Extreme Football Tourism: NETHERLANDS: AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882

Sportpark Kerschoten, Apeldoorn (AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882)

Netherlands, province: Guelders = Gelderland

21 I 2024 / AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882 - vv Witkampers 3-1 / District East, Sunday League 3B (= NL level 8)

Timeline

1882 / At the instigation of Henry Thierry Daendels Snr., a cricket club is founded in Apeldoorn, which takes on the name Robur et Velocitas – Latin for ‘Strength and Speed’, an epithet conceived by Dr. J.F. Hoekstra. The club’s ground is situated in a newly laid-out (and short-lived) public park, the so-called Emmapark.
1887 / A first football club is founded in Apeldoorn, aptly named Apeldoornsche Football Club; although definite proof is lacking, Apeldoornsche FC probably was the football branch of Robur et Velocitas from the outset – and formally absorbed into the club in 1889 at its latest. As such, having been founded in 1882, (AV & CV = Apeldoornsche Voetbal- & Cricketclub) Robur et Velocitas is officially the oldest football club in the province of Guelders, although it should be pointed out that Gelria from Velp and Go Ahead from Wageningen, founded in 1883 and 1886 respectively, started their football activities prior to Robur et Velocitas.
1890 / Taking part in a competition organised by the Netherlands’ Football Association (NVB) for the first time, Robur et Velocitas is placed in League 2B, which takes on the shape of a cup competition – and Robur et Velocitas suffers elimination in its first-ever official match, a 4-0 away defeat at the hands of Go Ahead (Wageningen).
1894 / The cricket branch of the club ceases its activities; and although these are resumed temporarily in 1916, it is fair to say that football has been the club’s main activity ever since.
1898 / After a lull in the club’s footballing activities in the five preceding years, Robur et Velocitas takes up those activities in 1898 at its latest.
1900 / Robur et Velocitas accedes to the so-called Geldersche Voetbalbond (GVB) along with other historic clubs – AVC Vitesse (Arnhem), Go Ahead (Wageningen), Gelria (Velp), and Victoria (Wageningen).
1901 / A provincial League 3 is organised for the first time in Guelders, with Robur et Velocitas being one of the clubs invited to join along with Gelria (Velp), DVC (Doetinchem), and UD Reserves (Deventer). Also in 1901, having been home at Emmapark for the first nineteen years of its existence, Robur et Velocitas moves to a new ground, Terrein Van Hasseltlaan.
1902 / Runners up in League 3, Robur et Velocitas is admitted to League 2 for the 1903 season.
1905 / Having been home at Terrein Van Hasseltlaan for the previous four seasons, Robur et Velocitas moves to a newly laid-out pitch, a piece of moorland at Asselschenweg (modern-day Asselsestraat). Also in 1905, Robur et Velocitas absorbs another club from Apeldoorn, Unitas.
1906 / Having played at Terrein Asselschenweg for only one year, Robur et Velocitas abandons the pitch, which proves hardly playable, moving on to Terrein Arnhemscheweg, situated at the back of Café ‘t Haantje.
1908 / Having played at Terrein Arnhemscheweg for two years, Robur et Velocitas finds a new home on a meadow situated at the crossroads of Welgelegenweg and Deventerstraat.
1909 / Queen Wilhelmina, whose residence Paleis Het Loo is only a short distance away, visits the club on her birthday, i.e. Queen’s Day. Also in 1909, the club invites clubs from abroad for exhibition games – defeating both Solinger FC 1895 (Germany, 8-0) and Walthamstow Avenue FC (England, 3-2).
1913 / Having previously won League 2 titles in 1903, 1907, and 1908, without the Netherlands’ Football Association (NVB) allowing the club to accede to the top flight of the Netherlands’ football pyramid, the fourth title, gained in 1913, allows the club to finally break down the door to League 1 in spite of losing the promotion match against GSAVV Forward (Groningen) – but thanks to a reorganisation of the league pyramid.
1914 / Robur et Velocitas reaches the semi-final of NVB’s cup competition, in which it suffers a defeat at the hands of DFC (Dordrecht).
1918 / Having played at Terrein Deventerstraat for the past ten years, Robur et Velocitas relocates to a newly laid-out ground at Asselschenweg – in the woodlands to the west of Jachtlaan.
1919 / Although managing a third place in League 1 in 1919, the best result in club history, Robur et Velocitas is retrograded to League 2 for the new season, probably due to a new reorganisation of the league pyramid.
1921 / Due to extensive works being carried out at the pitch at Asselschenweg, Robur et Velocitas groundshares with AGOVV at Gemeentelijk Sportterrein Berg & Bos for one season, returning to its own ground the following year.
1923 / A stand is added to the set-up at Terrein Asselschenweg, the construction being inaugurated with a home match against AV&AC Hertog Hendrik (Arnhem). Also in 1923, Robur et Velocitas wins a cup competition in Hilversum, the so-called Gooi- en Eemlandbeker.
1926 / Clinching the title in League 2B, 1 point ahead of city rivals AGOVV, Robur et Velocitas manages a return to League 1 after an absence of seven years.
1929 / After having worked with Mr Fawcett, an English coach which the club shared with Zwolle club ZAC in 1926, Robur now hires its first full-time British trainer, E.E. Smith, who previously worked (played?) at Cardiff City FC.
1931 / After finishing last in District East’s League 1, Robur et Velocitas manages to save its skin by winning a set of promotion-relegation play-offs.
1932 / Construction of a new grandstand at Terrein Asselschenweg, which is inaugurated in the course of the 1932-33 season in a home match against DVV Go Ahead (Deventer).
1933 / Finishing in tenth and last place in District East’s League 1, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas drops back into League 2 – initially playing its matches in the Twente branch of League 2 before switching to the Arnhem & Betuwe branch later on in the 1930s.
1937 / A tie-break match for one place in District East’s League 1 between NC&VC Quick (Nijmegen) and HVV Hengelo, played at Robur et Velocitas’ ground, draws a record crowd of some 12,600.
1944 / Due to Terrein Asselsestraat being commandeered by Germany’s occupying Wehrmacht troops, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas is constrained to groundshare with AGOVV at Sportterrein Berg & Bos for a second time in its history. The club cannot return to its home ground earlier than in the latter stages of 1945, due to the Canadian army taking over the premises after the liberation from the German yoke. In the first years after the war, an attempt is made to revive the dormant cricket branch of the club, which had not seen any activity since 1924, but without much success.
1947 / Finishing last in District East’s League 2B, Robur has to play a round of play-offs against vv Arnhemse Boys and vv Daventria, in which it narrowly staves off relegation.
1950 / A set of floodlights around the main pitch at Terrein Asselsestraat is inaugurated with an exhibition match against League 1 side AVC Vitesse (Arnhem), with Robur walking away as winners (3-1).
1952 / Finishing last in District East’s League 2B, Robur has to play a tie-break match against SV Zutphen at ZVV Be Quick’s ground, in which it saves its skin by defeating the Zutphen side 4-1.
1954 / In a vote among club members about joining professional league football, allowed by the Netherlands’ FA after decades of resistance, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas’ membership emphatically chooses to remain in non-league, with just one person voting in favour and the 118 others against.
1956 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 2B – with Winterswijk club WVC walking away with the title – AV&CV Robur et Velocitas is admitted to League 1 nonetheless, due to extra promotion places being available after the creation of a professional league in the Netherlands.
1958 / Having finished in a respectable sixth place in Sunday League 1B the previous season, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas now finishes twelfth and last in that same division, thus dropping back into League 2 after two seasons.
1963 / Finishing last in Sunday League 2A, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas finds itself in League 3 for the first time in fifty years – the decisive defeat being an emphatic 9-2 away defeat at SV De Treffers. Also in 1963, Apeldoorn’s town council gives the green light for a new park to be laid out for Robur et Velocitas at Anklaarseweg.
1964 / Obtaining the same number of points as derby rivals UVV Albatross, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas finishes in joint-first place in District East’s Sunday League 3B. In the tie-break match between the two clubs, played at AGOVV’s Sportpark Berg & Bos, Robur manages a 1-0 win, thus crowning itself champions and managing an immediate return to League 2. Also in 1964, Terrein Asselsestraat sees the final of the nationwide non-league championship between vv De Valk and vv Neptunia – with the club from Valkenswaard winning the title.
1968 / Building works get underway at Anklaarseweg for Robur’s future Sportpark Kerschoten.
1969 / Finishing second-last in Sunday League 2A, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas drops back into League 3 for the second time in six years. Also in 1969, Sportpark Kerschoten is inaugurated by club chairman Piet van Steensel. In the last first team match at Terrein Asselsestraat, played on September 7th, 1969, Robur defeats city rivals WSV (3-0). For the time being, the old ground is retained for lower team football and training sessions.
1970 / In August 1970, the old stand and clubhouse at Terrein Asselsestraat are consumed in a fire, as a result of which all of Robur’s club activities move to Sportpark Kerschoten from that moment onwards.
1974 / The clubhouse at Sportpark Kerschoten is extended to include a kitchen as well as a youth centre.
1976 / Bottom of the table in District East’s Sunday League 3B at the end of the 1975-76 season, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas finds itself in Sunday League 4 for the first time in club history.
1977 / In its first season at League 4 level, AV&CV Robur et Velocitas clinches the title in District East’s Sunday League 4G, the decisive points being obtained in a derby encounter away at ASV Apeldoornse Boys (1-3, goals by Jan Piet Wepster, Martin Händel, and Joep Bonenberg).
1978 / Clinching the decisive point in an away match at KCVO in Vaassen (1-1 thanks to a last-minute equaliser by defender Gerben Klein Nulent), Robur wins its second title in a row – this time in District East’s Sunday League 3B, thereby managing a return to League 2 after a nine-year absence.
1979 / Narrowly missing out on a third promotion in a row, Robur et Velocitas eventually has to settle for second place in Sunday League 2A behind vv Doetinchem.
1980 / Robur wins a local cup competition, the so-called Stedendriehoektoernooi, by defeating CSV Apeldoorn in the final (1-0).
1982 / At the club’s 100th anniversary, Robur’s chairman receives an honorary medal from the hands of Apeldoorn’s mayor, squire Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland. To mark the occasion, the club invites top flight side PSV to play a friendly at Sportpark Kerschoten – with the match finishing 5-0 for the Eindhoven side (goalscorers include Jan Poortvliet and Jurrie Koolhof). Possibly also in this year, the club officially adds the year ‘1882’ to its name – thus becoming AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882, although no certainty is to be had on this subject (yet).
1988 / Finishing last in Sunday League 2B, Robur drops back into League 3.
1991 / Finishing last in District East’s Sunday League 3B, Robur et Velocitas finds itself in Sunday League 4 for the first time in club history. In the 1991-92 season, the club narrowly avoids a second relegation in a row, into the ranks of GVB (Gelderse Voetbalbond) – the level below League 4.
1993 / Title winners in Sunday League 4G, Robur finds its way back to League 3.
1994 / Finishing in joint-first place in District East’s Sunday League 3B with city rivals ASV Apeldoornse Boys, the two clubs battle it out in a tie-break match, played at CSV Apeldoorn’s Sportpark Orderbos. As Apeldoornse Boys wins the match as well as the title, Robur et Velocitas has to secure promotion in a set of play-offs, which it manages to do successfully – defeating RKSV NEO comprehensively in the final (4-1). As such, the club returns to Sunday League 2.
1995 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 2A, Robur qualifies for the promotion play-offs, but fails to secure a place in League 1. In the summer season, the club wins a local cup competition, the so-called Notaris Wille Cup – going on to win the trophy a second time in 1997.
1997 / AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882 entertains AFC Ajax in a pre-season friendly at Sportpark Kerschoten. With some 6,000 spectators around the pitch, the Amsterdam side, which includes star players Edwin van der Sar, Danny Blind, and Frank de Boer, wins the match comprehensively (2-7).
1999 / Clinching the title in Sunday League 2I, Robur et Velocitas finds itself in League 1 for the first time in 41 years. In the 1999-2000 season, the club manages a respectable fifth place in Sunday League 1E as well as a spot in the play-offs, but promotion to Zondag Hoofdklasse is not achieved.
2001 / Finishing in ninth place in Sunday League 1E, Robur plays a tie-break match against SV Colmschate ’33 at ABS’s Sportpark De Looënk in Bathmen to avoid relegation, going on to win the encounter (2-0) and save its skin in L1. Also in 2001, a renovation of the clubhouse and dressing rooms at Sportpark Kerschoten is carried out.
2002 / In its best post-war season, Robur finishes runners-up in Sunday League 1E.
2005 / Following three relegations in a row (2003, 2004, 2005), AV&CV Robur et Velocitas 1882 suddenly finds itself in the abyss of Sunday League 4.
2010 / Winning the title in District East’s Sunday League 4G, Robur gains promotion to League 3.
2013 / Finishing in fourth place in Sunday League 3B, 13 points behind champions SC Overwetering, Robur et Velocitas manages to secure promotion to League 2 via the backdoor of the promotion play-offs for the first time in club history.
2014 / Finishing second-last in Sunday League 2I, Robur drops back into League 3 immediately, being accompanied by bottom club vv Beekbergen.
2016 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 3B, only 3 points behind champions SV Colmschate ’33, Robur et Velocitas secures promotion to League 2 via the play-offs, but in the most dramatic of fashions – the final against SV Turkse Kracht being suspended by the referee after 70 minutes due to misbehaviour on the part of Turkse Kracht’s players and supporters; and the match being awarded to Robur subsequently.
2018 / Finishing in twelfth place in Sunday League 2J, Robur has to play a set of play-offs to stave off relegation. Defeating vv Reutum in R1 (4-2 A.E.T.), the club suffers a 1-2 home defeat at the hands of FC Suryoye-Mediterraneo, resulting in relegation into League 3.
2022 / Runners-up in District East’s Sunday League 3D, 3 points behind champions zvv AZC, Robur qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it is eliminated in R1 by RKOSV Avanti Wilskracht (1-2).

Note – The main source for the information provided above is a book published on the occasion of the club’s 125th anniversary: “Robur et Velocitas. 125 jaar Kracht en Snelheid”, written by Ewald de Boer, Robert Erkens, and Gerben Spies; and published by the club itself in Apeldoorn, 2007.