Sunday 20 May 2018 was a historic day, and not just for FC Emmen. For the first time in history, a Drenthe football club became a premier league team. A particularly joyous moment which many residents of Drenthe are quite proud of. Big names such as PSV, Ajax, and Feyenoord will be most welcome at the De Oude Meerdijk stadium on the eastern outskirts of Emmen.
The tension had been palpable in Emmen for days before the decisive matchday arrived on Sunday, 20th May. On the Thursday prior, 17th May, the home leg of the play-off final ended goalless. FC Emmen – Sparta remained 0-0. Initially, both teams played cautiously, but after the first chances for Sparta, Emmen truly came alive.
As if the tension wasn't enough, a perilous moment followed after an hour of play. Sparta player Spierings appeared to have been pulled down in the penalty area by FC Emmen's Alexander Bannink. The stadium and everyone glued to their screens held their breath as the VAR, the video assistant referee, showed the footage to the referee. He ruled for a goal kick for the home team, causing the Emmen fans to slowly but surely believe in a sensation: would it really happen this time?
On Sunday, 20 May, Sparta were initially the superior team at Het Kasteel in Rotterdam in the decisive match. After almost half an hour of play, Stijn Spierings scored to make it 1-0, but FC Emmen responded just 10 minutes later. And what a response it was. Michael Chacon scored a beautiful goal following an equally beautiful combination by Glenn Bijl and Anco Jansen: 1-1. An away goal counts as double, so Sparta now had to score twice.
Next, there was another VAR moment in the 47the minute. Sparta player Fred Friday was pulled by the arm by Jeroen Veldmate. But on this occasion too, the referee decided in favour of Emmen. The match was effectively decided after an hour by an unstoppable long-range shot from Anco Jansen. However, everyone who is a fan of FC Emmen only breathed a sigh of relief after Alexander Bannink's decisive goal to make it 1-3. This was also the final score of this football thriller.
Ecstatic with joy, a long journey home awaited the players and travelling fans from Rotterdam to Emmen. Whispers had already begun that if they won, there would be a celebration. And so it happened. The new Raadhuisplein was chosen as the location. This square was opened in 2015 as a connecting point between Wildlands Adventure Zoo and the Emmen town centre. The square is designed as a park with beautiful lighting where water plays a major role. The Raadhuisplein features a skate park and playground and is surrounded by the town hall, the Weiert shopping centre, and the Atlas Theatre. The design comes from Latz + Partner, a renowned German landscape architecture firm.
After the final whistle in Rotterdam, FC Emmen fans flocked to Raadhuisplein for the celebratory event. Mayor Eric van Oosterhout had hoped for a good turnout beforehand, but he absolutely did not expect 15,000 attendees. The festive atmosphere was immediate, making the wait for the players' bus seem to fly by. Music was provided by artists including De Dikdakkers, DJ Roy Keuter, and singer Robin Mink.
Around half ten in the evening, the long-awaited moment finally arrived. The team bus pulled up and the jubilant crowd celebrated this historic day for Drenthe football together with the players. Speeches followed from the mayor, of course from coach Dick Lukkien and chairman Ronald Lubbers.
While in previous years it was often difficult to fill the stadium, after their promotion a season ticket for FC Emmen became a highly sought-after item. This became clear just a few days after the decisive matchday. Season ticket sales began around midday on 23 May 2018. The first fans took no chances and queued in the middle of the night for the ticket office. Around 5,000 season tickets were available and they sold out within an hour. The fact that the lucky ones had to pay almost €100 more for a season ticket compared to the previous season was no obstacle whatsoever. Furthermore, numerous (new) sponsors also came forward to provide the necessary financial support. A luxury position that FC Emmen had not experienced for a long time.
After the realisation slowly but surely began to dawn, it was time for preparations for the first season in the Eredivisie. Many players who had contributed to FC Emmen's promotion to the Eredivisie remained. Players such as Cas Peters, Alexander Bannink, Michael Chacon, Glenn Bijl and Anco Jansen. At the same time, new players were brought in. Wouter Marinus made the switch from PEC Zwolle and Luciano Slagveer was loaned for a season from Belgian club Lokeren. In the previous season, Slagveer played for FC Twente, also on loan from the Belgian club. Player Caner Cavlan joined on a free transfer from Turkish club Boluspor, and Belgian Jason Bourdouxhe was also added to the squad. He joined on a free transfer from Helmond Sport.
For the first time in the club's history, it plays FC Emmen now in the Eredivisie. Something the founders Willem Slik and Ginus Groothuis could not have imagined in 1925. When founded on 21 August 1925, the club was initially named Noordbarge Emmen Combinatie. A year later, the name was changed to VV Emmen. Since 1985, the club has played professional football, spending no less than 33 seasons in the First Division. Three years later, in 1988, a separation was made between professional and amateur football. Consequently, the first team of VV Emmen was placed in the fourth division, and the professional club was henceforth named Stichting Betaald Voetbal Emmen. In practice, however, it was much more common to refer to BVO Emmen, with BVO being short for Betaald Voetbal Organisatie (Professional Football Organisation). The football club only received its current name in 2005.
The club's home ground has also undergone several name changes. After its opening in 1977, it was known as Stadion Meerdijk between 1977 and 2001. From 2001 up to and including 2013, the sponsor name Univé Stadion adorned the facade, and from 2014 to 2017, the sponsor name JENS Vesting. During the 2017-2018 season, the name was changed to De Oude Meerdijk, and a part of the street on which the complex is located is called Stadionplein. The multi-purpose stadium is situated on the east side of Emmen and has the nickname ‘Sfeerrijk Meerdijk’ (Atmospheric Meerdijk). It can accommodate approximately 8,500 spectators, who are seated across the Main Stand, the North Stand, the East Stand, and the Jan van Beveren Stand.
FC Emmen is not only turning to the past with the altered stadium name. In 2005, when the club was given its current name, the traditional emblem was reinstated. Red and white are the predominant colours, which are shaped into a coat of arms. In addition, the club name is on the logo, as well as the year of foundation, a classic football and the characteristic features of the Drenthe flag. These are the black tower and the six red stars.
When the home team scores a goal, the song ‘Rood Wit Aan De Bal’ is played. This has also been FC Emmen's club anthem since they joined professional football and is by the band Black Lake. Before that, the club anthem was the song ‘Mijn Rood Wit Hart’. Over the years, various new songs have been added. For example, the well-known singer Henk Wijngaard released the song ‘Emmen Mijn Voetbalstad’. During a home match of the football club, in addition to ‘Rood Wit Aan De Bal’ after a goal, two other songs are played as standard. On entry, this is the song ‘Explode’ by Jordan & Baker, and when the line-up is announced, the Drenthe anthem by the band Mooi Wark is played.
Since 2006, FC Emmen has had its own kids club, which was initially named ‘De Emmertjes’. However, at the end of 2010, the club got a new mascot, which was found by chance. The team spent a day at the zoo and there they met a tiger. He said he was very fond of football. As a result, the mascot became a tiger named Sibi. The name of the kids club was then very aptly changed to the Red White Tigers.
A museum has been located in the main stadium building since November 2005. At the time, the museum was officially opened in the presence of, among others, Mayor Cees Bijl. The museum is free to enter during office hours and, among other things, tells the story of the football club's origins.
Of course, FC Emmen cannot do without the support of its fans. For instance, the Supporters‘ Association Rood-Wit has existed since 1946. In 2001, this association was able to use its own supporter's home, which was named ’Dug-Out'. Over the years, this association has supported the club in various ways. For example, at the end of 2009, an essential financial contribution was made to the continued existence of the professional club. This secured their continued place in the first division. Furthermore, since 2014, the association has operated the catering facilities in the stadium, with the exception of the main stadium building. A second supporters' association joined the football club's fanatical following in August 2017 under the name Brigata Fanatico.
For many years, Hotel Restaurant ten Cate has warmly supported FC Emmen. Hotel guests are therefore offered various packages that include a visit to the football club. The hotel is less than a 10-minute drive from De Oude Meerdijk stadium, close to the centre of Emmen. This means that Raadhuisplein, where the celebrations took place, and Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen are within walking distance of the hotel. The same applies to the Atlas Theater, De Weiert shopping centre, and Emmen's entertainment district. In short, Hotel ten Cate offers you the ideal base for combining a football match with a stay in (the region of) Emmen.
Are you also interested in a unique FC Emmen football package from Hotel Restaurant ten Cate? Please feel free to contact us without any obligation. You can do this by calling +31 (0)591 617 600 or by emailing info@hoteltencate.nl. Curious about the other activities in the Emmen area?
Are you also interested in a unique FC Emmen football package from Hotel Restaurant ten Cate? Please feel free to contact us without any obligation.
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