Go Ahead Eagles 2-2 NEC Nijmegen, Sunday 14th August 2016

Go Ahead Eagles 2-2 NEC Nijmegen (att. 9,123)

Welcome to ....

What a great day I’ve had. If you meet someone new, from another city, who supports another team…especially abroad…and they offer you the chance to see a game on THEIR turf…take it. You too might have beers in the town square pre-match, a drive to the stadium, a meet up with their mates, more beers, a match ticket for a sold out game…some actual football (and goals)…more beers in the social club afterwards…then a personal tour of the stadium by the General Manager (or equivalent) before you get a (free) taxi back to town from a lackey on call to the club (using his dad’s Mercedes-Benz). Of course, you need to be asking the right Dutchman at a German regionalliga west game in Oberhausen why Rot-Weiss Oberhausen only have 3 floodlights. (I still don’t know). Basically, you meet a fellow groundhopper, and the rest follows (if you’re lucky).

The main entrance

I arrived in Deventer prompt. Not much around the station, I headed into the centrum. “Meet me in the square known as ‘Brink’” says my man, via text. I was already there. This is a good sign, I think. I’m soon joined by Marcel (my invitee) and his mate Danny. Marcel is Go Ahead Eagles through and through and a groundhopper with it. I am furnished with an Eagles scarf (think Melchester Rovers) and he’s pulled a favour with his mate at the club (‘Hi’ Ronny) to get me a ticket for the Eagles’ return to the Eredivisie. And Ronny is ‘hierarchy’, not merely a steward (no offence).

The view from INSIDE the ticket office.

We make the short drive from the city centre. Marcel makes the right noises to various stewards and bluffs his way to parking right outside the stadium. He claims he’s always parked there, it’s just the Eagles’ promotion which has made it that little bit more tricky. I think it’s a price he’s willing to pay.

De Adelaarshorst is a grand little stadium, three small one-tiered stands with a larger, newer stand behind one goal, where I sat. This stand was twice the height of the others and needs supporting pillars to hold the roof. However, it’s nicely bedecked in brick, in keeping with the neighbourhood. I’m told the architect used Fulham’s stadium as inspiration (presumably the Stevenage Road Stand). I even took a pic of the surrounding wall, just cos it’s the oldest part of the stadium (tho’ it lacks the broken glass cemented on top, a la Oakwell). Go Ahead are also very lucky in Dutch terms, in that their stadium is in the town centre and not made to sit on the naughty step on the edge, away from everything else.

The Eagles' nest; the new stand behind the goal.

They’re also very lucky in that they have a) such a cool name and b) an actual eagle for a mascot. The name, it transpires, is a throwback to a previous manager who changed the club’s name. A bit like Don Revie changing Dirty Leeds’ kit? And as for the eagle, well, he (she?) was a transfer target in the summer from Vitesse Arnhem. How many club mascots can say THAT? Still, it maybe says something that Vitesse were more interested in the eagle than in any of the Eagles’ players.

Yup, there he is.

A modern main stand lay to my left, while at the far end, was a mixture of terrace and seating. This was where Marcel and his posse stood. Meantime, I’m in row 1, to the left of the goal. Not my usual choice of seat, but beggars can’t be choosers. And the view is surprisingly good. Good enough to see NEC take the lead, a neat through ball on the edge of the box and easy finish. The Eagles expect a long hard season and perhaps they’ll be right.

The teams come out.

At half time I move seats. The cameraman is between me and the goal and I find a few empty seats behind the net. I’m only moved on twice by patrons (late back after half time) before I find my perch; 5 rows back, to the left of the goal.
Having been told why you don’t get many away fans in the Netherlands (forced to travel in by bus, no alcohol), NEC have a decent gathering of few hundred. But this is fairly local for them, perhaps their closest game after Vitesse. I can hear them to my right. The main home end meantime has terracing in the centre and seating out towards the wings, a uniquely Dutch phenomenon. Now I understand why Marcel and his friends had to leave before me as ‘their area was getting crowded’. Of course, they were STANDING. I heard something later about why Go Ahead are the only Dutch team allowed this, but I forget.

Thankfully, this net wasn't bothered in the 1st half.

At half time, Marcel is disappointed by the standard of football. Pre-match, there was concern that this is a ‘must-win’ game. Blimey, bit early for that, I thought. Yes, other relegation rivals had picked up points in their opening game (game: SINGULAR) but far too early to panic. Mind, this is a feeling I know all too well from supporting my own team. I hopefully tell Marcel ‘Things might improve kicking towards the main home end.’ I am a sage.

An expectant crowd pre-match.

Within 15 minutes of the 2nd half starting, it’s 2-1 to the Eagles. First, they hit a 20 yarder early…way too early for the NEC keeper, who’s slow to get down…then the right winger cleverly (!) appears to miscontrol the ball, before he cuts inside and strikes it into the far corner. Glorious. Also, a reward for the ‘calls and responses’ between either end, mainly driven by a group of old nuts at my end, who insist on standing right next to the away fans.

Segregation, Dutch-style (at half time).

Sadly, NEC equalise and it’s difficult not to feel hard done by. The Eagles are attacking and their player is wiped out (shoulder to shoulder?) and NEC break. Two passes later, they’re clean through and the keeper needn’t bother being there. (TV replays show the keeper leaving virtually the whole goal unguarded; he obviously had no idea where it was.) 2-2 and a quarter of an hour to go.

Low slung roofs...as they used to be.

There is one chance to win it, and it falls to Go Ahead...who fail to go ahead (sorry). A move began at left back, a quick give and go and the player runs free only for the keeper to save. Yes, it could’ve won the match, but NEC missed a similar 1st half opportunity. All’s fair that ends square.
After the match, I met back up with Marcel at el in the social club underneath the main stand (all welcome). It’s a fantastic place, dark, well designed, in club colours, full of past shirts and a trophy cabinet. They’d even installed a few seats from the old stand. Nice touch. Plus plenty of TV screens which were showing highlights of today’s game, as well as other Eredivisie highlights. And despite not winning, everyone stays perky.

Above the entrance to the social club

So there it is. We’re chatting away and Ronny comes over to see his mate Marcel. Turns out he’s a big West Ham fan (poor lad) and after Marcel and his friends take their leave (they have families to please), Ronny offers me a tour of the vicinity. I’m only with the guy who (literally) has the keys to the castle! Away dressing room, match tunnel, home dressing room (showing the opposition’s team pinned up), sauna, plunge pools, players’ bar…well, you’ll not see a photo of any of it cos my cameraphone ran out of battery. I even saw the laundry room, by now with machines on full pelt. I forget the laundry lady’s name (Freda?) but she gets her name on the door. No-one else does.

The hosts with the most...Ronny and Marcel.

Then it’s over, time to leave. And while I contemplate the 10 minute walk to the station, Ronny snaps his fingers (figuratively) and a young lad in a Mercedes-Benz gives me a lift, no charge. Turns out the VIP section has some taxis on call. This lad can’t be more than 18, I think. Yet this might be my first ever drive in such a machine. (Very nice, if you’re wondering.) Turns out it’s his dad’s car and he’s doing this for pocket money. ‘Better paid than my mates at the pizza joint’. No wonder, at the rate us VIPs tip!

COME ON YOU EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**special thanks to Marcel, Ronny, Joost, Jeroen and Danny for making me feel so welcome. I apologise that you had to spend so much of your day speaking English!

The Damage: €20 ent €2 sausage€4 beer (x3)
Free prog
= €34

The Tunes: Shangri-La (Jake Bugg) The Dawn of Psychedelia (Various)

Flag collection point.  Simple, yet brilliant.

One flag bearer greets his heroes.

The teams come on.

My 1st half view.  But low for me.

Match action.

I presume there's meant to be a gate here?

De Adelaarshorst panorama