Extreme Football Tourism: NETHERLANDS: vv Kolping Boys

Sportpark De Nollen, Alkmaar Oudorp (vv Kolping Boys)

Netherlands, province: North Holland = Noord-Holland

5 X 2024 / vv Kolping Boys - HSV ODIN '59 2-2 / National Division 4A (= NL level 5)

Timeline

1921 / A Roman Catholic football club is founded in the village of Oudorp, just to the north of Alkmaar, with the club being given the name SDW (Sterk Door Wilskracht). The idea to form a football club was given to the local youths by the local branch of the Kolping Society (or Sint-Jozefgezellenvereeniging in Dutch), a society promoting the foundation of leisure clubs for the Roman Catholic youth. The Kolping Society, named after German diocesan priest Adolph Kolping (1813-1865) is mainly active in Germany, but has branches in other countries in Europe and America as well. As founding members of SDW, a group of five youths is mentioned: Frans Hes, A. Verduin, Jaap Wester, A. Oud, and Klaas Wester. The new club, which joins the Roman Catholic league association DHVB (Diocesaan Haarlemsche Voetbalbond) instead of the official Netherlands’ Football Association (NVB, later KNVB). SDW’s first pitch is situated on a plot of farmland owned by a local smallholder, Mr S. Dekker, in nearby Sint Pancras, at the crossroads of Bovenweg and modern-day Meeuwenlaan.
± 1922 / Abandoning Terrein S. Dekker in Sint Pancras, SDW settles at Terrein Bleekerslaantje, a sand pitch situated at modern-day Achterwegpad, halfway between Oudorp and Sint Pancras.
1923 / Having played in the ranks of the Roman Catholic football association DHVB for two years, SDW now switches to the official Netherlands’ Football Association, probably due to the long trips to away matches which had to be covered in the DHVB divisions. The club is placed in the so-called NHVB (Noord-Hollandsche Voetbalbond), the association organising league football in North Holland below the level of NVB League 3 (later League 4). Due to an Amsterdam member club of the same league association bearing the same name, SDW is referred to within the NHVB simply as ‘Oudorp’, although the club never officially changes its name.
1924 / Having played at Terrein Bleekerslaantje for some two years, SDW now settles on a pitch laid out on a plot of farmland across from Café J. Beers at Bovenweg in Sint Pancras.
1925 / SDW wins a NHVB league title, ahead of runners-up BSV (Bergen). It is unclear in which division the club played at that point.
1926 / SDW wins a second NHVB league title, ahead of runners-up GSV (Grootschermer). It is unclear in which division the club played at that point.
1930 / After an existence of nine years, SDW folds, ceasing all activities due to financial difficulties. At that point, the club had already ceased to take part in the NHVB leagues for the same reason.
1931 / At the instigation of chaplain Westerkamp of the local Kolping Society, a new football club is founded in Oudorp, which is given the name VVO (Voetbalvereeniging Oudorp). The last acting chairman of the former SDW, Nic Wortel, takes on that same role within the new club, which joins the Roman Catholic league association DHVB. VVO initially settles on a pitch laid out at Herenweg on a plot of land owned by a local smallholder, Mr Vethaak. However, due to Vethaak, who adhered to the Protestant faith, frowning upon sporting activities taking place on his land on Sundays, he renounces the leasing agreement with the club after a couple of matches only. Thereupon, VVO moves to a plot of farmland situated at the back of the local Roman Catholic primary school, belonging to the local St Lawrence Parish (Sint-Laurentiusparochie).
1932 / Foundation of a second football club in Oudorp, a club not affiliated to any church, Sparta. A pitch is laid out for this club at Roerdompstraat.
1933 / One year after its foundation, Sparta joins the NHVB, being accepted under a new name, vv Oudorp – a decision brought about by NVB authorities, given that the name Sparta had already been taken by various other clubs. Also in 1933, a third football club sees the daylight in Oudorp, yet again a club without an affiliation to a church, ASV – probably an acronym of Algemeene Sportvereeniging (‘algemeen’ meaning ‘general’, i.e. non-affiliated). While the Roman Catholic VVO had joined the DHVB league association two years previously, ASV successfully applied for membership of the KNVB sub-branch in North-Holland, the NHVB. The club settles on a pitch laid out at Ooievaarstraat, right next to vv Oudorp’s Terrein Roerdompstraat.
1935 / VVO wins a DHVB league title, clinching the decisive points in a 4-3 home win against S Geel-Zwart ’30. The club goes on to win all promotion matches, the last being an emphatic 0-6 rout away at SEW in Nibbixwoud. However, following the 1934-35 season, VVO ceases all activities, probably due to financial difficulties. Also in 1935, one of the other club in Oudorp, ASV, changes its name to become MEVO (an acronym, probably standing for Moed En Volharding Overwint).
1936 / After a pause of one season, VVO resumes its activities, with the pitch at the back of the local Catholic primary school remaining in use. Also in 1936, MEVO wins the title in NHVB (Sunday) Division 3.
1937 / vv Oudorp wins the title in NHVB Division 2, with village rivals MEVO finishing as runners-up. Also in 1937, after an existence of six years, VVO folds, ceasing all activities.
1939 / Two years after the demise of VVO, a new, third successive Roman Catholic football club is founded in Oudorp, with the Kolping Society once again being the driving force – and this time, the club is named after Adolph Kolping himself: vv Kolping Boys. Andries Metselaar is the new club’s first chairman. The club settles on the pitch previously used by VVO at the back of the local Catholic primary school. Like its predecessor, vv Kolping Boys joins the Roman-Catholic football association DHVB. On the other hand, one of the two other clubs in Oudorp, MEVO, folds, ceasing all activities, with the mobilisation of the Netherlands’ armed forces in the summer of 1939 being behind this decision – given that a considerable part of MEVO’s membership is called up to serve the country in view of the looming German threat.
1940 / Having spent the first year of its existence in the DHVB, vv Kolping Boys is now constrained to make the step to the official Netherlands’ FA (renamed NVB following the German oppression of the Netherlands, abandoning the royal epithet ‘koninklijk’ for obvious reasons) as all other football associations are abolished by German occupation authorities. In the 1940-41 season, the club is integrated into a special division created for Roman-Catholic clubs (‘Divisie Bijzonder’, literally translated: ‘Special Division’) – only to be absorbed into the regular NHVB divisions from 1941 onwards.
1944 / Coached by Evert de Jager, vv Kolping Boys wins its first title in NHVB Division 2E, 1 point ahead of RKVV Limmen Reserves – in fact, this was a competition with a limited amount of clubs, as regular league football was interrupted more and more often due to clubs ceasing activities, with the main reason being that matches were the ideal opportunity for German occupation authorities to find involuntary recruits for the dreaded Arbeitseinsatz, i.e. forced labour in Germany.
1945 / Having led a relatively undisturbed existence in the 1940s, vv Oudorp now changes its name to become vv De Randers – named after a dike, Randersdijk. Possibly, the name change was brought about following a conflict with Oudorp’s municipal authorities, but no information is available on the matter. Meanwhile, vv Kolping Boys resumes its activities, being placed in NHVB Sunday Division 2.
1946 / Clinching the title in NHVB (Sunday) Division 1, vv De Randers accedes to KNVB Sunday League 4 for the first time.
1947 / Abandoning Terrein Roerdompstraat, vv De Randers moves to a new pitch only several dozens of yards away, on a plot of land previously occupied (partly) by MEVO’s Terrein Ooievaarstraat.
1949 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 2 points ahead of vv Zeevogels, vv De Randers qualifies for the promotion play-offs – going on to suffer a 3-2 defeat against vv Succes in a match played at Gemeentelijk Sportpark Alkmaar. As such, the club misses out on promotion to Sunday League 3. Meanwhile, vv Kolping Boys fares less successfully, finishing in joint last place in NHVB Sunday Division 2 along with vv Callantsoog – going on to suffer defeat (2-1) against that club in a tie-break match, played at BSV’s ground in Bergen, with the result being relegation to NHVB Division 3.
1950 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in NHVB Sunday Division 3 behind vv Zeevogels Reserves.
1951 / Finishing in joint first place in NHVB Sunday Division 3F with vv Con Zelo, vv Kolping Boys goes on to defeat that club in a tie-break match, played at SVW '27’s Terrein Sportlaan (2-1). As such, vv Kolping Boys manages a return to NHVB Sunday Division 2 after an absence of two seasons.
1953 / Finishing rock bottom in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, vv De Randers drops back into the ranks of the NHVB after seven seasons.
1954 / Finishing rock bottom in NHVB Sunday Division 1C, vv De Randers suffers its second relegation in a row, descending into NHVB Division 2. With insulting turning to injury, the club’s pitch at Ooievaarstraat is no longer deemed fit for football by KNVB officials, leading to the club having to move to a groundshare with SV Vrone at Terrein Boeterslaan.
1955 / Coached by Gerrit Hartland, vv Kolping Boys wins the title in NHVB Sunday Division 2C, 4 points ahead of closest followers SV De Foresters – and without suffering a single defeat all season – thus winning promotion to NHVB Division 1. Meanwhile, vv De Randers suffers its third relegation in a row, slipping down into NHVB’s bottom division, Division 3. Following the 1954-55 season, however, vv De Randers folds, ceasing all activities. From then on, vv Kolping Boys has remained the only football club in Oudorp. The former pitch of vv De Randers at Ooievaarstraat is taken over initially by a dog agility club, only to be turned into a skating track later onwards – eventually falling victim to the construction of a new neighbourhood (the pitch was situated on the spot of modern-day Reigerstraat).
1958 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in NHVB Sunday Division 1B, 2 points behind champions vv DWB.
1959 / With vv Kolping Boys’ pitch at the back of the Catholic primary school in Oudorp no longer deemed fit for football by KNVB authorities, with the club being left with no other option but to conclude a groundsharing agreement with SV Vrone at Terrein Boeterslaan in Sint Pancras.
1961 / Coached by Joop Dingena, a former professional league player with Alkmaar ’54, vv Kolping Boys clinches the title in NHVB Sunday Division 1B, 1 point ahead of runners-up SV Westfriezen, thus winning promotion to KNVB Sunday League 4 for the first time. The decisive points are obtained in a 3-0 home victory over SV Spartanen. Also in 1961, after two years of groundsharing at SV Vrone’s Terrein Boeterslaan, vv Kolping Boys settles at two pitches laid out for the club by Oudorp’s municipal authorities at Herenweg – in fact the same location where VVO had spent the first weeks of its short existence in 1931. The inauguration ceremony is performed by Oudorp’s mayor J.H. Kok, while the new pitches are blessed by the club’s spiritual advisor, Chaplain H.J.G. Spruyt.
1963 / Coached by Jaap Kunst, vv Kolping Boys finishes in joint first place in District West I’s Sunday League 4B with vv Monnickendam – going on to meet that club in a tie-break match for the title, played at SV Always Forward’s ground in Hoorn, with the encounter finishing in a 1-1 draw (att. 2,500). A second match, played on the same location, is won convincingly by Kolping Boys, 3-0. As such, the club accedes to Sunday League 3 for the first time.
1965 / Coached by Gerrit de Heer, vv Kolping Boys finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, dropping back into League 4 along with the club finishing in second-last place, vv West Frisia. The decisive blow was dealt to the club by vv VIOS-W (0-2).
1968 / Coached by Theo Brouwer, vv Kolping Boys finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 4B, thus descending into the ranks of the NHVB after seven years.
1969 / Still coached by Theo Brouwer, vv Kolping Boys wins the title in NHVB Sunday Division 1C, 2 points ahead of closest followers vv ZAP. The decisive points are clinched on the last day of the season in a victory over vv ALC (1-0), while ZAP suffers a defeat in nearby Sint Pancras at SV Vrone. No immediate promotion results, however, due to only two places in KNVB District West’s Sunday League 4 being available, and three NHVB D1 divisions having been disputed. Meeting the two other champions, vv Berdos and BKC, in a set of promotion play-offs, vv Kolping Boys finishes in first place, with vv Berdos accompanying the club from Oudorp to Sunday League 4. Also in 1969, a new, larger clubhouse is erected at Kolping Boys’ Terrein Herenweg.
1972 / The municipality of Oudorp is integrated into the larger City of Alkmaar – with the villages of Oudorp and Sint Pancras being completely incorporated into the new neighbourhoods of the town. From that moment onwards, vv Kolping Boys starts a lobby with Alkmaar’s municipal authorities to be allowed to move to a new, larger ground, as the membership of the club keeps on growing, with new membership mainly coming from the new residential areas on the northern outskirts of Alkmaar.
1974 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 3 points behind champions SV DTS.
1975 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A for the second year running, 9 points behind champions SV De Foresters.
1976 / Alkmaar’s city-council takes the decision to build vv Kolping Boys a new park at Hoornsevaart with five pitches.
1977 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A for the third time in four seasons, with only 1 point less than champions RKSV AFC ’34.
1978 / Abandoning Terrein Herenweg after seventeen years, vv Kolping Boys moves into the newly built Sportpark De Nollen at Hoornsevaart in November 1978, with the inaugural ceremony being performed by Alkmaar’s alderman Jan Helder. The clubhouse is designed by the Reus-Leeuwenkamp architectural firm.
1981 / Coached by Siem van Ham, vv Kolping Boys finishes in joint last place in District West I’s Sunday League 4A with VZV – going on to draw a first tie-break match against that club (2-2) and suffering defeat in a second encounter (1-0), with both games being played at vv VIOS-W’s Sportpark De Doorbraak in Warmenhuizen. As such, vv Kolping Boys drops back into the ranks of the NHVB after twelve seasons.
1982 / Still coached by Siem van Ham, vv Kolping Boys wins the title in NHVB Zondag Hoofdklasse, 3 points ahead of closest rivals SV Geel-Zwart ’30. As such, the club manages an immediate return to Sunday League 4.
1985 / A covered stand is built alongside the southern side of the main pitch at Sportpark De Nollen, with the last stone being laid on January 1st, 1986, by the two driving forces behind the project, Pé Oud and Jaap de Wit.
1986 / Former vv Kolping Boys’ youth academy player Richard Min makes his debut in AZ’s first team, making him the first former Kolping Boys member to make it to professional league football. Min stays with AZ for two seasons before bowing out into non-league in 1988.
1987 / Coached by Jan Visscher, vv Kolping Boys clinches the title in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 10 points ahead of runners-up SV Wieringerwaard, and without suffering a single defeat all season. As such, the club manages a return to Sunday League 3 after an absence of 22 years.
1988 / Still coached by Jan Visscher, vv Kolping Boys wins its second title in a row, finishing top of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 2 points ahead of closest followers SVW ’27. The decisive points are clinched in an away win against derby rivals VAVV Alcmaria Victrix. As such, the club wins promotion to Sunday League 2 for the first time.
1991 / Coached by Hans Geerking, vv Kolping Boys finishes in eighth place in District West I’s Sunday League 2A, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. Winning the group stage against HRC and KBV, vv Kolping Boys qualifies for the final against vv Nijenrodes, played at RCH’s Heemsteeds Sportpark. Winning the tie 1-0, with Gerton van der Veld scoring the only goal, vv Kolping Boys wins promotion to Sunday League 1 for the first time in club history.
1992 / Coached by Hans Geerking, vv Kolping Boys turns out to be unable to cope with the level of play in Sunday League 1A, finishing in second-last place and thus dropping back into League 2 after just one season, along with bottom club vv Zeevogels.
1993 / Still coached by Hans Geerking, vv Kolping Boys finishes in joint first position in District West I’s Sunday League 2A with KBV and WFC – going on to defeat both of these clubs in a tie-break competition. As such, Kolping Boys manages an immediate return to Sunday League 1. Also in 1993, the clubhouse at Sportpark De Nollen is extended.
1997 / Coached by Peter Tania, vv Kolping Boys finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 1A, thus dropping back into League 2 after four seasons, along with the club finishing in second-last position, vv Aalsmeer.
1998 / Finishing in joint first place in Sunday League 2A with RKVV Velsen, vv Kolping Boys meets that club in a tie-break match at RKVV DEM’s Sportpark Adrichem (Noord), suffering defeat in that encounter (2-1) and thus missing out on an immediate return to Sunday League 1.
1999 / Finishing in eighth place in Sunday League 2A, vv Kolping Boys qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated by USV Hercules. Also in 1999, former Kolping Boys youth academy player Robert van Westerop, the son of longtime AZ equipment manager Cor van Westerop, makes his debut as a professional league goalkeeper with AZ, going on to defend the colours of FC Volendam, FC Emmen, and Helmond Sport before hanging up his boots in 2011. That same year, another former Kolping Boys youth player, midfielder Arvid Smit, breaks into Telstar’s first team, going on to have a colourful career at BV De Graafschap, PSV, FC Groningen, Willem II, CS Marítimo, União Leiria, FC Volendam, and SC Telstar, where he plays his last match in 2011.
2000 / vv Kolping Boys reaches the semifinal of District West I’s Regional Cup (Districtsbeker), bowing out against HVV Hollandia (1-5).
2002 / Coached by Willem Zeijlmans, vv Kolping Boys finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 2B, thus dropping back into League 3 along with the club finishing in second-last place, RKSV Vitesse ’22.
2004 / Coached by John Stevens, vv Kolping boys finishes in tenth place in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, going on to suffer defeat against SV De Rijp in the relegation play-offs and thus descending into Sunday League 4 along with bottom clubs vv Victoria O and FC Den Helder.
2005 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 10 points behind derby rivals SV Vrone.
2006 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 5 points behind champions WGW.
2007 / Coached by Rob Klanker, vv Kolping Boys clinches the title in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 4 points ahead of closest rivals FC Den Helder. The decisive points are clinched in the last match of the season, a direct encounter against FC Den Helder, with a sole Bart Pastoor goal deciding the match and the title. As such, vv Kolping Boys manages an immediate return to League 3.
2008 / Still coached by Rob Klanker, vv Kolping Boys wins its second title in a row, finishing top of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 2 points ahead of runners-up vv ZAP. The decisive points are clinched in a win over vv SRC. As such, vv Kolping Boys accedes to Sunday League 2 after an absence of six years.
2010 / Sportpark De Nollen’s main pitch is equipped with a synthetic surface.
2011 / Coached by Robin Ernest, vv Kolping Boys finishes in second-last place in Sunday League 2A, thus dropping back into League 3 along with bottom club vv HSV.
2012 / Finishing as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 3 points behind champions vv De Blokkers, vv Kolping Boys qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by IVV (4-0 aggr.).
2013 / Former Kolping Boys youth academy player Gino van Kessel, a striker, makes his debut as a professional league player with Almere City FC, going on to have a colourful career, defending the colours of AS Trenčín, AC Arles-Avignon, SK Slavia Praha, KS Lechia Gdańsk, Oxford United FC, KSV Roeselare, FC Spartak Trnava, Olympiacos Nicosia, Dalkurd FF, Gyirmót FC Győr, and MFK Zemplin Michalovce.
2014 / vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, 2 points behind champions SV De Meteoor – and missing out on the promotion play-offs. Also in 2014, former Kolping Boys youth academy player Stijn Spierings has his breakthrough as a professional league player with AZ, going on to have spells at Sparta Rotterdam, RKC Waalwijk, PFK Levski Sofia, Toulouse FC, and RC Lens.
2015 / Coached by Marc de Wilde, vv Kolping Boys finishes in third place in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, just 3 points behind champions vv Alkmaarsche Boys. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, the club edges past SV Kleine Sluis in R1 (2-1 aggr.), going on to rout RKSV Vitesse ’22 in R2 (6-1 aggr.), thus winning promotion to Sunday League 2.
2018 / Finishing in fourth place in Sunday League 2A, vv Kolping Boys qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by SV Hillegom (5-2 A.E.T.).
2019 / Still coached by Marc de Wilde, vv Kolping Boys finishes as runners-up in Sunday League 2A, 6 points behind champions vv De Zouaven. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, the club goes on to knock out SO Soest (3-1), AVV Zeeburgia (1-0) and vv Assendelft (5-2 A.E.T.) successively, thus acceding to Sunday League 1 after an absence of 22 years.
2020 / While the focus remains firmly on Sunday league football, vv Kolping Boys enters a first team into the Saturday leagues for the first time, which begins its existence in District West I’s Saturday League 4.
2023 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 1A, vv Kolping Boys qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by SCS TAC ’90 (4-3).
2024 / Coached by Rob Klanker, vv Kolping Boys clinches the title in Sunday League 1A, 6 points ahead of closest followers vv AGB. As such, the club accedes to National Division 4, the fifth and lowest tier of the Netherlands’ national league pyramid, for the first time in club history. The decisive points are obtained in a 4-1 away win against sole remaining rivals vv AGB. Moreover, the club also wins District West I’s Regional Cup (Districtsbeker), defeating SV Huizen in the final (0-0 & penalty shoot-out) played at FC Abcoude’s Sportpark Hollandse Kade.

Note – Important parts of the information above were derived from two booklets, published on the occasion of anniversary celebrations of vv Kolping Boys: ‘Jubileumgids vv Kolping Boys 50 jaar 1939-1989’, by Jan Visser, Nico Valk, Menno Haga & Jan Giling (1989), and ‘Kroniek van 75 jaar Kolping Boys’, by IJs Broers, Peter Groot, Jan Kraakman & Dick Veel (2014). Both of these books were in-house publications by vv Kolping Boys.