Achilles '29

Achilles '29

Full name	R.K.S.V. Achilles '29
Nickname(s)	De Witzwarten (The Whiteblacks)
Founded	1 June 1929
Ground	Sportpark De Heikant, Groesbeek
Capacity	4,500[1]
Chairman	Harrie Derks
Head Coach	Eric Meijers
League	Eerste Divisie
2015–16	Eerste Divisie, 15th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Achilles '29 is a football club from Groesbeek in the Netherlands. The men's senior side are currently members of the Eerste Divisie, having been promoted from the Topklasse in 2012–13. The club also have a women's side which plays in the Eredivisie since the 2016–17 season.

History

Achilles '29 became Hoofdklasse champions for the first time in 1983 in the Hoofdklasse Sunday B. In 2006, Achilles became champions in the Hoofdklasse once again, now in the Hoofdklasse Sunday C, with a two-point lead over rival De Treffers. Two seasons later a comparable Hoofdklasse victory was achieved as Achilles '29 played De Treffers in the last match of the season. If De Treffers managed to win the match, they would become champions. As long as Achilles '29 managed to gain at least one point (either a draw or a win) the championship would go to De Heikant. In a historic derby, the home team won 3–2 and thus became champions of the Hoofdklasse for the third time.

In 2010, a new league was created, making the Hoofdklasse the second highest league of Dutch amateur football. With the new Topklasse, there won't be any clashes between the Hoofdklasse champions for the Saturday or Sunday title, but the champions of the Topklasse will become the direct Saturday or Sunday champions. The Saturday and Sunday champions still battle for the national title. In the first Topklasse season, relegated Eerste Divisie team FC Oss won the Sunday title, by beating Achilles '29 on the last match of the season with 0–2. Achilles '29 finished on second place, just missing out to a decision duel by losing on the last day. In the following season, Achilles '29 became the champions of the Topklasse Sunday with a nine-point lead over Haaglandia. As the Sunday overall champions they faced Saturday champions SV Spakenburg for the national title. In the first leg they won 3–0 and in the second leg 0–2, becoming the national champions in amateur football for the first time with a 5–0 aggregate win. Achilles '29 hereby received an option of promotion to the Eerste Divisie, but didn't chose to use it. In the 2012–13 Topklasse season Achilles '29 were the title favorites, as reigning champions. After 11 matches they became top of the table and remained there for the rest of the season. They lost the national title to VV Katwijk, but unlike Katwijk, Achilles chose to use their right of promotion following dispensation to some aspects in the licence for professional football. As a result, they play in the Eerste Divisie for the 2013–14 season, having drawn their first game in professional football against FC Emmen.

The club is also well known for their successes in the Dutch domestic cup, having knocked FC Volendam, Heracles Almelo, RKC Waalwijk, Telstar and MVV Maastricht out of the KNVB Cup.

Honours

• Topklasse
  • Champions: 2011–12
  • Sunday champions: 2011–12, 2012–13
• Hoofdklasse
  • Champions: 1982–83, 2005–06, 2007–08
  • District Cup - East winners: 2007–08, 2010–11
• Amateur KNVB Cup
  • Winners: 2010–11
• Amateur Supercup
  • Winners: 2011–12, 2012–13

Current squad

As of 1 July 2016

For recent transfers, see List of Dutch football transfers summer 2016

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Robbert te Loeke 2 DF Mischa Boelens 3 DF Barry Beijer 4 DF Mart Raterink 5 DF Kenny Elders 6 MF Eef van Riel 7 MF Boy van de Beek 8 MF Kürșad Sürmeli 9 FW Brian Boogers 10 FW Thijs Hendriks (Captain)[2] 11 MF Rick Hemmink

No. Position Player 13 MF Jop van Steen 14 MF Joey Dekkers 15 MF Omid Popalzay 16 GK Simon van Beers 17 FW Freek Thoone 18 DF Coen Gortemaker 19 FW Niek Versteegen 21 DF Migiel Zeller 23 GK Dani Centen 33 MF Tenta Maeda

Managers

• Eric Meijers (2002–2012), (2015–present)
• Jan van Deinsen (2012–2013)
• Francois Gesthuizen (2013–2015)

Women

The women's team entered the Eredivisie in the 2016–17 season.^[3]

Women's squad

As of 1 December 2016.^[4]

Coach: Judith Thijssen

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Manon Bosch GK Renate Verhoeven DF Kika van Es DF Michelle van der Laan DF Demi ter Maat DF Amber Mutsaers DF Beau Rijks DF Amber Verspaget MF Melanie Bross

No. Position Player MF Yvette Derks MF Guusje Eijkmans MF Margaritha de Groot MF Nena Hopmans MF Jody Schellekens MF Shirin Timmermann FW Annet van Hout FW Bonita Theunissen FW Joy Kersten

References

1. http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/ned/sportpark_de_heikant
2. "Hendriks neemt aanvoerdersband Smits definitief over". Gelderlander. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
3. "Achilles'29 met vrouwenteam de eredivisie in". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 2 April 2015.
4. "Women's squad". Achilles '29 (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 December 2016.

External links

• Club website (Dutch)

51°46′56″N 5°56′56″E / 51.78222°N 5.94889°E