Sunday, 31 May 2026

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All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author
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Monday, 25 May 2026

NETHERLANDS: SV SHH

Sportpark De Wolfsberg, Herten Merum (SV SHH)

Netherlands, province: Limburg

25 V 2026 / SV SHH - RKFC Lindenheuvel-Heidebloem Combinatie 4-1 / Sunday League 3H (= NL level 8)

Timeline
  • 1909 / Foundation of a first football club in Herten, a village just to the south of Roermond in the central part of the Netherlands’ Province of Limburg. The new club is given the name Roomsch-Katholieke Voetbalvereeniging (RKVV) ‘Vooruitgang Is Ons Doel’ (VIOD). The club finds itself a pitch at Broekveeweg in the hamlet of Merum, a ground referred to locally as Terrein Oude Berg.
  • 1917 / Foundation year of the so-called Roomsch-Katholieke Limburgsche Voetbalbond (RKLVB), the Limburg sub-branch of the Roman Catholic Football Federation in the Netherlands (RKF). RKVV VIOD may have been one of the founding members – and had certainly joined by the early 1920s.
  • 1922 / While VIOD was the oldest club in Herten, two rival clubs saw the daylight in the early 1920s, one of which, MVC (Merumsche Voetbalclub, given as MSV, Merumsche Sportvereeniging, in another contemporary source), was formed in 1922. Rather than joining the RKLVB, MVC successfully applied for membership of the non-confessional Limburgsche Voetbalbond (LVB), the Limburg sub-branch of the official Netherlands’ Football Association (NVB). Around the same time, a club called Juliana was founded in another hamlet of Herten, Ool. Juliana took part in the RKLVB competitions in the 1923-24 season, which is the only sign of life of this club, which probably folded after an existence of one or two years. 
  • 1924 / Foundation of a new club in Herten, MOC – possibly meaning Merum-Ool-Combinatie? – which might have been the successor of the short-lived Juliana. MOC joined the RKLVB, but the club must have folded one or two years later, leaving few traces. 
  • 1925 / After three years, MVC renounces its membership of the Netherlands’ FA and its Limburg sub-branch LVC, with the club officially ceasing all activities one year later.
  • 1926 / Foundation of a gymnastics club in Herten, which takes on the name Sint-Hadrianus Herten (SHH). Hadrianus is obviously not a reference to the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138), who was not a Christian, let alone a saint, nor to Pope Hadrian III (884-885), who was canonised by Leo XIII in 1891, but to a 4th century Roman officer from Nicomedia (present-day Izmit in Turkey) who chose martyrdom over obedience to the Emperor Diocletian, a persecutor of Christians. 
  • 1929 / Under the aegis of the gymnastics club, a football club is founded in Herten, also named SHH. SHH joins the RKLVB, settling on a pitch, Terrein Rosslag, in a location referred to locally at the time as Aan het Papenbroek – situated at the crossroads of modern-day Wilhelminastraat & Watertorenweg.
  • 1930 / After an existence of 21 years, RKVV VIOD, the oldest club in Herten, folds. The club spent the last season of its existence in RKLVB Division 1. 
  • 1935 / Probably having ceased its activities one year previously, the football branch of SHH folds, the main reason being that the lease on its pitch, Terrein Rosslag, is terminated, as the owner prefers to plant pear trees on the plot. 
  • 1940 / With no local football club having existed in Herten, Ool, or Merum in the preceding five years, activities are resumed in December 1940 with the re-establishment of SHH, officially named Katholieke Sportvereniging (KSV) Sint-Hadrianus Herten. As Hubert Kurvers is chosen as the first chairman of the new club, SHH acquires a plot of land, Terrein Rosslag, where a makeshift pitch is laid out for friendly matches, the only activity in the first months of the club’s existence. However, the re-foundation of SHH was preceded by the establishment of SODA, Sport Onder De Arbeiders, a corporate team for employees of the Solvay chemical factory in Merum. Very little information is available about the latter club, first traces of which are found in 1940. As the RKF and its sub-branch RKLVB are abolished under pressure of German occupation authorities following the occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, SODA and KSV SHH both joined the Netherlands’ FA (KNVB, renamed NVB at the behest of the Germans for the duration of the war) – or more specifically its sub-branch Afdeling Limburg, the successor of the pre-war LVB. 
  • 1941 / As KSV SHH takes its place in LVB (Sunday) Division 3, the bottom tier of the LVB pyramid, the club moves away from Terrein Rosslag, settling at Terrein Wolfhagen at Schepersweg in Merum – actually very close to modern-day Sportpark De Wolfsberg. This pitch was previously in use by SODA, with the location where this club had moved to being unknown.
  • 1942 / With SODA clinching the title in its group of LVB Division 3, 6 points ahead of closest rivals KSV SHH, both clubs from Merum win promotion to LVB Division 2. 
  • 1944 / Champions in LVB Division 2N, KSV SHH goes on to win a championship play-off against BVV from Beegden (4-2 aggr.), resulting in the club gaining promotion to LVB Division 1. After 1944, no more is heard about corporate club SODA, which may well have folded before the end of World War II.
  • ± 1946 / Moving away from Terrein Wolfhagen, KSV SHH moves to a pitch situated at Rosslag in Herten – not the initial location used in 1940-41, but a newly laid-out pitch near the local water tower (at the crossroads of modern-day Rosslag and Hondsbergje).
  • ± 1947 / Abandoning Terrein Rosslag (II), KSV SHH moves back to its old Terrein Wolfhagen at Schepersweg. With source material being rather confusing, the club apparently also used Terrein Jupiter at Roerderweg at some point in the late 1940s or early 1950s, only to move back to Terrein Wolfhagen a third time.
  • 1953 / Clinching the title in LVB Division 1H, 3 points ahead of closest rivals RKAVC, KSV SHH wins promotion to District South II’s (Sunday) League 4 for the first time. The decisive points are cliched in the away match at RKVV Sint-Odiliënberg (1-2). The successful coach is Frans Pijpers. In the summer of 1953, moving away from Terrein Wolfhagen, SHH moves into the newly laid-out Gemeentelijk Sportpark De Donderberg at Veestraat in Herten, the laying out of which had taken the best part of the preceding year. On June 28th, an inaugural match takes place between SHH and vv Bieslo (4-6). The ensuing gala match on July 12th between VVV and SV Maurits is called off at the behest of local authorities, with the match being moved to the old Terrein Wolfhagen.
  • 1955 / In spite of finishing bottom of the table in District South II’s Sunday League 4E, KSV SHH stays up due to the fact that the introduction of a professional league, which saw many teams in the upper divisions leave the regular pyramid, means that the open places have to be taken by teams from the lower reaches of the league – and with fewer clubs having to be retrograded as a result.
  • 1956 / Finishing bottom of the table in District South II’s Sunday League 4E with coach Bair Toebosch, KSV SHH drops back into Afdeling Limburg Division 1 after three years.
  • 1960 / Coached by Wiel Smeets, KSV SHH finishes bottom of the table in Afdeling Limburg Division 1H, thus descending into Division 2 of the said league system.
  • 1963 / KSV SHH finishes as runner-up in Afdeling Limburg Division 2M, 2 points behind champions vv Boekoel.
  • 1964 / Champions in their group of Afdeling Limburg Division 2, 2 points ahead of closest followers vv RIOS ’31, KSV SHH manages a return to Division 1 of the said league system after four years. The successful coach is Frans Pijpers.
  • 1966 / KSV SHH finishes as runner-up in Afdeling Limburg Division 1H, 2 points behind champions RKVV Sint-Odiliënberg.
  • 1968 / Finishing in joint first place of its group of Afdeling Limburg Division 1 with RKVV Baarlo, 2 points ahead of closest followers KSV Horn, KSV SHH goes on to meet the club from Baarlo in a tie-break match, played at the ground of vv (DES) Swalmen (1,500 spectators). However, losing the tie (2-1), the club misses out on a return to Sunday League 4.
  • 1972 / Finishing in joint first place in Afdeling Limburg Division 1H with vv VOS, 1 point ahead of closest followers vv Eiker Boys, KSV SHH goes on to meet the club from Venlo in a tie-break match, with the ground of vv (DES) Swalmen once again being the venue (1,500 spectators). However, losing the tie (2-0 A.E.T.), SHH sees VOS walking away with the promotion ticket.
  • 1974 / Moving away from Gemeentelijk Sportpark De Donderberg, KSV SHH settles at the newly laid-out Sportpark Offerkamp, consisting of two pitches, in the early months of 1974.
  • 1975 / Finishing bottom of the table in Afdeling Limburg Division 1H, KSV SHH drops back into Division 2 of the said league system alongside the club in second-last place, VCH. Also in or around 1975, SHH says goodbye to its last spiritual advisor, a requirement for any Roman Catholic sports club, resulting in the official club name changing from KSV SHH to SV SHH. However, it should be pointed out that, both before and after the name change, the prefix was (and is) hardly ever used.
  • 1977 / SV SHH finishes as runner-up in Afdeling Limburg Division 2O, 2 points behind champions SC Leeuwen.
  • 1978 / Finishing in joint first place in its group of Afdeling Limburg Division 2 with vv Boekoel, 10 points ahead of closest followers SV EMS and PSV ’35, SV SHH meets its rival club in a tie-break match, played at SC Leeuwen’s ground in front of a crowd of 1,500. However, suffering a 1-0 defeat, SHH has to leave the promotion ticket to Boekoel.
  • 1981 / Champions in its group of Afdeling Limburg Division 2, 3 points ahead of closest rivals RKVV Juliana K, SV SHH wins promotion to Division 1 of the said league system. The decisive points are clinched in a 5-0 home win over vv Putbroek. The successful coach is Hennie Roelofs. 
  • 1987 / SV SHH finishes as runner-up in Afdeling Limburg Division 1F, 6 points behind champions RKVB.
  • 1993 / As Sportpark Offerkamp is hit by a flooding of the River Meuse in December 1993, SV SHH has to hold its training sessions during the winter break at the grounds of vv Linne and SV EMS.
  • 1994 / Coached by Jean Smeets, SV SHH finishes in ninth place in Afdeling Limburg Division 1G, resulting in the club descending into Division 2 of the said league system.
  • 1995 / Champions in its group of Afdeling Limburg Division 2, 3 points ahead of closest followers RKHVC and RKVV Sint-Joost, SV SHH manages an immediate return to Division 1 of the said league system. The successful coach is Jan Helwegen.
  • 1996 / As Afdeling Limburg and all other KNVB sub-branches are abolished, SV SHH is placed in District South II’s Sunday League 5.
  • 1997 / Runner-up in District South II’s Sunday League 5C, 3 points behind champions RKVV Sint-Joost, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club loses both of its group matches – against RKVV Juliana K and RKSVV – thus missing out on promotion.
  • 1998 / Finishing in third place in District South II’s Sunday League 5C, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Being drawn into a group with RKSNA and vv Beegden, SHH manages wins against both, thus gaining promotion to Sunday League 4 after an absence of 42 years at that level. The successful coach is Con van Keeken.
  • 1999 / Finishing in fourth place in District South II’s Sunday League 4F, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is drawn into a group with RKVV Eindse Boys and vv (DES) Swalmen. Suffering a comprehensive defeat against the former (3-0), SHH cannot make up for this poor start in spite of a 2-1 win over the latter – having to leave the honours as well as the promotion ticket to Eindse Boys.
  • 2001 / Moving away from Sportpark Offerkamp, which has to make way for housing, SV SHH moves into the newly laid-out Sportpark De Wolfsberg in Merum on January 1st, 2001, with the opening ceremony being attended by Roermond’s mayor Herman Kaiser. The new facility, which has the luxury of four pitches, is actually very close to the former Terrein Wolfhagen, where SHH played its home matches between 1941 and c. 1946. In the 2001-01 season, the club manages a runner-up finish in District South II’s Sunday League 4E, 7 points behind champions vv Linne. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, SHH defeats vv DESM in R1, only to be knocked out in R2 by vv Roosteren (4-4 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out).
  • 2002 / Finishing in fourth place in District South II’s Sunday League 4D, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by SV Abdissenbosch (2-1 aggr.).
  • 2003 / Runner-up in District South II’s Sunday League 4D, 7 points behind champions RKVV Heel, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club edges past vv Heidebloem in R1 (3-3 aggr. & penalty shoot-out), only to bow out in R2 against SV UOW ’02 (4-2 aggr.).
  • 2006 / The main pitch of Sportpark De Wolfsberg is laid out anew with a synthetic surface, while the same renovation round also sees an extension of the clubhouse and the construction of additional dressing rooms.
  • 2007 / Runaway champions in District South II’s Sunday League 4D, 10 points ahead of closest rivals vv Brevendia and vv Kessel, SV SHH wins promotion to Sunday League 3 for the first time in club history. The decisive points are clinched in a 2-1 away win at vv Kessel. The successful coach is John Halmans.
  • 2009 / Finishing in fourth place in District South II’s Sunday League 3B, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by FC Kerkrade-West (2-0).
  • 2010 / Finishing in tenth place in District South II’s Sunday League 3B, SV SHH has to stave off relegation in a set of promotion-relegation play-offs. Drawing a bye in R1, the club suffers defeat in R2 against SV Schinnen (3-3 aggr. & penalty shoot-out). However, in a lucky-loser round, the club manages a narrow 4-3 A.E.T. win over OVCS, resulting in the club eventually securing its spot in League 3 for the following season.
  • 2011 / Finishing bottom of the table in District South II’s Sunday League 3B with coach Theo Pansters, SV SHH drops back into Sunday League 4 alongside SV Schinnen and SV EMS.
  • 2012 / Finishing in third place in District South II’s Sunday League 4D, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club edges past SV Schinnen (1-1 aggr. & penalty shoot-outs) and vv Spaubeek (1-0 aggr.) in the first two rounds, only to suffer defeat in the final at the hands of vv Belfeldia (1-0).
  • 2013 / Runaway champions in District South II’s Sunday League 4D, 10 points ahead of closest followres RKVV Haelen, SV SHH manages an immediate return to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Pie Schmitz.
  • 2015 / Runner-up in District South II’s Sunday League 3B, 13 points behind runaway champions Geusselt Sport, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion  play-offs, in which the club manages successive wins over FC Geleen Zuid (6-1 aggr.) and vv HEBES (5-2 aggr.). As a result, SHH accedes to Sunday League 2 for the first time in club history. The successful coach is Peter Verstappen.
  • 2016 / Finishing in eleventh place in Sunday League 2G, SV SHH manages to stay up thanks to a successful promotion-relegation play-off against SVME (3-0).
  • 2017 / Finishing in sixth place in Sunday League 2G, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by vv De Valk (5-2 aggr.).
  • 2018 / Coached by Maarten van Lieshout, SV SHH finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 2G, thus descending into Sunday League 3 alongside vv Sittard and vv Centrum Boys.
  • 2019 / Finishing in third place in District South II’s Sunday League 3B, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out FC Hoensbroek in R1 (0-1), only to suffer elimination in R2 against FC Geleen Zuid (2-1).
  • 2020 / Former SHH youth goalkeeper Loek Hamers, who had moved to the youth academy of Roda JC Kerkrade in 2010, makes his professional league debut for this club at the age of 20. Hamers bowed out at Roda JC Kerkrade after four years, in which he managed 8 first team matches. 
  • 2021 / Former SHH youth academy midfielder Levi Smans makes his professional league debut at VVV-Venlo at the age of 18, going on to sign a deal with SC Heerenveen in 2024.
  • 2022 / Champions in District South II’s Sunday League 3B, 4 points ahead of runner-up SV Langeberg, SV SHH manages a return to Sunday League 2 after an absence of four years. The successful coach is Patrick Wolters.
  • 2023 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 2E, SV SHH qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club has an excellent run, successively knocking out BSV Olympia ’18 (1-1 & penalty shoot-out), RKVV Venlosche Boys (1-2 A.E.T.), and vv Schaesberg (1-2) in the first two rounds, going on to defeat RKSV Bekkerveld in the final, played at a neutral venue, Sportpark ‘t Hetjen in Stein (5-3). As a result, SHH manages a historic promotion to Sunday League 1.
  • 2024 / Coached by Ruud Peters, SV SHH finishes in eleventh place in Sunday League 1F, resulting in the club having to save its skin in the promotion-relegation play-offs. Drawing a bye in R1, the club goes on to defeat RKVV Sportclub ’25 in R2 (0-1) – only to be knocked out in the final, with Sportpark ‘t Hetjen in Stein being the venue once again, against GSV ’28 (2-1). As a result, the club descends into Sunday League 2 after just one season.
  • 2025 / Coached by Siem Nijssen, SV SHH finishes in eleventh place in Sunday League 2E, resulting in the club having to save its skin in the promotion-relegation play-offs. Drawing a bye in R1, the club is eliminated in R2 by BSV Olympia ’18 (1-2). As such, SHH suffers back-to-back relegations, descending into Sunday League 3, along with Geusselt Sport and bottom club vv Maastricht West.
  • 2026 / Champions in Sunday League 3H, 5 points ahead of runner-up FC Landgraaf, SV SHH manages an immediate return to Sunday League 2. The decisive points are clinched in a 4-1 home win over RKFC Lindenheuvel-Heidebloem Combinatie (4-1, cp. photos below). The successful coach is Peter Decrae.
Note – The bulk of the information provided above has been derived from a book, published on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of SV SHH: “Hadrianus, krijgsman met palm en zwaard 1940-2015. De historie van S.H.H.”, by Eugène Lamers, ed. SHH: Herten 2015.













All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author
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Sunday, 24 May 2026

BELGIUM: R Lierneux FC

Rue de la Gare, Lierneux (R Lierneux FC)

Belgium, province: Liège = Luik

24 V 2026 / R Lierneux FC - FC Bercheux 0-1 / Belgian Luxembourg, Provincial League 2 - promotion play-off  (= BE level 7)

Timeline
  • 1923 / Foundation of a first football club in the village of Lierneux, in the far south of the Province of Liège in Belgium; the new club is given the name FC Albert Star and joins the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA / KBVB). It is unclear where the ground of this club was situated.
  • 1926 / After an existence of merely three years, FC Albert Star folds, ceasing all activities. However, in the fall of that same year, a phoenix club sees the daylight in the shape of Sportsmen Club, which acquires registration number 780 upon the introduction of the registration numbers by the Belgian FA in December 1926. Again, it is unclear where the ground of this new club was situated.
  • 1930 / After an existence of four years, Sportsmen Club folds, ceasing all activities, thus leaving Lierneux without a football club.
  • 1939 / Foundation of a new football club in Lierneux, which is given the simple and straightforward name Lierneux FC. With Théophile Mention taking on the role of chairman, Lierneux FC acquires registration number 2804 upon joining the Belgian FA. The club takes its place on a newly laid-out pitch at Rue de la Gare – in fact the pitch still in use as the main pitch today. In the following decades, Lierneux FC competes in the provincial divisions of Liège.
  • 1974 / Lierneux FC wins promotion to Liège’s Provincial League 1 for the first time in club history.
  • 1976 / After two seasons, Lierneux FC suffers relegation from Liège’s Provincial League 1 into Provincial League 2.
  • 1977 / Lierneux FC manages a return to Liège’s Provincial League 1 after just one season.
  • 1980 / In the best season in club history, Lierneux FC manages a top place in Liège’s Provincial League 1, with the club qualifying for a play-off to win promotion to National Division 4. Taking on RFC Malmundaria 1904 and SRU Verviers, the club ultimately has to leave the honours to the latter club, which joins champions RCS Visétois in an adventure in national league football.
  • 1981 / After four years, Lierneux FC suffers relegation from Liège’s Provincial League 1, with the club never managing a return to that level in subsequent years.
  • 1989 / Upon the club’s fiftieth anniversary, Lierneux FC acquires the royal epithet, thus officially becoming Royal Lierneux Football Club, abbreviated as R Lierneux FC.
  • 1997 / Following the example of their derby rivals RUS Sartoise from Petit-Sart of a couple of years before, R Lierneux FC chooses to leave the provincial leagues of Liège to join the league system of the neighbouring province of (Belgian) Luxembourg. In the isolated Northern Ardennes region, this allows R Lierneux FC to take on clubs from nearby villages such as Salmchâteau, Vielsalm, Harre, Regné, and Manhay. For the 1997-98 season, the club takes its place in the bottom division of Luxembourg’s league pyramid, Provincial League 3.
  • 1998 / Runaway champions in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, 17 points ahead of closest followers CS Odeigne, R Lierneux FC wins promotion to Provincial League 2.
  • 2001 / Runner-up in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, 10 points behind champions RCS Vielsalm, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by ES Bourcy (4-4 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out).
  • 2007 / Finishing in second-last place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, R Lierneux FC descends into Provincial League 3 after nine years, alongside bottom club ES Bourcy.
  • 2008 / Runner-up in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, 7 points behind champions RUS Erezée, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club manages to reach the final – and by beating Union Cécilienne, also to gain promotion to Provincial League 2 after a one-year absence.
  • 2010 / Finishing bottom of the table in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, R Lierneux FC drops back into Provincial League 3, along with RES Izier and RCS Vielsalm.
  • 2011 / Finishing in fifth place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club bows out in R1 against R Excelsior Fouches (4-2).
  • 2012 / Finishing in third place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club edges past R Haut-Fays Sport in R1 (3-3 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out), going on to defeat R Entente Roy-Lignières-Grimbiémont in R2 (0-1); as such, the club manages an immediate return to Provincial League 2.
  • 2013 / Finishing in third-last place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, R Lierneux FC drops back into Provincial League 3 after just one season, alongside ES Heydoise and bottom club JS Tavigny.
  • 2014 / Champions in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, 2 points ahead of runner-up ES Heydoise, R Lierneux FC once again manages to regain its place in Provincial League 2 after a one-year absence.
  • 2018 / Finishing in third-last place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, R Lierneux FC has to stave off relegation in a play-off against the number 14 finishers in the two other Provincial League 2 groups, RES Aubange and RUSA Ochamps. With both Lierneux and Aubange managing to defeat Ochamps (1-4 and 3-2), the final match between Lierneux and Ochamps is never held – with the latter being condemned to relegation to Provincial League 3.
  • 2019 / Finishing in third-last place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, R Lierneux FC descends into Provincial League 3 after five years, alongside US Vecmont and bottom club RUS Bérismenil.
  • 2020 / R Lierneux FC merges its youth academy with the academies of neighbour clubs RCS de la Salm and RUS Sartoise in a newly formed youth academy club, which is given the name Jeunesse Unie Nord-Ardenne (JUNA) Salm-Sart-Lierneux, with this ‘club’ acquiring registration number 9796 upon being admitted as a new member of the Belgian FA.
  • 2022 / Finishing in third place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3F, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by RCS de la Salm (4-6 A.E.T.).
  • 2024 / Finishing in fourth place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3E, R Lierneux FC goes on to win the promotion play-offs following wins over FC Bomal (R1, 1-2) and RSC Rendeux (R2, 2-0). As such, the club manages a return to Provincial League 2 after five years.
  • 2026 / Runner-up in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 2C, 12 points behind runaway champions R Entente Roy-Lignières-Grimbiémont, R Lierneux FC qualifies for the promotion play-offs for a place in Luxembourg’s Provincial League 1 for the first time. Successively knocking out RC Erezée-Amonines (R1, 2-1) and RES Champlonaise (R2, 2-1), the club qualifies for the three-way final against FC Bercheux and RES Aubange. After Bercheux and Lierneux both managed a win against Aubange, the final match in the group, played at Rue de la Gare (photos below) brought the decision – and with a 1-0 win for Bercheux, R Lierneux FC narrowly missed out on a historic promotion.





















All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author
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Saturday, 23 May 2026

NETHERLANDS: HPSV (1936-1950, 1951-2024, 2025, 2026)

Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West, The Hague = Den Haag = 's-Gravenhage Zuiderpark (formerly HPSV)

Netherlands, province: South Holland = Zuid-Holland

23 V 2026 / HPSV - SC REMO 6-2 / District West II, Saturday League 5C (= NL level 10)

Timeline
  • 1919 / Foundation of a football club for the constabulary in The Hague, with the club being given the name Haagsche Politiesportvereniging – abbreviated as HPSV – with M. Spetter becoming the new club’s first chairman. Football is not the only sport practiced by club members, as branches for athletics, swimming, and fencing are also formed; in the following years, horse riding, walking sports, rifle shooting, and cycling are added to the myriad of activities. Upon its foundation, the football branch of HPSV joins the so-called Kantoren- en Veteranenelftallenbond (KEVEB), a football association for corporate teams in The Hague, with teams competing in the Kantoren- en Veteranenelftallenafdeeling (KEVEA). Initially, the club plays its home matches as groundsharer at various venues, notably Terrein Loosduinschweg of HSV VUC. Training sessions are held at Stokroosstraat, at the back of a secondary school, the Haagsch Lyceum.
  • 1920 / In the club’s first documented match, HPSV manages a 3-1 away win against a team of Haarlem constables on March 6th, 1920.
  • 1923 / HPSV wins the KEVEA Cup (KEVEA-Beker) for the first time.
  • 1926 / The flagship team of HPSV joins the so-called Westelijke Politiesportbond (WPSB), which had been founded one year previously as the sports association for constabularies from the three western provinces (North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht). The recreational teams of HPSV continue to compete in the KEVEA divisions. 
  • 1929 / After ten years of groundsharing at various other clubs in The Hague, the football branch of HPSV acquires a pitch of its own on the eastern edge of the so-called Zuiderpark, a park area which is in the process of being laid out in those years. The club moves into the new location, situated to the north of the Zuiderparkstadion of ADO, in a ceremony, attended by the mayor of The Hague, Mr Patijn, chief constable Van ‘t Sant, and HPSV chairman Roza. 
  • 1930 / Clinching the title in WPSB District South (Afdeeling Zuid), HPSV goes on to suffer defeat in the final against District North champions APGS (6-1 aggr.), thus missing out on the nationwide police title.
  • 1931 / HPSV wins its second title in a row, clinching first place in WPSB District West following a 3-2 win against Delftsche Politie. No nationwide title competition is organised this season.
  • 1934 / Clinching the title in WPSB District II, HPSV goes on to win the nationwide police title following positive results against the police team from Amersfoort (9-1 & 3-3) and PSV Hermandad (Rotterdam, 10-2).
  • 1935 / HPSV wins the nationwide police title for the second time in a row, managing first place in WPSB Hoofdklasse following a win against Utrecht side UPS. Also in 1935, the club wins its second KEVEA Cup thanks to a convincing 5-0 win over SVV Scheveningen Veterans.
  • 1936 / HPSV wins the nationwide police title for the third time in a row, managing first place in WPSB Hoofdklasse following a 3-1 home win over PSV Hermandad on May 19th, 1936. This win also happens to be the club’s first-ever match on its new pitch at the western edge of the Zuiderpark, where it was due to spend the remainder of its existence; the new location marked an improvement as compared to the old situation, as HPSV’s pitch on the other side of the park was often water-logged. Also in 1936, HPSV wins its third KEVEA Cup, defeating HSV Kranenburg Veterans in the final (1-0). 
  • 1937 / HPSV wins its fourth KEVEA Cup, defeating ADO Veterans in the final (5-2).
  • 1938 / HPSV wins the title in WPSB District West, but the ensuing title play-offs remain unfinished. Also in 1938, HPSV wins its fifth KEVEA Cup – and its fourth in a row – defeating ODIS in the final (3-2); following this fifth win, HPSV is allowed to keep the trophy in its cabinet for good. 
  • 1939 / HPSV wins the title in WPSB District West B. No title play-offs are held at the end of the year, with the 1939-40 season being called off altogether following the mobilisation of the Netherlands’ armed forces in August 1939.
  • 1940 / As all competitions except for the official Netherlands’ Football Association (KNVB, renamed NVB for the duration of the war) are abolished following the German occupation of the Netherlands, the flagship team of HPSV is placed in Sunday Division 2 of Afdeling Den Haag, as the (K)NVB sub-branch in The Hague is officially renamed; officiously, however, its old name, HVB (Haagse Voetbalbond) would remain in use almost universally.
  • 1941 / Clinching the title in HVB Sunday Division 2A, HPSV wins promotion to Division 1 of the said league system.
  • 1942 / Champions in HVB Sunday Division 1A without suffering a single defeat (11 wins, 1 draw), HPSV goes on to win the ensuing round of championship play-offs in a group against FZC, HVV Laakkwartier IV, KRVC, HV&CV Quick IV, and VSV Tonegido Reserves. As such, the club accedes to District West II’s Sunday League 4, the fourth tier of the Netherlands’ football pyramid at that time. Meanwhile, HPSV’s reserves’ team withdraws from the KEVEA competition due to a lack of players. Also in 1942, the pitch of HPSV is surrounded by concrete posts, allowing a rope to be tied between the pitch itself and the spectators’ area.
  • 1943 / HPSV wins its third title in a row, finishing top of the table in District West II’s Sunday League 4F. The decisive points are clinched in a 3-1 win over runner-up vv Saturnus. Due to the war situation no championship play-offs are organised, with the club thus being deprived of the opportunity to try to win promotion to League 3.
  • 1944 / Finishing in joint first place in District West II’s Sunday League 4F with vv Saturnus, HPSV goes on to win a tie-break match against the club from Rotterdam (6-1). Thus crowning themselves champions for the fourth time in a row, the club goes on to compete in the championship play-offs against SV Slikkerveer and vv Moordrecht, having to settle for second place behind the former and thus missing out on promotion. No league football is played in the 1944-45 season.
  • 1945 / As regular football is resumed following the liberation of the Netherlands from the German yoke, the reserves’ team of HPSV resumes its activities after three years – not in the KEVEA competition, which was probably never resumed after the war, but in the WPSB – continuing to do so for the following 55 odd years, clinching various titles in WPSB Hoofdklasse.
  • 1946 / Finishing in joint first place in District West II’s Sunday League 4C with RVC Celeritas, HPSV takes on the club from Rijswijk in a tie-break match, played at ADO’s Zuiderparkstadion in front of a crowd of 7,000 (!). However, the club has to leave the honours to its adversaries following a 2-1 (A.E.T.) defeat.
  • 1947 / Finishing in joint first place in District West II’s Sunday League 4C with SMV, HPSV goes on to defeat this club in a tie-break match for the title (4-2). In the ensuing championship play-offs, HPSV suffers defeat against vv Texas (3-2), thus missing out on promotion.
  • 1948 / Runaway champions in District West II’s Sunday League 4B, 11 points ahead of closest rivals VDS, HPSV goes on to win the ensuing round of championship play-offs against vv Alphia and SV ASC. As such, the club wins promotion to Sunday League 3 for the first time.
  • 1949 / HPSV finishes as runner-up in District West II’s Sunday League 3D, 3 points behind champions The Rising Hope.
  • 1950 / Besides a Sunday team in League 3, HPSV now enters with a second first team in the Saturday pyramid of Afdeling Den Haag, i.e. the HVB, with HPSV (za) being placed in HVB Saturday Division 3A for its first season. Also in 1950, HPSV’s Sunday team is placed under the tutelage of coach Wim Tap, former striker of ADO, who won 33 caps for the Netherlands (17 goals!) between 1925 and 1931. 
  • 1951 / HPSV (za) wins the title in HVB Saturday Division 3, thus winning promotion to Division 2 of the said league system. In the second half of the 1950-51 season, HPSV has to play its home matches as groundsharer at Terrein Fruitweg of vv Ter Laak due to its own pitch at Zuiderpark being rendered unplayable due to heavy rainfall. The club returns to its ground following extensive drainage works in the summer of 1951.
  • 1952 / Coach Wim Tap leaves the club after two seasons. Wim Tap would pass away in 1979 at the age of 75.
  • 1954 / Finishing in joint last place in District West II’s Sunday League 3B with RKSV GDA and vv Hoek van Holland, HPSV goes on to meet these two clubs in a tie-break competition. Finishing in second place behind GDA, HPSV just saves its skin, with vv Hoek van Holland dropping back into League 4.
  • 1955 / HPSV is joined by coach Ben Peeters, who takes charge of the club’s Sunday team in the following years beside his work for larger clubs HV&CV Quick (1953-56), HFC Haarlem (1956-59), and HBS (1959-60).
  • 1956 / HPSV’s Saturday team finishes in joint first place in HVB Saturday Division 2 with vv BIZON, going on to suffer defeat against that club in a tie-break match (2-1 A.E.T.) and thus missing out on promotion.
  • 1958 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Sunday League 3A with coach Ben Peeters, HPSV drops back into Sunday League 4 after ten years.
  • 1961 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Sunday League 4B with only 6 points (1 win, 4 draws), HPSV drops back into HVB Sunday Division 1. Coach Ben Peeters leaves the club after six years to work as a youth academy coach at RVV Feijenoord. Peeters would go on to have spells as head coach at RVV Feijenoord (1967-69), NAC (1971-73), and RV&AV Excelsior (1973-75).
  • 1962 / Finishing bottom of the table in HVB Sunday Division 1A, HPSV drops back into Division 2 of the said league system. However, following the 1961-62 season, HPSV withdraws from regular first team football in the Sunday divisions, continuing with just its Saturday team in HVB Saturday Division 2.
  • 1963 / Champions in HVB Saturday Division 2A, HPSV wins promotion to Saturday Division 1 of the said league system.
  • 1964 / The Sunday branch of HPSV is wound up, as all competitive activities of the football club take place on Saturdays from now on.
  • 1971 / Finishing in the top half of HVB Saturday Division 1A, HPSV is placed in the newly created HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse.
  • 1973 / Finishing bottom of the table in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse A, HPSV descends into Saturday Division 1 of the said league system. Also in 1973, an indoor football branch is added to the set-up at HPSV. 
  • 1975 / Finishing in joint first place in HVB Saturday Division 1A with SV De Jagers, HPSV goes on to meet that club in a tie-break match for the title. In spite of suffering defeat (3-2), HPSV wins promotion to HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse due to extra promotion places being available. The successful coach is Albert Boek.
  • 1976 / After building works which took about a year, the new clubhouse and dressing rooms, erected in stone, are inaugurated at Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West, replacing a wooden predecessor as well as tents serving as changing rooms. That same year, a new floodlight installation is installed as well, replacing its weaker predecessor, which had been put in place in 1972. The new facility is inaugurated with a gala match against the third team of FC Den Haag, which included future FC Den Haag, FC Bayern München, FC Twente, West Bromwich Albion FC, Coventry City FC, and Netherlands’ international defender Martin Jol.
  • 1977 / Finishing in joint first place in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse with SEV, HPSV goes on to defeat that club in a tie-break match for the title (3-1, goals by Joop van der Krogt, Rob Bol, and Ron Baay). As such, the club wins promotion to District West II’s Saturday League 4. The successful coach is Sicco Kuiper. 
  • 1978 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 4A with coach Sicco Kuiper, HPSV drops back into HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse after just one season, along with the club in second-last place, HVV Te Werve.
  • 1980 / Champions in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, 2 points ahead of closest rivals HVV Te Werve, HPSV wins promotion to Saturday League 4 after an absence of two years at that level. The successful coach is Sicco Kuiper. Also in 1980, a thorough renovation of Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West is undertaken, with the 38-year-old concrete posts around the pitch being replaced by iron fencing, as well as barrier nets and an entrance gate being added to the set-up.
  • 1982 / Arie Pronk, part of the extremely successful first team of HPSV in the 1940s, succumbs to a heart-attack on the pitch in a veterans’ match on October 30th, 1982, passing away at the age of 62. In total, Mr Pronk wore the colours of HPSV in some 1,500 matches for the flagship team as well as recreational teams.  
  • 1983 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 4A with coach Willem van der Zant, HPSV drops back into HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, along with the club in second-last place, vv DORR.
  • 1985 / Runner-up in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, HPSV wins promotion to Saturday League 4 under the aegis of coach Frans Peeters. That same year, a corridor is constructed to connect the clubhouse and the dressing rooms at Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West. 
  • 1986 / HPSV appoints Maarten Rog as its new head coach. Rog, a former professional league player of Feyenoord Rotterdam Reserves and SC Veendam, would be at the helm of the club’s first team in two long spells (1986-91, 2000-05).
  • 1987 / Finishing in second-last place in District West II’s Saturday League 4A with coach Maarten Rog, HPSV descends into HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse alongside bottom club vv DORR.
  • 1988 / Finishing in joint first place in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse with RVV Semper Altius, HPSV goes on to win a tie-break match against the club from Rijswijk (3-2, two goals by Peter Vogelzang, one by Henk van der Woude). As such, HPSV manages an immediate return to Saturday League 4.
  • 1989 / On the club’s seventieth anniversary, HPSV receives FC Den Haag in a gala match at Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West. In a rather unusual encounter, with the professional league side’s idiosyncratic coach Co Adriaanse letting his team play with ten (first half) and nine (second half) players, the final score is 2-3.
  • 1991 / Coached by Maarten Rog, HPSV finishes bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 4A, thus descending into HVB Hoofdklasse, with the other drop-out being the club in second-last place, SV DSO. 
  • 1993 / As the constabulary of The Hague is incorporated into the Haaglanden Regional Police, Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West is purchased by this new entity from the municipality of The Hague. That same year, the clubhouse is renovated.
  • 1995 / Finishing in third place in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, HPSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club finishes bottom of the table in a group with SV Duinoord, vv Postalia, and HVV BMT. Also in 1995, two years after the foundation of the Haaglanden Regional Police, HPSV officially changes its name from Haagse Politiesportvereniging to Haaglandse Politiesportvereniging – with the abbreviated name remaining untouched as a result.
  • 1996 / Finishing in second-last place in HVB Zaterdag Hoofdklasse, HPSV is placed in the newly created Sunday League 5 of District West, with Afdeling Den Haag (HVB) and all other KNVB sub-branches being abolished.
  • 1997 / Runner-up in District West III’s Saturday League 5C, 4 points behind champions RVV Semper Altius, HPSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated following defeats in the group stage against vv Schipluiden (1-4) and HVV Te Werve (1-0).
  • 1998 / Champions in District West III’s Saturday League 5B, 1 point ahead of closest rivals vv PGS, HPSV wins promotion to Saturday League 4 after an absence of seven years at that level. The promotion is secured in large part thanks to 35 goals being scored by former vv DHC striker Weng Tung. The successful coach is Nico van der Meer.
  • 2000 / Finishing in third place in District West III’s Saturday League 4B, HPSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club wins the group stage. In the final, a defeat is suffered against MVKV (4-0), but promotion to Saturday League 3 is secured nonetheless thanks to one extra promotion place turning out to be available. The successful coach is Nico van der Meer.
  • 2001 / Finishing in joint eleventh place in District West III’s Saturday League 3B with SV Loosduinen, HPSV goes on to suffer defeat in a tie-break match against that club. Thus having to stave off relegation in a set of play-offs, HPSV ultimately manages to stay up, defeating SCS TAC ’90 in the final.
  • 2002 / Finishing in tenth place in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, HPSV has to secure its place at that level in a set of promotion-relegation play-offs. Seeing off vv Koudekerk in R1, the club ultimately suffers defeat in R2 against RKSV Blauw-Zwart. As such, the team of coach Maarten Rog is retrograded into Saturday League 4.
  • 2003 / Finishing in fifth place in District West II’s Saturday League 4B, HPSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the final by PEC Den Haag.
  • 2005 / Finishing in eighth place in District West II’s Saturday League 4C, HPSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in the final by PEC Den Haag.
  • 2007 / Finishing in joint tenth place in District West II’s Saturday League 4C with Real Parbo, HPSV secures its place at that level in the promotion-relegation play-offs, defeating SCS TAC ’90 in the final.
  • 2018 / The indoor football branch of HPSV is wound up after an existence of 45 years.
  • 2020 / HPSV is joined by coach Winston Faerber, former professional league defender at FC Den Haag, ADO Den Haag, Cardiff City FC, and FC Den Bosch (1994-2004). Faerber would stay with the club for one year only, with the 2020-21 season being broken off due to the second COVID lockdown in October/November 2020.
  • 2023 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 4C, HPSV drops back in the newly resuscitated Saturday League 5 alongside RKVV Quick Steps and RVV Semper Altius.
  • 2024 / Due to grubs – and birds preying on them – ravishing in the surface of HPSV’s sole pitch at Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West, the club has to move away home matches from its ground in early November 2024, playing the remainder of the season groundsharing with RKVV Quick Steps at Nijkerklaan.
  • 2025 / Starting the 2025-26 season back at its home ground, HPSV sees its playing surface being destructed again for the same reason as the previous season, having to move away to RKVV Quick Steps from the fall of 2025 onward.
  • 2026 / In a combined effort by the club and municipal authorities of The Hague, the pitch at Sportcomplex Zuiderpark West is rendered playable again for the last two home matches of HPSV in May 2026 (the last of which being the subject of the pictures below). Finishing in tenth place in District West II’s Saturday League 5C, the football branch of HPSV is wound up, ceasing all activities after an existence of 107 years. Other branches of the club, notably its fishing sport branch, continue their life unimpeded. It is as yet unclear what the future will hold for the football pitch in the Zuiderpark, still owned by the Haaglanden Regional Police.
Note – The main source of information for this write-up is a book, published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of HPSV:“Waakzaam, dienstbaar en 100 jaar aan de bal. Een eeuw HPSV Voetbal (1919-2019)”, by John Mulder, ed. Nederlandse Sportboekenclub: Voorburg 2019. Thanks to John Mulder for putting at my disposal a copy of this excellent book.























All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author
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