The Spakenburg-Katwijk poster on Wednesday evening means that one amateur club is assured of a place in the quarter-finals of the KNVB Cup anyway. This century, six other amateur clubs reached the last eight, including after stunts against professional clubs. An overview.
Quick Boys (2007/2008) and Noordwijk (2010/2011) were the first amateurs in the quarterfinals after the turn of the century, but they did not have to eliminate clubs from the Eredivisie or Eerste Divisie. Quick Boys stranded in the quarterfinals against NAC Breda (3-0), while Noordwijk had no chance against RKC Waalwijk (6-0).
2011/2012: double sensation for GVVV
GVVV performed two stunts in the 2011/2012 season. The club from Veenendaal humiliated Eredivisionist Excelsior at Woudestein in the third round: 0-3. Striker Dennis van Meegdenburg (37) seized the leading role with two hits.
Sparta Rotterdam, which then played in the Eerste Divisie, became the next victim. After a 1-1 final score, GVVV took the penalties better. “We won on our gums”, said GVVV trainer Erik Assink at the time. “Everyone was completely broken, but this is great for the club, isn’t it?”
AZ brought GVVV back to earth. Van Meegdenburg gave his team a surprising lead on a visit to Alkmaar, but then the Alkmaarders repaired the damage: 2-1.
Bekersprookje GVVV in 2011/2012
- Eerste ronde: GVVV-Nemelaer 3-1
- Twee ronde: Zwaluwen ’30-GVVV 1-2
- Derde ronde: Excelsior-GVVV 0-3
- Achtste finales: Sparta Rotterdam-GVVV 1-1 (w.n.s.)
- Kwartfinales: AZ-GVVV 2-1
2013/2014: Kraay also stunts with Cuijk
Hans Kraay junior went on November 12, 2008 on the shoulders of the supporters of FC Lienden. His team defeated the great Vitesse 1-0. Lienden had to bow to Roda JC (2-0) in the eighth finals after extra time.
Five years later Kraay took care of another cup stunt, and this time the quarter finals were reached. His JVC Cuijk won 2-1 against First Divisionist MVV Maastricht. “We grabbed them by the throat and didn’t let go,” said Kraay. “I am very proud of the boys, they have gone so deep.”
Cuijk stranded in the next round against PEC Zwolle (5-1). Kraay did not blame his players after the hard defeat. “Pride prevails. The boys have put Cuijk on the map.”
Bekersprookje JVC Cuijk in 2013/2014
- Eerste ronde: HHC Hardenberg-JVC Cuijk 1-2
- Tweede ronde: Barendrecht-JVC Cuijk 0-2
- Derde ronde: JVC Cuijk-EVV 3-0
- Achtste finales: JVC Cuijk-MVV Maastricht 2-1
- Kwartfinales: PEC Zwolle-JVC Cuijk 5-1
2015/2016: HHC Hardenberg hurts NEC
HHC Hardenberg thrilled the home crowd in the cup tournament on December 15, 2015. The Topklasser won 2-0 against Eredivisionist NEC at sports park De Boshoek. Glenn Kobuses and Dennis Krohne passed judgment after the break.
The traveling NEC fans got their money back after the embarrassment. “It was a disgrace. If you want to achieve something, you have to be able to straighten your back, and I missed that,” said captain Rens van Eijden.
HHC was unable to continue the sensation in the next round. An early goal by Vincent Janssen gave AZ a semi-final spot at the expense of the amateurs: 1-0.
Bekersprookje HHC Hardenberg in 2015/2016
- Tweede ronde: FC Lisse-HHC Hardenberg 0-4
- Derde ronde: Berkum-HHC Hardenberg 0-3
- Achtste finales: HHC Hardenberg-NEC 2-0
- Kwartfinales: AZ-HHC Hardenberg 1-0
2015/2016: VVSB the biggest sensation
The biggest surprise this century was VVSB. In the 2015/2016 season, the Topklasser from Noordwijkerhout was the second amateur club ever to reach the semi-finals of the cup tournament, after IJsselmeervogels in 1975.
VVSB stunted not once, but twice. In the third round, the amateurs were too strong for FC Emmen, then active in the Eerste Divisie. “A failure, this is just a shame”, then Emmen coach Marcel Keizer snorted.
The fairy tale was not over yet for VVSB. After Capelle, FC Den Bosch was miraculously defeated. The team of trainer Wilfred van Leeuwen was 2-0 behind ten minutes before the end, but still won 2-3. HEMA trainee Maikey Parami scored the winning goal. “I can cry with happiness”, Van Leeuwen shouted. “They’re going to make a movie out of this in ten years.”
VVSB failed to be the first amateur club to reach the final in De Kuip. The amateurs held out against FC Utrecht for a long time in Stadium Galgenwaard, but after an own goal by Peet van der Sloot in the 73rd minute it was over. The home club ran out to a 3-0 win.
Bekersprookje VVSB in 2015/2016
- Tweede ronde: Rijnsburgse Boys-VVSB 3-3 (w.n.s.)
- Derde ronde: VVSB-FC Emmen 3-1
- Achtste finales: Capelle-VVSB 2-3
- Kwartfinales: FC Den Bosch-VVSB 2-3
- Halve finales: FC Utrecht-VVSB 3-0
Achtste finales KNVB-beker
- AZ-FC Utrecht 1-2
- De Graafschap-De Treffers 3-0
- NAC Breda-sc Heerenveen 1-2
- Woensdag, 18.45 uur: PSV-FC Emmen
- Woensdag, 20.00 uur: Spakenburg-Katwijk
- Woensdag, 21.00 uur: Feyenoord-NEC
- Donderdag, 18.45 uur: FC Twente-Ajax
- Donderdag, 21.00 uur: ADO Den Haag-Go Ahead Eagles
