Sportpark Goed Genoeg, Tweede Divisie, 6/11/25
Me 361
Amsterdamsche Football Club
Founded – 1895
Nickname/Short Name – AFC
Honours –Tweede Divisie(old format) 1905/06, 1908/09, 1916/17, 1945/46, 1960/61 NVB Championship – 1917/18, 1918/19, 1962/63, 1966/67, 1968/69. Eerste Divisie-2000/01. Hoofdklasse A -2009/10. Topklasse -2013/14. Tweede Divisie -2018/19.
Random Fact – The legendary Rinus Michels was the clubs manager between 1964 and 1965 before spreading his wings leaving for Ajax and revolutionising the sport with “Total Football”.
If truth be told, I actually enjoy my work as a job for numerous reasons. For starters it’s a good multicultural craic and it’s not a chore because of this(despite sharing an office with a rangers man). However, the thought of six weeks away from home is a shite place to be no matter which way you look at it. No Christmas, no kids and no wonderful woman on the Dee, that’s bollocks and always will be bollocks.I have travelled for a large chunk of my life now so I am used to the disappointment that comes hand in hand with my career. However, with the bad I also get the good with work I have been very fortunate over time. Basically, one thing I have absolutely mastered since I have been globetrotting is the ability to get a game of fitba if there are a couple of hours spare. Again, today I succeeded with this, albeit it was an absolute doddle to achieve compared to others in the past. Unlike the last Schiphol long stay which saw me in Haarlem, this adventure was far too simple and had no stories to go with it given the simplicity. 42 minutes after landing I was walking out of Amsterdam Zuid train station. Easy peasy.
Six minutes from Schiphol to Amsterdam Zuid is all it took on the loco for this latest adventure. It’s not even worth adding in the four minute walk from the station to the ground. I will point out though this is clearly a well to do area, it looks like the ABN AMRO headquarters are there for example, it is not short of money and that is clear . I was not heading for scheme fitba thats for sure. Without thinking, I was was following the canal which was lit up by the numerous floodlights from the ‘lesser’ parks (four I think)but there was no mistake finding the Goed Genoeg, the canal, the stand, the seriously dapper security(night club like). Ten Euros and a programme in hand I was in the ground just as AFC came out to warm up, a quick look about inclusive of a squint at the awesome architecture at the far end of the park came before sampling the amber delights in the bar . On the architecture it’s a magnificent view and thats from a non architectural brain. Think one massive block of flats that have been hit with a Hellfire rocket and you are getting somewhere. It really is quite the wonderful sight and something totally different. With plenty time to spare it was to the clubs juicer. A huge place and tidy to boot. Old photos, memorabilia and a trophy cabinet were right up my street, as were the €3.20 Heineken’s. A busy place saw a youth team serenaded with a full bar of punters singing a bit of Queen and ‘We Are The Champion’s’ after a title win I assume. A couple of jars burnt some time prior to kick off as the bar filled up significantly. A good cash cow for the club which is what we would call a community club with various teams across numerous age groups.
The game started well. Full of energy from both teams on the attack. The visitors had the biggest chance in the early stages calling AFC keeper van Zetten into some impressive action. Saving a long drive at full stretch the rebound fell to GVVV captain Barry Maguire(not a very Dutch name) who thought he was in luck but the speed at which van Zetten moved to save the secondary shot was highly impressive. Delano Gouda was to have a pot shot from the edge of the box for the home side soon after but it was saved well by van Kouwen . Watching the game unfold I was impressed with the standard. Two teams looking to play good football and two teams looking to have a go. It was a decent watch. Going back to Maguire, the 36 six year old veteran ex Utrecht,VVV, Sarpsborg and Limerick man has clearly played the game at a decent level. His football brain is there to be seen. Always in the right place, always looking for the ball and always looking to start attacks from his centre half berth. As the game grew the men from Veenendal were putting their footprint on proceedings and they took the lead mid half in truly fantastic style. With the award of a free kick 20 yards out, Arwin van Soest shaped up as if to fire a effort on goal.This made the wall jump at which point van Soest sent the ball under the wall and into the bottom corner. Brilliant trickery and despite being a worm burner of an effort, the placement and surprise element gave van Zetten no chance. Easily the best goal I have seen this season in the flesh. Surprised me as much it did the AFC team. Keeping on the keeper Gijs van Zetten, I think he was lucky not to see red moments later as it looked awfully like he handled outside the box when racing out to deal with a through ball. I may have seen the best goal of the season potentially but I have definitely seen the daftest thing I will see in a game. From the adjacent lesser pitch a ball flew onto the pitch (which is some going by the way). GVVV man van Soest was closest to the rogue ball. He struck it low to remove it from the park but in brilliant comedy timing AFC’s Guss van Weerdenburg received the actual match ball at left back and burst to a sprint out from the defence only to see himself tackled by the ball van Soest had try to dispose of. The accuracy was not deliberate but it was bloody hilarious with the timing being so perfect as was van Weerdenburg’s stunned reaction. I would love to see it again. The half was seen out by a decent chance a piece when firstly Milan Eliasar struck an effort just the wrong side of the bar from distance for the home side. This was followed by a tame header from GVVV man Willems who ought to have buried his effort.
HT 0 v 1
Half time saw a first for me. With plenty of food on offer in the bar I opted for something I have never took on at a football match before. Banana bread, and it was absolutely beautiful. A random but a stupendous choice of top level baking. The first scoof of a pint tasted rank after it though. Back outside with the darkness creeping in GVVV were still looking the better team and had the ball in the net early when a fast flowing attacking move saw Wimilio Vink on the end of a pinpoint cross to tap in but the offside flag was immediately raised. The game died somewhat with little to talk about for a spell mid second half, this barring an Indy Lee long range effort over the bar for the home side. This allowing me to notice details. One being how smart the AFC shirt was. Made to look old fashioned , it is a beauty. Just plain red with a black diamond, think Airdrie pattern. I also realised that the nearby motorway is non-stop nose to tail traffic(the Den Bosch FC bus was part of it at one point). Amsterdam is a busy busy place. Back on the pitch a raft of subs were made by GVVV who then doubled their lead with one of said subs Krijn Meeuwsen who within a minute of entering the play was on hand to tap in from close range. Questions will need to be asked about the space he was in. GVVV were not to care as they made their way back south east with 3 points in the bag. A enjoyable watch despite the lull in the second half. A very good standard too for ‘amateurs’. I could see me coming back here if I find myself in the same long layover scenario given the lack of hassle in doing so. With plenty time still burn I finished off my time in Amsterdam Zuid by nipping for a couple of pints (at the All Day Breakfast Club) and attempted to watch the the Aberdeen game on RedTV International which would not allow me to do so as it wasn’t available in my location. This as I sat in the biggest city in Netherlands. I am positive I was international at this point.
Entrance – €10
Attendance – 218 (rough head count)
Pie – €2.50 Banana Bread
Pint – €3.20 Heineken, Club Bar
FITBAWBAG 