valencia. A remarkable feat nonetheless considering
they were playing 1st Division football less than 10 years previous.
With the revenue from the Champions League Heerenveen upgraded their
facilities and plan to add to their new Ice Rink with state-of-the-art
sports, leisure, health, medical care, education, work and recreation
centres, including, swimming pools, indoor sports facilities, a tennis
centre, schools, a health boulevard and commercial sporting activities
to complete their Sporting Club.
Today they stand as one of Holland's biggest ever success stories
- a remarkable rise to prominence and a template for similar small
clubs (the world over) to emulate.
A young and exciting team the Frisians play attractive football and
as a result of this, more and more of their Town folk want to watch
their heroes play. Plans to double the capacity of their Stadium to
26,000 (in a Town with only 42,000 plus people) are well underway
and should be completed within one and a half years from now, ensuring
Heerenveen's success continues.
With a turnover of just over £11m they will never be able to
compete with the bigger clubs but they are maximizing what they have,
getting the best out of their resources and becoming a small force
to be reckoned with - as Newcastle United will surely find out in
our double header coming up.
| SC Heerenveen's Star Players |
Player:
Petter Hansson
Position: Centre-back
Shirt: 3
Nationality:
Swedish
Age: 28
International:
Sweden |
Signed from Halmstad in 2001, the Swedish international is a solid,
no nonsense defender and dangerous from set-pieces with his ability
in the air being one of his main strengths. Hannson is their rock
in defence and is an experienced campaigner - winning two player of
the year awards in successive years. The tall blonde Swede made his
full international debut in 2001 - in a 1-0 defeat to Finland. Not
a first-teamer for his country but he did make the Euro 2004 squad
and has 5 caps to his name.
Player:
Arnold Bruggink
Position: Midfielder
Shirt: 10
Nationality:
Dutch
Age: 27
International:
Holland |
Heerenveen's most experienced player and their biggest 'name'. Newcastle
fans will be familiar with the Dutch playmaker, having played against
the Toon in our Champions League match against PSV in '97 - coming
on as a second half sub for Luc Nilis in the first away match. Bruggink
enjoyed lots of success at PSV, winning the Dutch Title twice and
gaining international recognition for Holland. Last season he had
a spell in La Liga for Real Mallorca - scoring 7 goals in 27 appearances
for the Spanish team and his transfer to Heerenveen was somewhat a
coup. A skilful player with an array of passing abilities and an eye
for goal, coming from deep, the box to box attacker hasn't quite lived
up to his potential he showed as a youngster but he is a class act
on his day and the centre of United's midfield will have to get to
grips with him early on. With a goal ratio of over 1 in every 3 games
(291 appearances and 100 goals to date) he represents a real threat.
Player:
Ugur Yildrim
Position: Winger
Shirt:
17
Nationality: Turkish-Dutch
Age: 22
International:
Holland |
Born in Holland to Turkish parents the exciting right sided winger
was involved in a tug of war recently between the two countries he
was eligible to play for who both wanted him to commit to their international
sides. The "Beckham of Holland" eventually committed to
Holland, citing the need to repay the country that taught him the
game as his reason. For his commitment to Holland he was rewarded
with his first cap in last week's 0-0 friendly against England at
Villa Park, coming on as a second half sub. Signed from Go Ahead Eagles
Yildrim takes a mean free kick - winning the World Free Kick Master
Cup in December 2004 - and has an eye for goal - in 140 career appearances
he has notched 48 goals to date, scoring 19 in one season for Go Ahead
Eagles. A tricky player who likes to get forward and is dangerous
from set-pieces. The left side of United's defence will have to be
weary of his threat.
Player:
Mika Vayrynen
Position: Midfielder
Shirt: 4
Nationality:
Finnish
Age: 22
International:
Finland |
The young Finnish international playmaker with 16 caps to his name
pulls the strings in Heerenveen's midfield. A fine passer of the ball
with good technical abilities, Vayrynen has been somewhat of a revelation
for both club and country and even bigger things are expected of him
in the coming seasons. Part of Finland's World Cup 2004 qualifiers
squad, the talented midfielder has alerted a host of clubs in Europe
including Ajax, PSV - as a possible replacement for Mark Van Bommel,
Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan who had him on trial recently. Heerenveen's
most important player as one fan remarked to us: "We are lost
without him"
Player:
Georgios Samaras
Position: Forward
Shirt: 20
Nationality:
Greek
Age: 19
International:
Greece Youth |
The Athens born striker, signed from OFI Crete, is regarded as one
for the future. A live wire with pace Samaras has represented his
country at under 17, 18 and under 19 level and if he continues showing
promise he could well earn a full senior cap for the European Champions.
The forward has 5 goals to his name this season (to date) and has
notched a total of 13 in 60 games.
 Player:
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Position: Centre-Forward
Shirt: 15
Nationality:
Dutch
Age: 21
International:
Holland U-21 |
Hunterlaar started out at De Graafschap before moving on to PSV Eindhoven
where he struggled to claim a regular starting berth - resulting in
a move to SC Heerenveen for season 2004-05, signing a 3 year deal
with the Frisian club. Noted for his instinctive ability in front
of goal the young striker has a promising future ahead of him. Already
a Dutch under 21 international, progression to the senior Holland
side is expected and with 12 goals to his name already this season,
he has an impressive overall record of 38 goals in 65 games (to date).
He first arrived on the scene with his performances in the 2000 European
under 18's Championship where he scored two goals to help Holland
finish 3rd in the competition. He also scored twice in the World Youth
Cup the following year and is now a big fan favourite at the Abe Lenstra
Stadium. One to watch out for and a key player for Heerenveen.
| SC Heerenveen's Coach: Gertjan
Verbeek |
This is Verbeek's first season as coach of Heerenveen, taking over
from their legendary former manager Foppe De Haan who took up a coaching
role with Holland's under 21s in the close season. Verbeek is highly
regarded in Holland and having first played for Heerenveen and then
assisted De Haan at the Frisian club, his role as first-team manager
is just reward for all the fine work he has done producing talent
and training the squad. Verbeek is an experimental coach who likes
his side to attack the opposition, to keep possession and to entertain
their loyal fans - playing an adventurous 4-3-3 formation WITH WINGERS.
| SC Heerenveen's Links With
NUFC |
Heerenveen's only link with Newcastle United is that they sold us
Jon Dahl Tomasson for £2.5m in July 1997. Tomasson rose to prominence
in the 1994-95 season, scoring 5 goals and making 16 appearances for
the Dutch side as he started to establish himself. The following season
he scored 14 goals in 15 and in his final season he scored 18 in 32
games. United had him watched several times and liked what they saw
- a forward in the mould of Teddy Sheringham and with an eye for a
goal. With just 23 appearances and only 3 goals to his name, his Toon
career was a short one however - being sold to Feyenoord for £2.5m.
Goals, trophies galore, a move to AC Milan, an impressive goals to
games ratio for Denmark and more goals soon followed. The one that
got away...
| SC Heerenveen's European
Form |
 For
such a small club Heerenveen have a decent European record, much better
than Sunderland's anyway... In 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 they entered
the InterToto Cup in a bid to play European Cup football for the first
time, but failed to reach the 1st Round proper of the UEFA Cup on
each occasion.
The Frisians got their wish in 1998-99 however, participating in the
Cup Winners Cup - getting to the 2nd Round before eventual elimination
by Varteks Varazdin after winning the 1st leg at home 2-1 but losing
the second leg 4-2 after extra-time.
The following season it was back to the InterToto and yet more failure
to reach the UEFA Cup proper.
In 2000-2001 however Heerenveen shocked the whole of Dutch football
by qualifying for the Champions League group stages having finished
2nd in the League - their highest ever top-flight finish. Drawn in
a group containing French outfit Olympique Lyonnais, Spanish side
Valancia and Greek team Olympiakos Piraeus, Heerenveen finished bottom
with 4 points.
It was back to the InterToto Cup in season 2001-02 but FC Basel beat
them 5-3 on aggregate in the 3rd Round qualifying stages.
The following season, Heerenveen finally made it into the UEFA Cup
proper, but they were dumped out in the 1st Round, losing 3-2 to National
Bukarest over two legs.
In season 2003-04, it was back to the InterToto Cup again - and more
failure - losing 2-1 to Villarreal in the Final.
Having finished 4th in their League last season, Heerenveen once again
qualified for the UEFA Cup proper. In the 1st Round they were paired
against Israeli side Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC, beating them 5-0 at
home with the away leg being cancelled due to an Air strike in Tel
Aviv.
In the 2nd Round group stage (group G) Heerenveen finished 3rd on
7 points to qualify alongside Benfica and VfB Stuttgart after winning
2, drawing 1 and losing the other.
Overall Heerenveen have played a total of 45 games in Europe, winning
20, drawing 5 and losing 20.
An impressive record.
| SC Heerenveen Vs British
Teams |
Heerenveen have only ever faced a British side once. That team was
West Ham United who the Dutch side faced in the Semi-Finals of the
InterToto Cup back in 1999. West Ham won both legs 1-0 with Frank
Lampard and Paulo Wanchope scoring the goals.
| SC Heerenveen's Stadium:
Abe Lenstra Stadium |
Built in 1994 to replace Heerenveen's run down Stadium (also of the
same name), the Abe Lenstra has been described as being spacious with
ample leg room. The all-seater Stadium is an enclosed ground with
a bowel effect, seating 19,500 fans.
The away end (North side, block 10/11 on the right
hand side behind the goal-line) which Toon supporters will be housed
in (see pictures) has a drinks bar, a snack bar (fried products) and
toilets.
The Stadium, although fairly modern, is to get a face lift soon and
will have it's capacity increased to the 26,000 plus mark as more
and more demand from the locals to see their club play increases season
by season. From the pictures and reports it looks a cracking Stadium
in which to generate an atmosphere and I'm sure it will be of a much
better standard than some of the grounds in which Toon supporters
have visited in recent years, like that awful Riverside Stadium...
Newcastle-Online have been informed that stewarding/policing is fairly
lax due to the hospitable and friendly nature of home fans, although
being a European fixture and the visiting fans from England, this
could all well change.
We have also been informed that the Blaydon Races or Coming Home Newcastle
could well be played before kick-off... but don't quote us on that.
For more photos of the Abe Lenstra stadium as it is now and what it
will look like in the future, click the following links:
https://www.sportstadheerenveen.nl/
https://www.feanfans.nl/
Heerneveen
fans are a loyal, friendly support and have built up a fantastic reputation
in Holland. They like to sing and stay positive and follow their club
proudly - representing them well. Tickets for Newcastle's visit to
Heerenveen were sold out 4 weeks ago, so there should be a full house.
Having conversed with fans of other Dutch clubs, I can only report
that they all had nothing but good words to say about Heerenveen fans
and indeed their club, however I like to get it from the horses mouth
so to speak so I asked the Editor of Heerenveen's supporters' club
website for his thoughts. This is what Erik told me:
Q: Will Newcastle fans face any hooliganism in Heerenveen
and will they be made to feel welcome?
We don't have any hooligans in Heerenveen. We are known in the Netherlands
as the most friendliest of supporters. You can drink a beer in our
centre. You are all welcome!
Q: How many Heerenveen fans will be traveling to Newcastle
and what are your fans like when they visit other Stadiums - do they
show their guests respect and do they sing a lot?
Most of the Heerenveen fans shows respect to their guests. We
are coming to Newcastle and want to enjoy the City of Newcastle. It
is going to be a big party for us, because next week there are more
than 1,500 Heerenveen fans in Newcastle. And it would be great to
drink some beer also in Newcastle with NUFC fans. Sometimes we are
very quiet in our Stadium, but with special home matches and away
matches we can sing very loudly because the most fanatic Heerenveen
fans can gather in one group and this is not possible in the League
matches. But next season there will also a block (singing end) for
the fanatic Heerenveen fans in the competition.
Having conversed with Herenveen fans over the past week, pestering
them like crazy with what seems like millions of questions as well
as having spoke with lots of fans from other Dutch clubs I have to
say, they are very friendly and co-operative. It's been a pleasure
writing this guide and talking to all these people. Lets hope we get
to enjoy some great football, memorable experiences in each others
Cities and may NUFC win... ;)
Newcastle-Online would like to thank Eric, website editor of Heerenveen's
fan site: https://www.feanfans.nl, Pieter Bruin from Heerenveen's supporters
group, various Internet websites, Huntelaar (NUFC Forum member), SC
Heerenveen, https://www.worldstadiums.com, https://www.uefa.com and
various other resources. |
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