Extreme Football Tourism: NETHERLANDS: vv Surhuisterveen (B) (1972-1979) / vv 't Fean '58 (B) (1972-1979) / vv Surhuisterveen (1980-2023) / FC Surhústerfean (2023-)

Sportpark 't Ketting Oost, Surhuisterveen = Surhústerfean (FC Surhústerfean, formerly vv Surhuisterveen / B pitch of vv Surhuisterveen & vv 't Fean '58)

Netherlands, province: Frisia = Friesland

4 VI 2022 / vv Surhuisterveen - vv Drogeham 3-2 / District North, Saturday League 5C (= NL level 10)

13 V 2023 / vv Surhuisterveen - vv Donkerbroek 3-1 (game abandoned after 87 minutes due to away side refusing to play on) / District North, Saturday League 5C (= NL level 10)

Timeline

1922 / On makeshift football pitches, created on meadows around Surhuisterveen, local youths try their hand at playing football - initially referred to simply als 'schoppen', kicking - for the first time. A first pitch is laid out at the back of a local pub, Café Eye Fokkinga. With most players wearing wooden shoes while playing, friendly matches are played against teams from surrounding villages, including De Zandhazen (from Houtigehage) and a prison team from Opende, just across the provincial border in Groningen.
± 1928 / Foundation of a first recreational football team in Surhuisterveen, SDO (= Samenspel Doet Overwinnen). In the following years, football is played at various 'pitches' around the village, including Terrein De Dobbe (owned by a local farmer, Boer Postma), Terrein Groningerstraat (Boer Nieuwland), Terrein Westerbouwing, Terrein Ate Kloosterman (1931), Terrein Brand Mulder, and back to Boer Nieuwland in 1934. SDO's team plays friendly matches and takes part in various short-running competitions, notably winning a tournament in Nij Beets after defeating a team from Oerterp in the final (some time between 1931 and 1934).
1935 / SDO being wound up, a first football club is founded in Surhuisterveen which seeks affiliation to FVB (Friesche Voetbalbond), the Frisian branch of the official Netherlands' FA (KNVB). The new club, which is given the name vv Surhuisterveen, finds a first chairman in the shape of Jan Rinsma. vv Surhuisterveen starts its life as a Sunday league club in FVB's Sunday Division 3, making its debut in an away match at Westeinder Boys on September 8th, 1935 (being defeated 4-1). The club's first ground is Terrein Boer Nieuwland at Groningerstraat, previously used by SDO as well.
± 1938 / In 1938 or 1939, vv Surhuisterveen wins the title in FVB Sunday Division 3, thus acceding to FVB Sunday Division 2. Some time during the German occupation of the Netherlands, the club must have managed promotion to FVB Sunday Division 1 as well, but accurate information regarding the club's early years is not available.
± 1945 / Shortly after the liberation of the Netherlands, vv Surhuisterveen, hitherto a Sunday league club, starts a Saturday league branch, allowing boys from the village's evangelical community to join the club as well. Possibly in 1946, for the first time, the club enters first teams in both Sunday and Saturday league football.
1948 / Winning the title in FVB Saturday Division 2, vv Surhuisterveen's Saturday league team accedes to FVB Saturday Division 1.
1950 / Coached by Willem Boomsma, vv Surhuisterveen's Sunday league team wins the title in FVB Sunday Division 1, obtaining the decisive points in a 3-1 win over vv Haulerwijk (2 goals by Sjoerd Pama and 1 by Johan Huitema). Although promotion being secured, the club takes part in a play-off competition against the winners of the two other FVB Sunday Division 1 branches, vv Kollum and vv Nicator II, to determine the over-all FVB champion - in which vv Kollum comes out on top. With the club now acceding to regular Sunday League 4 for the first time, a move to a new ground has become unavoidable, given that Terrein Boer Nieuwland (Groningerstraat) does not have the correct measurements for official football matches - leaving alone the fact that the ground does not dispose of a dressing room, which are obligatory for football clubs competing in regular KNVB divisions. A solution is found at Lauwersweg, where the club rent a plot of land from the local Reformed Church. The costs being covered in part by organising a lottery, a set of dressing rooms is constructed. Terrein Groningerstraat is later taken over by AVEK, a bedding factory.
1951 / In its first season in District North's Sunday League 4, vv Surhuisterveen manages a respectable 6th place (with 12 teams competing).
1952 / Clinching the title in FVB Saturday Division 1, vv Surhuisterveen's Saturday league team qualifies for a promotion play-off against vv Balk, but is defeated - although it takes a third match (played at a neutral venue, Oranjewoud) to determine the winner -, thus missing out on promotion.
1954 / Finishing as runners-up in FVB Saturday Division 1, vv Surhuisterveen's Saturday league branch is admitted to KNVB Saturday League 4 due to extra promotion places being available.
1955 / In its first year in Saturday League 4, vv Surhuisterveen's Saturday team finishes 7th, thus dropping back into FVB Division 1.
1957 / In District North's Regional Cup, vv Surhuisterveen's Sunday league team is drawn against a team from League 1, vv Sneek, for the first time; keeping up until 15 minutes before the end (3-3), Surhuisterveen eventually loses the match 6-3. In the 1957-58 season, the club's Sunday team has a good season, finishing runners-up in Sunday League 4 behind vv ONB.
1958 / Finishing in 5th place in FVB Saturday Division 1B in the 1957-58 season, vv Surhuisterveen's Saturday branch decides to break away and found a separate football club, which is given the name vv 't Fean '58. The two main reasons for the break-up are, firstly, disagreement among protestant-christian club members about a football pool being organised by the club; and, secondly, a more generally felt dissatisfaction about Saturday league football being treated disdainfully by the part of the membership dedicated to Sunday league football. Although emotions must have played a part in the break, both clubs continue to share the same pitch in the following years, with floodlights being added in 1958 to allow midweek training sessions being held.
1959 / Guided by trainer J. Hazeveld, vv Surhuisterveen clinches the title in Sunday League 4C, winning the decisive match away at vv Oerterp comprehensively (0-4). Yet, the club misses out on promotion, finishing last in a play-off competition for two available spots in Sunday League 3, with the winners of the other three Sunday League 4 branches in District North being the other participants (RKVV MKV '29, vv De Kooi, and vv Roden - with the two first-mentioned clubs gaining the tickets to League 3).
1960 / Still coached by J. Hazeveld, vv Surhuisterveen manages its second consecutive Sunday League 4C title, winning the decisive match at home against vv Bakkeveen, with the only goal being scored by Jan "Kanne" Huitema). In the ensuing promotion play-offs, vv Surhuisterveen gains access to League 3, along with vv Black Boys - at the expense of FC Oldemarkt and vv Roden. Also in 1960, a second pitch is added to Terrein Lauwersweg, commonly used by vv Surhuisterveen and vv 't Fean '58.
1961 / In its first year in KNVB Sunday League 3, vv Surhuisterveen manages a respectable 3rd place - with the title going to vv Hunsingo.
1963 / Having found its own at the League 3 level relatively easily in the past 3 seasons, vv Surhuisterveen, with manager Chris Pals, clinches the Sunday League 3B title, winning the decisive match 4-2 against vv Roden. Also in 1963, a practice pitch is added to Terrein Lauwersweg, bringing the total of available pitches at the park up to three.
1964 / Although there is talk of a new municipal sports park to be laid out elsewhere in Surhuisterveen in the near future, vv Surhuisterveen and vv 't Fean '58 build a new clubhouse with dressing rooms at Terrein Lauwersweg.
1966 / Finishing 6th in Sunday League 2A, vv Surhuisterveen manages its best result in club history - with two more 6th places at this level being recorded in 1968 and 1969. At Easter 1966, English non-league club Whitton United FC (from Ipswich) pays a visit to vv Surhuisterveen, playing a friendly against vv Surhuisterveen, with the British guests winning the encounter (2-4). In the following years, Whitton returns to Surhuisterveen regularly during the Easter days. Also in 1966, a start is made on the works to bring about a new municipal park, Sportpark 't Ketting.
1967 / In the final of District North's Regional Cup (Districtsbeker), played in Zuidlaren, vv Surhuisterveen is defeated comprehensively (5-1) by vv Emmen. Also in the 1966-67 season, skipper Jan 'Kanne' Huitema plays his 400th match in the club's first team.
1969 / After 3 years, the pitches at Sportpark 't Ketting having been laid out, the park is ready for use - were it not for the fact that there are no clubhouse and dressing rooms available yet. As long as this situation continues, no matches can be played in the new surroundings.
1970 / After 7 years at League 2 level, vv Surhuisterveen finishes last in Sunday League 2A, thus dropping back into League 3 along with vv Jubbega and SC Emmeloord.
1971 / In its first year back in Sunday League 3, vv Surhuisterveen nearly suffers a second relegation in a row, only saving its skin by winning a set of two play-off matches against Hellas VC. Also in 1971, after two decades of service to vv Surhuisterveen's first team, Jan 'Kanne' Huitema withdraws into one of the club's recreational teams. In a gala match, organised in his honour, vv Surhuisterveen hosts vv Harkema-Opeinde, with the guests - playing in Sunday League 1 at that time - winning the encounter 5-1. Huitema could take comfort in the fact that he scored Surhuisterveen's only goal on the day.
1972 / Along with vv 't Fean '58 - as well as the village's netball club and two gymnastic clubs -, vv Surhuisterveen moves into Sportpark 't Ketting, which has finally been adorned with a clubhouse, shared by all four clubs. On the inaugural day, with the ceremonies being performed by Surhuisterveen's mayor, Huib Ottevanger, vv Surhuisterveen and vv 't Fean 58 play a friendly match on the main pitch, which will be shared by both clubs for the time being. Meanwhile, Terrein Lauwersweg is abandoned after 22 years, later being taken over by Riemersma, a stroller factory.
1973 / In its first season at Sportpark 't Ketting, disastrously, vv Surhuisterveen finished 11th in Sunday League 3B, thus dropping back to League 4 level, along with rock bottom vv De Wilper Boys. It is the first time in 13 years the club finds itself in this division.
1975 / The club's 40th anniversary is celebrated with a gala match between veteran teams of vv Surhuisterveen and vv Harkema-Opeinde, won by the former (4-1).
1979 / A start is made on the construction of a new clubhouse and dressing rooms at the eastern end of Sportpark 't Ketting, to the south of the park's B pitch. The premises are intended to be made use of by vv Surhuisterveen, the netball club and the two gymnastic clubs - but not by vv 't Fean '58.
1980 / The new clubhouse being finished in December 1979, vv Surhuisterveen moves into the building in the early months of 1980. From now on, the club uses the park's B pitch as its main pitch, leaving behind vv 't Fean 58 on the (formerly shared) A pitch. Later in 1980, vv 't Fean 58 also replaces the original clubhouse with a new, more modern construction.
1982 / Losing a relegation play-off against vv De Wilper Boys, played at a neutral venue in Marum (3-0), vv Surhuisterveen, which finished 11th and second last in Sunday League 4C in the 1981-82 season, descends into the ranks of FVB, 32 seasons after having played at that lowly level for the last time.
1984 / Having narrowly staved off relegation into FVB Division 2 the previous season by finishing ahead of vv Oldeboorn and vv Tijnje, vv Surhuisterveen descends into this abyss, the lowest level of the football pyramid, in 1984 by finishing 11th and second last in FVB Division 1.
1985 / Finishing runners-up in FVB Division 2, vv Surhuisterveen just misses out on promotion back to the highest FVB level.
1987 / Winning the title in FVB Division 2A without a single defeat, but with an advantage of 'just' 4 points over vv Sparta '59, vv Surhuisterveen manages a return to FVB Division 1.
1988 / With extra promotion places being available that season, a 3rd place in FVB Division 1, behind vv De Blesse and vv TFS, suffices for vv Surhuisterveen to reclaim its place in Sunday League 4. The joy is short-lived, though, with a last place in Sunday League 4C in the 1988-89 season and an immediate return back into the ranks of FVB.
1993 / Finishing 5th in FVB Hoofdklasse, the new top level of Fries(ch)e Voetbalbond, vv Surhuisterveen, coached by Willem Weening, reclaims its place in Sunday League 4 by winning the promotion play-offs. That same year, the club takes over the old main stand of SV Urk's Sportpark De Vormt free of charge, with volunteers dismantling the construction in Urk and taking it to Sportpark 't Ketting piece by piece. The costs of the erection of the stand in Surhuisterveen amounting to 30,000 guilders, the construction is inaugurated in the summer of 1993 with a friendly match against professional league side Cambuur-Leeuwarden.
1995 / Having finished runners up in District North's Sunday League 4C behind vv ONB the previous season, vv Surhuisterveen, coached by Dicky Olivier, now claims the title in this division with a comprehensive advantage of 9 points over closest followers vv Zuidlaren and vv Bergum - with the club suffering just one defeat the entire season. Captained by former SC Heerenveen and FC Zwolle player Eelke van der Heide, the club obtains the decisive point in an away match against vv Bakkeveen (2-2). In the following season, the club holds its own in League 3B with ease by finishing in 5th place.
2000 / Finishing in 10th place in Sunday League 3B, vv Surhuisterveen has to secure its place at that level by playing in a set of play-offs. Losing the first round against Bolsward side vv CAB, the club is given a second chance in a single-match tie-breaker against vv Akkrum, played at SVC LSC 1890's Gemeentelijk Sportpark Leeuwarderweg. Going under in this encounter as well (2-0), the club, coached by former SC Heerenveen and SC Cambuur player Thomas Haan, ultimately drops back into Sunday League 4.
2001 / Finishing 12th and last in Sunday League 4B, vv Surhuisterveen suffers its second relegation in a row - now descending into League 5 for the first time, a level created following the abolition of FVB in 1996. The club's trainer Wim Huizing had been sacked after a 8-1 drubbing away at eventual title winners vv Bergum, but his replacement Lieuwe Brink finds himself unable to stop the rot.
2004 / Coached by Jan Boonstra, vv Surhuisterveen finishes in 2nd place in District North's Sunday League 5C, 9 points behind FC Grootegast. Due to extra promotion places being available, the club returns to League 4 directly, without having to go through the motions of playing a set of play-offs.
2005 / Guided by coach Reinder Jeemsma, vv Surhuisterveen finishes runners-up in its first year back in League 4, with a disadvantage of just 3 points behind champions vv Groninger Boys. In the ensuing promotion play-offs, Jeemsma's men edge past vv Siddeburen after a penalty shoot-out, the deciding kick being delived by Sipke 'Pake' De Jong.
2006 / After just one year in Sunday League 3B, vv Surhuisterveen drops back into League 3 after finishing 11th and second-last, with only vv Oerterp picking up fewer points.
2007 / A partnership is created with vv 't Fean '58, in which the upper half of the respective clubs' youth academies are merged to become SJO (Samenwerking Jeugdopleiding) Feanstars.
2009 / Alongside bottom club SV Marum, vv Surhuisterveen drops back into Sunday League 5 following a 13th place in Sunday League 4C.
2010 / In the year of the club's 75th anniversary, vv Surhuisterveen just misses out on promotion; after a 5th place in Sunday League 5C, the club is drawn in a play-off group with vv VIOS (O.) and vv Pekelder Boys - and this last club conquers the League 4 ticket, just ahead of vv Surhuisterveen.
2011 / Finishing runners-up in Sunday League 5D, vv Surhuisterveen wins promotion to L4 level by winning the promotion play-offs.
2014 / After 3 seasons in Sunday League 4, vv Surhuisterveen drops back into League 5 after an unsuccessful set of play-offs.
2015 / Confirming its role as one of District North's most irregular clubs since the 1980s, vv Surhuisterveen now wins the title in Sunday League 5C, thus managing an immediate return to League 4 level. Also in 2015, a complete merger is brought about between the youth academies of vv Surhuisterveen and vv 't Fean '58 under the umbrella of SJO Feanstars.
2019 / Claiming the title in Sunday League 4B, vv Surhuisterveen returns to Sunday League 3 after 12 years.
2020 / The 2019-20 season being interrupted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown, vv Surhuisterveen's membership votes for abandoning first team football on Sundays. As a result, the club has to restart at the bottom level of District North's Saturday pyramid, Saturday League 5.
2023 / Having failed to climb out of Saturday League 5 in the last 3 years of its existence as an independent club, vv Surhuisterveen concludes a merger with neighbours vv 't Fean '58, which had broken away exactly 65 years before. The merger was facilitated by vv Surhuisterveen's decision to move its senior team into the Saturday pyramid in 2020. As a result of this merger, FC Surhústerfean sees the daylight, with Jan Lammers being chosen as the new club's first chairman. First team football moves to vv Surhuisterveen's main pitch.
2024 / In its first season as a competitive club, FC Surhústerfean finishes in third place in Saturday League 2J. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, the club draws a bye in R1, going on to defeat SV Marum in R2 (2-2 & penalty shoot-out) before being eliminated in R3 by vv Hoogezand (2-0).

Note 1 - The main sources for the information provided above are two anniversary books, published by vv Surhuisterveen on the club's 50th and 75th anniversary:

J. Boot / S. de Groot / A. Helfrich / O. Hoekstra / Sj. Postma / B. de Vries, “vv Surhuisterveen 50 jaar” (1985)
Gerard Bos / Feike Wouda, “75 jaar vv Surhuisterveen. Periode 1985-2010” (2010)

Note 2 - Below, a compilation of photos of two different match visits: pictures 1-3, 5 & 11 = June 2022 / pictures 4, 6-10 & 12-17 = May 2023.