Alphense Boys is a football club based in Alphen aan de Rijn, South Holland, Netherlands. Currently members of the Vierde Divisie, the fifth tier of the Dutch football league system, the club was established in 1930.[1] The club is known for playing major teams in practice games and for its "passionate" supporters, who initiated major brawls over the years.

Alphense Boys
Founded1 June 1930; 93 years ago (1930-06-01)
GroundDe Bijlen, Alphen aan den Rijn
ChairmanIrina van Stijn-Lamur
ManagerRemco Tuinenburg
LeagueVierde Divisie
2022–23Sunday Vierde Divisie A, 11th of 16
WebsiteClub website

History edit

1930s–1970s: Vierde Klasse and minor leagues edit

Alphense Boys was founded on 1 juni 1930. Initially it played in regional leagues.

It joined KNVB's Vierde Klasse in 1946. In 1949, a major fight erupted at its grounds after two players were removed from the field and it had lost 1–4 against VV Hillegom.[2] Supporters fought among themselves, a referee was attacked and a policeman was hit unconscious with a rock.[3] The stone throwing supporter was arrested and Alphen found itself playing back in minor leagues.

In 1967, the Boys played in the Second Regional Division of KNVB Leiden.[4]

In 1977, Alphen rejoined KNVB's Vierde Klasse. First season, in 1978 it already ended second. In 1979 it promoted to the Derde Klasse after its first section championship.

1980s: From Derde to Eerste Klasse edit

Also in the Derde Klasse, Alphen excelled. It immediately finished 5th in 1980. In 1981, it ended 4th. Only 3 years after promoting, in 1982, it won the Derde Klasse section championship and promoted to the Tweede Klasse.[5]

In the Tweede Klasse, Alphen continued to succeed, although here it took somewhat longer to become champion and promote. In 1983, it ended 5th, in 1984 3rd, in 1985 6th, in 1986 5th, and in 1987 4th. In 1988, it took the section championship and reached the Eerste Klasse for the very first time.

Success was not over. In its first season in the Eerste Klasse, Alphen ended 2nd.

1990s–2000s: To Hoofdklasse and back to the Tweede edit

In 1990 Alphense Boys finished the season in 3rd position. In 1991 it already won the section championship and promoted for the very first time to the Hoofdklasse. In 1992 it ended its first Hoofdklasse season in a promising 6th position. In 1993 it already reached 3rd place. In the 1993–1994 season, Alphen's luck changed, ending the season in a disappointing 10th position. In 1995 it ended 14th and relegated. Back in the Eerste Klasse, it didn't do well either, finishing 8th in 1996 and 10th in 1997. That year it relegated to the Tweede Klasse.

The second term in the Tweede Klasse was Alphen's most stable period to date. It finished 8th in 2001, 7th in 1998, 1999, and 2007, 5th in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007, 4th in 2000, and 2nd in 2003. In 2000 Alphense Boys lost 0−12 to the Glasgow Rangers in a friendly game at the Boys grounds.[6] In 2009 Alphen won the 1st place and found itself once again in Eerste Klasse.

2010s: Eerste Klasse and Hoofdklasse edit

In 2011 Alphen lost 0−1 to VV Montfoort in a game for the Dutch national cup.[7][8]

In 2013 the KNVB relegated Alphense Boys to the Eerste Klasse after a massive fight on the football field, immediately after the playoff match against Haaglandia in which Alphen lost its chance for promotion to the Topklasse.[9] The club cancelled the membership of five section one players following the events.[10] Six supporters of Alphen were sent to jail.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ Redactie (2017-06-28). "Indelingen Divisies en hoofdklassen bekend". Voetbal Rotterdam. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  2. ^ "Voetbalrel in Alphen". De Gooi- en Eemlander. Hilversum. 1949-01-10. Retrieved 2017-08-05 – via Delpher.
  3. ^ "Alweer voetbalvlegels". Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant. 1949-01-10. Retrieved 2017-08-05 – via Delpher.
  4. ^ Sportcorrespondent (1967-09-04). "Sollicitant holde pro deo bij DOS". Algemeen Handelsblad. Amsterdam. Retrieved 2017-08-05 – via Delpher.
  5. ^ Geertsma, Folkert (1982-04-26). "Alphense Boys Kampioen" [Alphense Boys Champions]. Leidse Courant. p. 15. Retrieved 2017-08-06 – via Historische Kranten, Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken.
  6. ^ Abrahams, Marcel (2000-07-17). "Als sparringpartner geliefd bij topclubs". NRC Handelsblad. De komst van de Schotse kampioen Glasgow Rangers, die de thuisploeg zojuist met 12-0 heeft verslagen, is vlekkeloos verlopen.
  7. ^ "Alphense Boys – Montfoort". Voetbal International.
  8. ^ Sportredactie (2011-08-24). "Vier regioploegen naar tweede ronde KNVB-beker". Retrieved 2017-08-06. Montfoort won met 1-0 op bezoek bij Alphense Boys.
  9. ^ Redactie (2013-06-07). "KNVB straft Alphense Boys met degradatie". Trouw. Retrieved 2017-08-04. Amateurvoetbalclub Alphense Boys wordt voor straf teruggezet van de Hoofdklasse naar de Eerste Klasse. Dat heeft de KNVB vrijdagavond beslist.
  10. ^ "Vijf spelers Alphense Boys weggestuurd". De Telegraaf. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2017-08-04. Het bestuur van Alphense Boys heeft het lidmaatschap van vijf voetballers per direct beëindigd. Reden daarvoor is de grote vechtpartij die zondag uitbrak na afloop van het play-offduel tegen het Rijswijkse Haaglandia.
  11. ^ "Celstraffen voor supporters Alphense Boys". De Telegraaf. 2014-06-06. Zes supporters van voetbalvereniging Alphense Boys hebben vrijdag celstraffen tot 100 dagen gekregen, sommigen in combinatie met werkstraffen tot 150 uur.

External links edit