NETHERLANDS: vv HSV

Sportpark Het Maalwater, Heiloo (vv HSV)

Netherlands, province: North Holland = Noord-Holland

26 I 2025 / vv HSV - FC Aalsmeer 4-2 / District West I, Combined Sunday & Saturday League 1A (= NL level 6)

Timeline

• 1921 / Foundation of a first football club in Heiloo, a predominantly Roman Catholic village in the immediate vicinity of Alkmaar. However, the new club, which takes on the name VVH (Voetbalvereeniging Heiloo) does not have a Catholic or any other religious background. VVH settles on Terrein Jac van Gemeren at Kennemerweg and joins the so-called NHVB (Noord-Hollandsche Voetbalbond), the North Holland sub-branch of the Netherlands’ official Football Association (NVB or, from 1929 onwards, KNVB).
• 1929 / After an existence of eight years, VVH folds, ceasing all activities due to a deficient membership. The majority of the remaining members seek affiliation with VAVV Alcmaria Victrix in nearby Alkmaar. That same year, a new football club sees the daylight in Heiloo, RODA (‘Recht Op Doel Af’), which is formed under the tutelage of the local Roman Catholic church. Piet Keeman Snr. is elected as the club’s first chairman. A plot of land at Mallevoortsdijk, owned by the local Catholic parish, is put at the club’s disposal. The pitch at Mallevoortsdijk is situated in the immediate vicinity of the local Catholic girls’ school, where players can change clothes during weekend matches – in the absence of proper dressing rooms at the ground itself. For the moment, RODA contents itself with playing matches against other recreational teams without seeking affiliation with any league association.
• 1930 / One year after its foundation, RODA applies for membership of the so-called Diocesaan Haarlemsche Voetbalbond (DHVB), a sub-branch of the Roman-Catholic Sports Association RKF (‘Roomsch-Katholieke Federatie). Due to the name RODA already having been taken by a club from Roelofarendsveen, RODA 1923, RODA (Heiloo) changes its name to become RKHSV (‘Roomsch-Katholieke Heilooër Sportvereeniging’). 
• 1931 / RKHSV takes part in league football for the first time, being placed in DHVB Division 2 for the 1931-32 season.
• 1933 / Having had to make do with the very basic facilities in the nearby girls’ school in the first years of its existence, RKHSV now acquires the luxury of dressing rooms in situ – with the facilities being officially consecrated by the village chaplain, Fr Van Ettinger.
• 1934 / In a gala match at Terrein Mallevoortsdijk, RKHSV entertains a team from Surinam, Paramaribo I.
• 1938 / Finishing in joint first place in DHVB Division 2 with vv VIOS-W, RKHSV meets the club from Warmenhuizen in a tie-break match, played in Warmenhuizen; going on to win the match 1-2 (A.E.T.), RKHSV crowns itself champions of its division. As such, the club qualifies for the championship play-offs against RKVV REO (De Rijp) and VVW (Wervershoof) for two promotion places – and finishing in second place behind REO, RKHSV accedes to DHVB Division 1 for the first time. The successful coach is C. Hoek.
• 1940 / Having spent the first years of its existence in DHVB and RKF, RKHSV 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. For the 1940-41 season, the club is placed in a ‘Special Division 1’ with Roman-Catholic clubs from North Holland.
• 1941 / Having narrowly avoided relegation following a third tie-break match against Special Division 2 champions vv Con Zelo, played in Alkmaar (2-0), RKHSV is placed in NHVB Sunday Division 1, as the ‘Special Divisions’ for Roman-Catholics are abolished.
• 1946 / Clinching the title in NHVB Sunday Division 1, 3 points ahead of vv Berdos, RKHSV qualifies for the championship play-offs, in which the club defeats VVV Westzaan (7-4 aggr.). As such, RKHSV wins promotion to KNVB District West I’s Sunday League 4 for the first time. Also in 1946, the much smaller Protestant community of Heiloo forms a football club as well, Sportvereniging (SV) De Foresters. Although the majority of the membership adheres to the protestant faith, SV De Foresters joins the Sunday league pyramid rather than choosing Saturday league football. As such, from now on, RKHSV has a local derby rival, as SV De Foresters rapidly finds the way up to the regular Sunday divisions in District West I.
• 1951 / RKHSV finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4A, 11 points behind champions BKC. 
• 1953 / Finishing 6 points ahead of closest followers vv Schagen, RKHSV crowns itself champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4A. The decisive points were clinched in a 4-2 home win over vv Schagen, with Jan Bugter scoring all four RKHSV goals. In the ensuing championship play-offs, RKHSV managed to shed off vv Monnickendam (4-2 aggr.), thus achieving promotion to Sunday League 3 for the first time.
• 1954 / A new set of dressing rooms is inaugurated at Terrein Mallevoortsdijk, with the original facilities, dating back to 1933, being turned into a club canteen.
• 1955 / As professional league football is introduced in the Netherlands, RKHSV’s Piet Schuijt earns himself a transfer to the newly formed professional club Alkmaar ’54 (one of the precursors of AZ). After fours seasons at Alkmaar ’54, Schuijt would go on to spend two more years with BVV in Den Bosch before withdrawing into non-league.
• 1956 / With youth matches having been held at the pitch of the local Sint Willibrordusstichting, a Catholic charity organisation, in the preceding years, RKHSV now acquires the luxury of a second pitch at Mallevoortsdijk, which is inaugurated with a gala match against professional league side Alkmaar ’54 (1-4). Some years later, this B pitch is turned into the ground’s main pitch.
• 1960 / Coached by Arie Moolenaar, RKHSV finishes in last place in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4 after seven seasons.
• 1961 / Runaway champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4B, 9 points ahead of runners-up SV De Valken, RKHSV qualifies for the championship play-offs, in which it achieves promotion to Sunday League 3 in the most confident of fashions, winning all of its six matches – two each against HFC Helder, KVV, and vv Sint Martinus. The successful coach is Arie Borst.
• 1962 / 23-year-old RKHSV player Jan Spaans earns himself a transfer to professional league side Alkmaar ’54, only staying with that club for one season before withdrawing into non-league.
• 1963 / RKHSV is given notice that it will have to move away from Terrein Mallevoortsdijk in the foreseeable future due to the location having been designated for housing.
• 1966 / In October 1966, a start is made with the construction of a clubhouse and a set of dressing rooms at RKHSV’s prospective new ground at Bayershoffweg. Also in 1966, 21-year-old RKHSV winger Eddy Robert earns himself a transfer to professional league side HFC Haarlem. Robert only stays in Haarlem for one season, failing to achieve his breakthrough and returning to his mother club in the summer of 1967.
• 1967 / In April 1967, the Netherlands’ Association for Wasteland Redevelopment (Nederlandse Heidemaatschappij) starts its works on the laying out of five pitches at RKHSV’s prospective new ground at Bayershoffweg. Later that same year, on June 17th, the symbolic foundation stone of the clubhouse is laid.
• 1968 / Abandoning Terrein Mallevoortsweg, RKHSV settles at the newly laid out Sportpark Bayershoffweg in August 1968, with the complex being inaugurated by Heiloo’s mayor J.A. Pesman.
• 1969 / RKHSV finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 1 point behind derby rivals SV De Foresters. That same year, floodlights are added to the set-up of the main pitch at Sportpark Bayershoffweg, with the facilities being inaugurated with a gala match against professional league side RKSV Volendam.
• 1970 / RKHSV finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday league 3A, 3 points behind champions BVV De Kennemers.
• ± 1971 / In 1971 or 1972, the decision is taken to drop the reference to the Roman Catholic origins of the club, as RKHSV officially changes its name to become vv HSV.
• 1972 / vv HSV finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 2 points behind champions SV Beverwijk.
• 1975 / 19-year-old former (RK)HSV youth academy goalkeeper Rob Tervoort signs his first professional league contract, becoming backup goalie at AFC Ajax. Eventually making his league debut in 1977, Tervoort only managed a handful of games for the Amsterdam side, eventually moving away and having spells in Belgium with KSK Tongeren (1979-83) and K Sint-Niklase SK (1984) before hanging up his boots.
• 1976 / Finishing in joint first place in District West I’s Sunday League 3A with SVW ’27, vv HSV meets the club from Heerhugowaard in a tie-break match for the title at RKSV AFC ‘34’s Gemeentelijk Sportpark Robonsbosweg attended by 2,200 spectators – suffering a 3-0 defeat on the day and thus missing out on promotion.
• 1977 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 1 point ahead of closest rivals LSVV, vv HSV achieves a historic promotion to Sunday League 2. The decisive points are clinched in a 3-0 home win over vv Alkmaarse Boys. The successful coach is Hans Michels. Also in 1977, a covered stand is added to the set-up at Sportpark Bayershoffweg.
• 1981 / Coached by Siem Tijm, vv HSV finishes in second-last place in District West I’s Sunday League 2A, thus dropping back into Sunday League 3 after two years, along with bottom club SV Ilpendam.
• 1985 / Former vv HSV youth academy midfielder Fons van Haastrecht signs his first professional league contract with AZ ’67 at the age of twenty. Van Haastrecht goes on to play for the Alkmaar club (renamed AZ in 1986) for four seasons, adding one more year at Telstar to his professional league career before returning to vv HSV in 1990.
• 1990 / Coached by Piet van Houwelingen, vv HSV finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4 along with the club finishing in second-last place, SV Ilpendam. Also in 1990, former vv HSV youth academy player, winger John Beelen, makes his debut as a professional league player with AZ, defending the colours of the Alkmaar side for four years before withdrawing into non-league with RKSV AFC ’34.
• 1991 / Finishing in joint first place in District West I’s Sunday League 4B with SV De Foresters, vv HSV meets its derby rivals in a tie-break match played at its own Sportpark Bayershoffweg – going on to win the encounter 2-0, and thus winning promotion to Sunday League 3.
• 1994 / Finishing in joint first place in District West I’s Sunday League 3B with WSV ’30, vv HSV meets the club from Wervershoof in a tie-break match, in which it suffers a 2-0 defeat. However, the club succeeds in achieving promotion via the backdoor of the play-offs subsequently, thus acceding to Sunday League 2 after an absence of thirteen years at that level.
• 1995 / Finishing in second-last place in District West I’s Sunday League 2A, vv HSV descends into Sunday League 3 along with bottom club SV Geel-Wit ’20.
• 1996 / vv HSV finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, 6 points behind champions vv Duinrand S.
• 2000 / Finishing in fourth place in District West I’s Sunday League 3A, vv HSV goes on to win the play-offs, thus achieving promotion to Sunday League 2 after an absence of five seasons.
• 2005 / With the main pitch of Sportpark Bayershoffweg having to make way for housing after 37 years, a new clubhouse is constructed for the club alongside Pitch D of the park, which becomes the main pitch – and is equipped with a synthetic surface that same summer. The entrance of the ground is moved from Bayershoffweg to Het Maalwater, with the name of the ground being adapted to Sportpark Het Maalwater as a result.
• 2006 / Coached by Gerrit Boerman, vv HSV finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 2A, thus dropping back into Sunday League 3 along with the club finishing in second-last position, vv ZAP.
• 2008 / On a pre-season training week in Heiloo, Sheffield Wednesday FC plays friendlies against HFC Haarlem (2-0) and SC Telstar (3-0) on the main pitch of vv HSV’s Sportpark Het Maalwater.
• 2010 / Runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, 3 points behind derby rivals SV De Foresters, vv HSV achieves direct promotion to Sunday League 2 due to extra promotion places being available following the introduction of a Zondag Topklasse as the new top level of the Sunday pyramid. The successful coach is Edwin Veenstra.
• 2011 / Coached by Edwin Veenstra, vv HSV finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 2A, thus being retrograded to Sunday League 3 along with the club finishing in second-last place, vv Kolping Boys.
• 2012 / Coached by Edwin Veenstra, vv HSV finishes in twelfth place in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, as a result of which the club has to save its skin in a relegation group against vv Texel ’94 and SV Always Forward. Due to losing the encounter against SV Always Forward, vv HSV finishes in second place in the group only, thus suffering relegation to Sunday League 4 for the first time in the new century, along with the two direct drop-outs from League 3B, SV Beemster and bottom club vv ZTS.
• 2013 / Finishing in third place in District West I’s Sunday League 4C, vv HSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out SV Spaarnwoude in R1 (6-2 aggr.) before being eliminated in R2 by SV DSOV (4-3 aggr. A.E.T.).
• 2014 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4C, 5 points ahead of runners-up SV Beemster, vv HSV achieves promotion to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Edwin Veenstra.
• 2016 / Runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, 4 points behind champions vv Kolping Boys, vv HSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by SVW ’27 (2-2 aggr. & penalty shoot-out). 
• 2017 / Runaway champions in District West I’s Sunday League 3B, 12 points ahead of closest followers SV DTS, vv HSV wins promotion to Sunday League 2. The successful coach is Edwin Veenstra, who would stay with the club for an impressive run of thirteen consecutive seasons before moving away in 2021. Also in 2017, former HSV youth academy player, 19-year-old Mees Kaandorp, makes his professional league debut with Jong AZ. In subsequent years, Kaandorp goes on to defend the colours of Almere City FC, BV De Graafschap, and SC Telstar.
• 2018 / vv HSV’s first team, title contenders in Sunday League 2A, is deducted four points for unsportsmanlike conduct, thus not only missing out on the title, but also on the promotion play-offs. Also in 2018, former HSV youth academy goalkeeper Mees Bakker makes his professional league debut at Jong AZ. In subsequent years, Bakker goes on to defend the colours of AZ, BV De Graafschap, and FC Den Bosch. 
• 2019 / Abandoning Sunday football after 73 years, vv HSV’s eternal derby rivals SV De Foresters move away to the Saturday League pyramid. The last league match between the two teams, played at SV De Foresters’ Sportpark Het Vennewater on March 2nd, 2019, was won by vv HSV (0-3).
• 2023 / Finishing in third place in Sunday League 2A, vv HSV qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club defeats AVV SDZ in R1 (0-2) before being knocked out by JVC (Julianadorp) in R2 (1-0).
• 2024 / Runaway champions in Sunday League 2A, 11 points ahead of closest followers KFC, vv HSV manages an unprecedented promotion to League 1. The successful coach is René van Elsland.

Note – Much of the information above has been derived from a booklet which was published by vv HSV on the occasion of the club’s sixtieth anniversary in 1990: “Heilooër Sportvereniging 60 jaar”, by Fred Admiraal / Marcel Fleur / Edward Geesken / Nico Meyer / Hans Spaans / Hein Spaans / Henk Spaans / Jeroen Tromp. Thanks to HSV’s ultimate clubman Hans Ursem for putting a copy of this booklet at my disposal – as well as for providing essential additional information, which has also been included in the article above. 

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

NETHERLANDS: BFC (1923-) / BSV Allen Weerbaar (1923-1986)

Sportpark Meerweg, Bussum (BFC, formerly BSV Allen Weerbaar)

Netherlands, province: North Holland = Noord-Holland

25 I 2025 / BFC - SDC Putten 2-1 / District East, League 1F (= NL level 6)

Timeline

• 1900 / In Bussum, two football clubs, Trap Raak and Leonidas, conclude a merger, resulting in the foundation of BFC (‘Bussumsche Football Club’). This ‘first’ BFC reaches NVB League 2 in 1903, but folds three years later. It is unclear where the pitch of this BFC was situated.
• 1903 / In Bussum, a football club is founded as a sub-branch of the local chapter of the so-called Vereeniging Volksweerbaarheid, a paramilitary organisation founded three years previously following an outburst of sympathy for the Boers in South Africa in their second war against the British; the new sports club in Bussum is given the name Bussumsche Sportvereeniging (BSV) Allen Weerbaar (sometimes abbreviatedly referred to as ‘AW’). BSV Allen Weerbaar finds itself a pitch at Fort Werk IV in Bussum, later moving to a pitch situated closely to the village’s old cemetery – and from there to Terrein Bilderdijkpark, where the club would stay until 1923.
• 1904 / Probably following co-optation, BSV Allen Weerbaar makes its debut in NVB District West’s (Sunday) League 3.
• 1906 / Champions in District West’s League 3A, 2 points ahead of vv Holland (from Amsterdam, absorbed into AFC Ajax in 1908), BSV Allen Weerbaar wins promotion to League 2.
• 1912 / BSV Allen Weerbaar manages a third place in District West’s League 2A – an achievement repeated in 1913, 1914, and 1915. The club has never finished in a higher position in the remainder of its history.
• 1917 / In the Godelindebuurt, a neighbourhood in Bussum, a football club is founded, which is given the name DVV (‘Door Vrienden Verenigd’). For the moment, the club does not seek affiliation with any league association – also due to the fact that DVV does not dispose of a pitch of its own.
• 1920 / After having seen its application as new members of the AVB (Amsterdamsche Voetbalbond), the Amsterdam sub-branch of the Netherlands’ Football Association (NVB, KNVB from 1929 onwards), turned down, DVV joins another sub-association, the so-called UPVB (‘Utrechtsche Provinciale Voetbalbond’), being placed in UPVB Division 3 for the 1920-21 season. By this time, the club disposes of a pitch not far from Bussum’s water tower. The club wins its first home match, an encounter with HV&AV Donar Reserves, 2-0, with Hein Braam scoring the club’s first-ever official goal. On October 31st, 1920, DVV has its request filed at the UPVB to continue its life with a new name, BFC (‘Bussumsche Football Club’), granted. In the BFC’s annals, 1920 – rather than 1917 – is regarded as the club’s founding year.
• 1921 / Finishing in second-last place in District West’s League 2B, BSV Allen Weerbaar drops back into League 3 along with bottom club SV Gouda. Meanwhile, winning the title in UPVB Division 3 in its first season, BFC wins promotion to UPVB Division 2. That same year, BFC moves to a new pitch on the southern outskirts of Bussum, near the Bussumerheide natural reserve.
• 1922 / Managing back-to-back titles, BFC crowns itself champions in UPVB Division 2, thus acceding to UPVB Division 1.
• 1923 / BFC and BSV Allen Weerbaar move into the newly laid-out Sportpark Meerweg together, becoming groundsharers – with first team matches on the main pitch being alternated. In fact, the main pitch of the original park was situated in roughly the same position as the current main pitch. Laid out by Bussum’s municipal authorities, the park, which covered the same area as nowadays, was made use of not just by the two football clubs, but by netball club Olympia, cricket club De Vleermuizen, and the so-called Gooische Hockey & Bandyclub as well. The villa on the northwestern corner of the park served as entrance gate as well as caretaker’s lodge.
• 1924 / BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes in joint first place in District West I’s League 3C with ASC SDW, but the club fails to win promotion to League 2. Meanwhile, following a 0-4 away win at vv En-Avant in Utrecht, BFC clinches the title in UPVB Division 1, thus achieving a historic promotion to NVB District West I’s (Sunday) League 4.
• 1925 / Champions in District West I’s League 4A, 4 points ahead of closest rivals Ahrends VC, BFC qualifies for the championship play-offs against AVV Swift and AVV Wilhelmina Vooruit – and finishing in first place in this competition as well, the club achieves its second promotion in a row, acceding to NVB League 3 for the first time.
• 1927 / Runaway champions in District West I’s League 3D, 7 points ahead of closest followers vv Culemborg, BFC qualifies for the championship play-offs against WFC Rapiditas and SV Kampong – and finishing in first place in this competition as well, the club accedes to NVB League 2 for the first time.
• 1928 / BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes as runners-up in District West I’s League 3C, 6 points behind champions AFC DWS.
• 1931 / Finishing in joint last place in District West I’s League 2B with AVV HVC, BFC meets the club from Amersfoort in a tie-break match at the Gemeentelijk Sportpark Soestdijkerstraatweg (‘Hilversumsch Sportpark’) in Hilversum attended by some 4,000 spectators. Winning the encounter (3-0), BFC avoids relegation.
• 1933 / BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes as runners-up in District West I’s League 3D, 3 points behind champions DOS ’01.
• 1938 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West I’s League 2B, 2 points behind the club in second-last position, future professional league side vv Velox, BFC drops back into League 3 after eleven seasons.
• 1941 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3D, BSV Allen Weerbaar descends into Sunday League 4 for the first time in its history.
• 1942 / Finishing in joint first place in District West I’s Sunday League 3E with LFC Laren, BFC meets its local rivals in a tie-break match at the Gemeentelijk Sportpark Soestdijkerstraatweg (‘Hilversums Sportpark’) in Hilversum attended by some 6,000 spectators. Suffering a heavy (4-0) defeat, the club descends into Sunday League 4, a level at which it last placed eighteen seasons before.
• 1943 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4K, 4 points ahead of closest rivals HVV De Zebra’s, BSV Allen Weerbaar does not get the opportunity to win promotion to League 3 due to no promotion play-offs being held at the behest of the Netherlands’ Football Association.
• 1944 / BFC finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3E, 2 points behind champions AVV DEC. Also in 1944, although winning no title in the 1943-44 season, BSV Allen Weerbaar is given the opportunity to play promotion matches against 1944 League 4 champions HVV De Zebra’s on the back of its title in 1943. After two tie-break matches, BSV Allen Weerbaar walks away with the ticket for League 3. That same year, handball club BHC moves into Sportpark Meerweg.
• 1946 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 3F following a tie-break match against HV&AV Donar at the Gemeentelijk Sportpark Soestdijkerstraatweg (‘Hilversums Sportpark’) in Hilversum attended by some 10,000 (!) spectators (1-0, goal by Cees Boerhout), BFC fails to achieve promotion in the ensuing round of championship play-offs. Meanwhile, in District West I’s Sunday League 3E, BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes in joint first position with ASC WMS, but no promotion is achieved.
• 1951 / With coach P. Beugelaar leaving the club in the course of the season following his decision to emigrate from the Netherlands, BFC finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3D, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4.
• 1954 / Finishing in joint last position in District West I’s Sunday League 3D with ZSC Patria and vv Maarssen, BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes in last place in a tie-break competition with these two clubs, thus suffering relegation to Sunday League 4. Meanwhile, finishing in joint last position in District West I’s Sunday League 4G with vv Amersfoortse Boys, BFC saves its skin in a tie-break match against the club from Amersfoort, thus avoiding relegation.
• 1955 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4G, 5 points ahead of closest followers – and village rivals – RKVV SDO, BSV Allen Weerbaar goes on to win the championship play-offs, thus achieving promotion to Sunday League 3.
• 1956 / BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3D, 3 points behind champions JSV. 
• 1957 / BSV Allen Weerbaar’s baseball branch continues life independently as HCAW – destined to become one of the Netherlands’ main baseball clubs.
• 1958 / BFC finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 4F, 3 points behind champions AVV Swift.
• 1962 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4F, 1 point ahead of closest rivals ASV Meerboys, BFC fails to win promotion to Sunday League 3 in the ensuing round of championship play-offs.
• 1963 / At Sportpark Meerweg, a new clubhouse is erected by Bussum’s municipal authorities, giving BSV Allen Weerbaar and BFC the luxury of a set of dressing rooms as well as a canteen.
• 1964 / Finishing in second-last place in District West I’s Sunday League 3B along with AVV Swift, BSV Allen Weerbaar meets the club from Amsterdam in a tie-break match at RKAVIC’s ground in Amstelveen, suffering defeat in the last minute of extra time (2-1) – thus being condemned to relegation to League 4 along with bottom club RKVV SDO.
• 1965 / After having been selected for the Netherlands’ U15 team, BFC youth player Jan Penneweert joins the youth academy of professional league side AFC DWS in Amsterdam.
• 1970 / Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, BFC plays a gala match at Sportpark Meerweg against a selection of former Netherlands’ international players, including the legendary Abe Lenstra.
• 1971 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4G, 3 points ahead of runners-up SVF, BFC wins promotion to Sunday League 3 – a level at which the club last played nineteen years before. The decisive point is clinched in an away match against vv SEC. The successful coach is Mr Stokwielder. Meanwhile, BSV Allen Weerbaar finishes in last place in District West I’s Sunday League 4F, thus being retrograded to the ranks of the UPVB for the first time in its history. Also in 1971, after six years at professional league side AFC DWS, in which he did not manage more than a handful of first team matches, Jan Penneweert returns to BFC.
• 1972 / BFC reaches the final of District West I’s Regional Cup (the so-called Districtsbeker), losing the match, played at Sportpark Meerweg, after a penalty shoot-out (1-1 A.E.T.) against SV Hoofddorp. Earlier that same year, the clubhouse at Sportpark Meerweg had been consumed in a fire. By the end of 1972, a temporary construction has been put in place by way of replacement – which in fact lasts for the following seventeen years.
• 1973 / BFC finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 3D, 2 points behind SV Saestum.
• 1974 / Finishing in joint second place in District West I’s Sunday League 3D with HVV ‘t Gooi and VVIJ, 4 points behind champions vv Stichtse Boys, BFC meets these two clubs in a tie-break competition due to extra promotion places being available following the introduction of a Zondag Hoofdklasse as the new top level of the Sunday pyramid. Winning the tie-break competition, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs against ASV DJK, vv Ripperda, and Victoria O, with only the last-mentioned club missing out on promotion to Sunday League 2. BFC’s successful coach is Mr Stokwielder.
• 1975 / Handball club BHC leaves Sportpark Meerweg, with just the two football clubs, BSV Allen Weerbaar and BFC, being left as users of the facilities.
• 1976 / Anton Twisker hangs up his boots after more than 400 matches in BFC’s flagship team.
• 1977 / Finishing in second-last place in District West I’s Sunday League 2B, BFC drops back into Sunday League 3 along with bottom club vv Celeritudo.
• 1979 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3C, BFC descends into Sunday League 4 along with the club finishing in second-last place, AVV BPC.
• 1983 / Following defeat in a tie-break match for last place in District West I’s Sunday League 4G against vv SEC, BFC drops back into the ranks of UPVB after 59 consecutive seasons of KNVB Sunday League football.
• 1984 / BFC suffers its second relegation in a row, being retrograded from UPVB Zondag Hoofdklasse to UPVB Sunday Division 1.
• 1986 / After 63 years as BFC’s groundsharers at Sportpark Meerweg, BSV Allen Weerbaar moves into its own ground elsewhere in Bussum, the so-called Sportvallei, alternatively referred to as Sportpark Zanderijweg.
• ± 1988 / The grandstand, which had graced the western side of the main pitch at Sportpark Meerweg since the 1940s at its latest, has to be knocked down due to dilapidation. 
• 1989 / At the instigation of Bussum’s municipal authorities, merger talks are held between BFC and BSV Allen Weerbaar. While BFC’s membership votes in favour of the arrangement, BSV Allen Weerbaar turns down the merger. The two clubs have continued life independently until the present day. Also in 1989, the temporary clubhouse at Sportpark Meerweg, erected in the latter stages of 1972, has to make way for a new construction, with the first stone being laid by BFC’s archivist Maarten Rem.
• 1993 / Following a 3-0 home win against FAK, BFC conquers the title in UPVB Sunday Division 1, thus winning promotion to UPVB Zondag Hoofdklasse. The successful coach is Joop van der Kruis. Also in 1993, former BFC winger Marco Holster, who had moved to SV Huizen in 1991, makes his debut as a professional league player at AZ. Holster would go on to enjoy spells at SC Heracles ’74, Ipswich Town FC, and Go Ahead Eagles before withdrawing into non-league at vv DOVO in 2003.
• 1995 / BFC wins promotion from UPVB Hoofdklasse to Sunday League 4, thus managing a return to that level after an absence of twelve seasons. That same year, the club absorbs a small Saturday club from Bussum, vv Bussum, without changing its name.
• 1998 / At the age of nineteen, former BFC youth academy defender Michael van der Kruis makes his professional league debut at SBV Excelsior. Van der Kruis would go on to defend the colours of BV De Graafschap, HFC Haarlem, and FC Emmen, before hanging up his boots in 2009.
• 1999 / Following extension works in 1998 and 1999, the renovated clubhouse at Sportpark Meerweg is inaugurated.
• 2001 / Former BFC youth goalkeeper Jeroen Verhoeven, who had moved to AFC Ajax’s youth academy at the age of fourteen in 1994, makes his professional league debut at RKC Waalwijk. Verhoeven would go on to have spells at FC Volendam, AFC Ajax, and FC Utrecht, before withdrawing into non-league with ASV De Dijk in 2016.
• 2002 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4G, 2 points ahead of closest rivals SV Kampong, BFC wins promotion to Sunday League 3, managing a return to that level after an absence of 23 years. The successful coach is Han Westerink.
• 2004 / Coached by Han Westerink, BFC finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 3C, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4 along with the club finishing in second-last place, ASV Fortius.
• 2005 / In a thorough renovation of Sportpark Meerweg, the three original pitches are replaced by four pitches, situated closely together. As a result, the terrace which had replaced the grandstand on the western side of the main pitch has to be removed.
• 2006 / Coached by Gert Willigenburg, BFC finishes bottom of the table in District West I’s Sunday League 4H, thus dropping back into Sunday League 5 along with the club finishing in second-last place, SV Saestum. Also in 2006, former BFC youth goalkeeper Kevin Rijnvis, who had moved to AFC Ajax’s youth academy at the age of eight in 1996, made his professional league debut at RKC Waalwijk. Rijnvis’ professional career, which lasted for just four years, would also take him to AZ, FC Dordrecht, and FC Omniworld – upon which he withdrew into non-league at SV Argon.
• 2007 / BFC finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Sunday League 5G, 3 points behind champions SV Rivierwijkers.
• 2009 / Runaway champions in District West I’s Sunday League 5H, 12 points ahead of closest followers AVV HVC, BFC wins promotion to Sunday League 4. The successful coach is Marino Osimani. Also in 2009, new dressing rooms are inaugurated on the western side of the main pitch.
• 2010 / Finishing in third place in District West I’s Sunday League 4H, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by vv OSM ’75 (7-4 aggr.).
• 2011 / After one of the side-pitches had already been laid out in 3G six years previously, the main pitch of Sportpark Meerweg is now laid out anew with artificial turf as well. Four years later, in 2015, the two remaining pitches of the park are also turned into 3Gs. Also in 2011, more than 2,000 spectators gather around the main pitch of Sportpark Meerweg for a gala match between BFC and ‘Koeman & Friends’, a squad of former professional league players brought together by former Netherlands’ international player Ronald Koeman, whose son, also called Ronald, was a goalkeeper in BFC’s youth academy at the time. The XI gathered by Koeman includes the likes of Erwin Koeman, Rob Witschge, Richard Witschge, Dennis Bergkamp, and Patrick Kluivert. The revenue of this match is spent on the construction of an additional meeting room in the clubhouse.
• 2012 / Finishing in third place in District West I’s Sunday League 4F, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is drawn in a group with SMVC Fair Play (5-1 defeat), vv Sporting ’70 (6-0 win), and SV KDO (2-3 defeat) – as a result of which the club misses out on promotion, with first place and the ticket for Sunday League 3 going to SV KDO.
• 2013 / Champions in District West I’s Sunday League 4F, 8 points ahead of runners-up vv AS ’80, BFC wins promotion to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Ferry Hendrikse. Also in 2013, a renovation of the clubhouse at Sportpark Meerweg is carried out.
• 2014 / Former BFC youth academy goalkeeper Ronald Koeman Jnr., the son of former Netherlands’ international player Ronald Koeman, makes his professional league debut at Almere City FC, going on to have spells at TOP Oss and SC Telstar.
• 2015 / Coached by Ferry Hendrikse, BFC finishes in thirteenth place in District West I’s Sunday League 3D, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4 along with Forza Almere, Omni Zwaluwen Utrecht ’11, and bottom club vv VEP.
• 2016 / Following a fifth place in District West I’s Sunday League 4G – and an uninterrupted tradition of 96 years of Sunday football – BFC takes the decision to swap to the Saturday pyramid, being placed in District West I’s Saturday League 4. 
• 2017 / Finishing as runners-up in District West I’s Saturday League 4E, 8 points behind champions RKSV Pancratius (za), BFC qualifies for the play-offs, in which the club manages successive wins over vv Hees (9-1 aggr.) and RKSV Roda ’23 (8-2 aggr.). As a result, the club wins promotion to Saturday League 3. The successful coach is Danny Schenkel, former professional league player at Telstar, Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II, AEK Larnaca, and SC Telstar.
• 2018 / Runners-up in District West I’s Saturday League 3C, 3 points behind champions ASC Waterwijk, BFC qualifies for the play-offs, in which the club manages successive victories over COV DESTO (4-2), JOS Watergraafsmeer (za) (0-3), and SV Lopik (3-0), thus winning promotion for the second year in a row and acceding to Saturday League 2. As the previous season, the successful coach is Danny Schenkel.
• 2019 / Finishing in fourth place in Saturday League 2B, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by vv ZOB (3-1).
• 2022 / Runners-up in Saturday League 2B, 6 points behind champions vv De Meern, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out CSV Jong Holland in R1 (3-1), only to be eliminated in R2 by AFC (za) (0-2). Also in 2022, former BFC youth academy player Ryan Flamingo makes his professional league debut for SBV Vitesse. Flamingo, a defender, had left BFC at the age of eleven for Almere City FC’s youth academy, also having a spell at the academy of US Sassuolo Calcio subsequently. After his first taste of first team football in Arnhem, Flamingo went on to have spells at FC Utrecht and PSV.
• 2023 / Runaway champions in Saturday League 2B, 11 points ahead of closest followers FC Breukelen, BFC manages a historic promotion to League 1. The successful coach is Kwadjo Boateng.
• 2024 / Finishing in fifth place in its first season in the Combined Sunday & Saturday League 1B, BFC qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by WV-HEDW (5-3).  

Note – Important parts of the information in the above were derived from a booklet published by BFC on the occasion of the club’s 100th anniversary: Thomas Niehe & Richard Spermon, “Bussumsche Football Club B.F.C. 1920-2020. 100 jaar Bussums Fijnste Club”, ed. BFC: Bussum 2020. Thanks to the club for putting a copy of this magazine at my disposal.

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

BELGIUM: VV Leest (1973-2009) / SK Rapid Leest (B) (2009-2022) / VC Leest (2023-)

Terrein Dorpstraat, Leest (VC Leest, formerly VV Leest / training ground of SK Rapid Leest)

Belgium, province: Antwerp = Antwerpen

18 I 2025 / VC Leest - K Schelle Sport 4-1 / Antwerp, Provincial League 3A (= BE level 8)

Timeline

• 1973 / Foundation of Vlug & Vrij (VV) Leest, with a pitch being laid out on a piece of farmland at Dorpstraat. The club sticks to playing recreational football in the first year of its existence. 
• 1974 / Joining Belgium’s Football Association with registration number 8077, VV Leest is placed in Antwerp’s Provincial League 4 for the 1974-75 season.
• 1978 / Finishing in third place in Provincial League 4D, VV Leest wins promotion to Provincial League 3.
• 1979 / Runners-up in Provincial League 3B, VV Leest wins its second promotion in a row, acceding to Provincial League 2 for the first time.
• 1980 / Finishing in second-last place in Provincial League 2B, VV Leest drops back into Provincial League 3.
• 1982 / Champions in Antwerp’s Provincial League 3B, VV Leest manages a return to Provincial League 2.
• 1985 / Champions in Provincial League 2B, VV Leest accedes to Antwerp’s Provincial League 1 for the first time in club history.
• 1986 / Champions in Antwerp’s Provincial League 1, VV Leest wins a historic promotion to National Division 4 along with play-off winners FC Rita Berlaar. To celebrate the occasion, the club’s sponsor, Mr Pauwels, puts a budget at the club’s disposal for the construction of a covered stand. In the summer of 1986, former KV Mechelen professional Rudy Geens joins VV Leest as player-coach from KSV Bornem.
• 1988 / In the best season in club history, VV Leest finishes in fifth place in National Division 4B, a mere 9 points behind champions K Sint-Niklase SK. That summer, after two years as player-coach, Rudy Geens leaves VV Leest to join KFC Heultje.
• 1989 / VV Leest barely escapes relegation in National Division 4B, finishing with an equal number of points as SV Asse, which drops back into Provincial League 1, and only staying up by virtue of one more match won (6 vs. 5).
• 1991 / Finishing bottom of the table in National Division 4B, VV Leest drops back into Provincial League 1 after five seasons, along with K Wijnegem VC and KVV OG Vorselaar.
• 1997 / Finishing bottom of the table in Antwerp’s Provincial League 1, VV Leest descends into Provincial League 2.
• 1998 / Finishing bottom of the table in Antwerp’s Provincial League 2B, VV Leest descends into Provincial League 3.
• 1999 / Unable to stop the rot, VV Leest suffers its third relegation in a row, finishing in last place in Provincial League 3B and thus finding itself at the bottom of Antwerp’s Provincial League ladder for the first time in 21 seasons.
• 2004 / A group of disgruntled members of VV Leest forms a breakaway club, Leest United, which joins Belgium’s FA with registration number 9456 and concludes a groundsharing agreement with recreational club Racing Heffen at Site Vaart, situated at Gentsesteenweg in Heffen.
• 2006 / Runners-up in Provincial League 4B, 2 points behind champions KFC Lint, VV Leest wins promotion to Provincial League 3 in the play-offs.
• 2009 / Finishing in tenth place in Provincial League 3C, VV Leest drops back into Provincial League 4 (due to the number of P3 series being brought back from three to four, additional clubs were retrograded to P4) along with FC Excelsior Kessel, KFC Excelsior Bouwel, KFC Itegem, KFC Herenthout, KSC Mechelen, and KFC Heultje. Being placed in Provincial League 4B for the 2009-10 season, VV Leest withdrew its first team before the start of the year, going into administration and ceasing all activities. After the demise of VV Leest, the pitch at Dorpstraat was taken over by village rivals SK Rapid Leest, which used it for training purposes in the following years.
• 2022 / A merger is concluded between SK Rapid Leest and Leest United, resulting in the foundation of Voetbalclub (VC) Leest, which retains Leest United’s registration number 9456. With the new club taking Leest United’s place in Antwerp’s Provincial League 4, first team football is played at Leest United’s Site Vaart in Heffen, while SK Rapid’s Complex Grote Bleukens is retained for lower team football and training sessions. Meanwhile, with a budget being put on disposal by Mechlin’s municipal authorities, works get underway on creating a new ground for the merger club at Terrein Dorpstraat.
• 2023 / A synthetic pitch is laid out at Terrein Dorpstraat on the exact location of the main pitch of VV Leest’s former ground. Although the new clubhouse still has to be built, VC Leest moves all its activities to Terrein Dorpstraat in the summer of 2023. The entrance of the new ground has been moved from Dorpstraat to Wagenmakersstraat. Meanwhile, SK Rapid’s former ground, Complex Grote Bleukens at Pastoor De Heuckstraat, is abandoned to be turned into a natural reserve, while the fate of Site Vaart is as yet unclear. 
• 2024 / Finishing as runners-up in Provincial League 4D, 2 points behind champions Red Boys Elzestraat, VC Leest qualifies for the play-offs, in which the club knocks out KVV Duffel in R1 (3-0), only to be eliminated in R2 by Sporting Tisselt B (0-3 A.E.T.). However, due to extra promotion places being available following FC White Star Schorvoort’s voluntary withdrawal into Provincial League 4 as well as the demise of Willebroekse SV, VC Leest is placed in Provincial League 3 for the new season. On September 27th, 2024, upon the completion of works on the new clubhouse, the new ‘Sportsite Leest’ at Dorpstraat / Wagenmakersstraat, is inaugurated by Mechlin’s mayor Bart Somers.
• 2025 / In January 2025, after the removal of all asbestos from the construction, the covered stand at Sportsite Leest, dating back to 1986, is re-opened for the home match against K Schelle Sport.

Note – Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-9 = non-matchday visit, October 2014 / pictures 10-24 = match visit, January 2025.

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