Extreme Football Tourism: NETHERLANDS: vv THEO (1947-2012)

Saturday, 10 June 2023

NETHERLANDS: vv THEO (1947-2012)

Sportpark 't Haantje, 't Haantje (formerly vv THEO)

Netherlands, province: Drenthe

June 2023 / no match visited

Timeline

1947 / Foundation of a football club in ’t Haantje, a hamlet in the southern half of Drenthe; the new club is given the name vv THEO (’t Haantje En Omstreken). No data are available about the club's performances in its first 34 years, but it is clear the club never managed to climb out of DVB (KNVB Afdeling Drenthe) to reach the regular Sunday League 4 level.
1991 / Having played in DVB Division 2 for at least 10 consecutive years, vv THEO descends into DVB Division 3, the bottom division of the football pyramid, following a 9th place in DVB Division 2B. In the following years, the club is having a hard time finding enough players – and it seems no regular first team was fielded during two spells, 1992-94 & 1999-2001.
2003 / Bolstered by a trainer from Emmen, who took along several players, vv THEO wins the title in District North’s Sunday League 6E, thus gaining promotion to League 5.
2004 / Winning its 2nd title in a row, this time in Sunday League 5F, vv THEO accedes to League 4 for the first time in club history. Around this time, Coevorden’s municipal authorities upgrade Sportpark ’t Haantje’s main pitch, widening it to be in conformity with KNVB regulations as well as adding a set of fences – a feature hitherto missing at the park.
2005 / In the club’s first and only season at League 4 level, vv THEO finishes 11th (and second-last) in Sunday League 4F, thus dropping back into League 5 immediately.
2007 / The club’s 60th anniversary is celebrated with a gala match against ‘Lucky Ajax’, a team of former AFC Ajax players, featuring, among others, Simon Tahamata, Sjaak Swart, and Gerrie Mühren. The match is won by the away team (3-7) with goals by Danny Muller (4), John Bosman (2), and John van den Brom.
2008 / Having had 3 good seasons in Sunday League 5F (finishing in 3rd, 2nd, and again 3rd place), vv THEO withdraws its first team, as not enough players are available for the new season. In fact, the club nearly folds due to a lack of players, but in the end the decision is taken to continue with a team in the reserves’ divisions.
2012 / Due to an ever decreasing membership, vv THEO folds, ceasing all activities. The club’s main pitch is sold to a local farmer, while the training pitch has been left more or less untouched until the present day.