Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 NAC
Ere Divisie
De Adelaarshorst
2 April 2014
The problem with having an ‘traditional’ style stadium in modern Dutch football is that it doesn’t lend itself to the high level of security required by the authorities for Ere Divisie matches. Whilst never holding up the ‘old’ away end as a thing of beauty, it did at least afford reasonable views (well reasonable by most Dutch away end standards). The only problem is that this part of the ground was in the corner nearest the home end. With there being no fences or moats around the home sections at de Adelaarshorst, the decision was taken to move the away section to the other end of the ground, where, I gather, it was originally situated.
And so this compact 400 capacity terrace was constructed along with security paneling, fences, cameras and a nice tunnel walkway back over the home fans to the away compound, which remains unchanged from the previous away end.
I had been warned about the view. Carlos, my Eagles supporting friend, even offered me tickets in the home end, but you know me. Curiosity always gets the better of me, as well as the desire to add photos to the collection that few would have seen before.
The recent Nuclear Summit at The Hague required so much policing that all risk games in the Ere Divisie that weekend (including this one) were cancelled and rearranged to midweek. Given it was an UCL night the games were originally scheduled for 3:45pm. My understanding is that, as no Russian teams were left in, kick off of these matched were put back till 6:45pm; lucky us!!
As a regular away traveler with NAC I have one of 40 ‘uitvak +’ cards, given to those poor souls who attend the most away games. There are a few (not many) perks to this, one being a chance to buy my tickets for away games a bit earlier than other season ticket holders, and another that, on a few occasions, I can drive when everyone else has to get the bus-combi. This was one such time.
I got to the ground about 30 mins before kick off (one of the advantages of away compounds, always somewhere to park!) to be greated by stewards, police, Breda plain clothes police and um, that’s it. No other fans. I was the first in the away end. Great for the photos, but a little worrying when, around 10 mins to kick off, there were only a dozen or so ‘uitvak +’ supporters.
At this point the away end was fine. View not too bad (not great) although I did notice the barriers were a little on the low side. 10 minutes later when the buses turned up the away end was not so great. The view is pretty poor and you couldn’t really see the goal nearest us.
But that said there were some good things to say; access was fine (which cannot be said for the home fans) the away compound was plenty big enough, they sold Kebabs and, most importantly (and somewhat perversely) we could buy beer, with alcohol.
So based on this, well primarily the last factor (!) I will say that this isn’t the worse away end I have been in.
As for the game, well NAC only have themselves to blame. Having most of possession in the second half, they failed to do anything constructive with it. With 10 minutes to go they started to sit back (cue comment ‘if the sit back they will lose this one’ to Miss NAC) and lost the game in the last few minutes to a deflected goal, I gather but I couldn't tell .
So the Eagles and NAC are now level on points, four above the drop with four to play. There is a reasonable chance both will avoid the relegation play offs, which, personally, I’m pleased about. The Ere Divisie is richer for having the Eagles, their ground and their colourful support in it.
And so this compact 400 capacity terrace was constructed along with security paneling, fences, cameras and a nice tunnel walkway back over the home fans to the away compound, which remains unchanged from the previous away end.
I had been warned about the view. Carlos, my Eagles supporting friend, even offered me tickets in the home end, but you know me. Curiosity always gets the better of me, as well as the desire to add photos to the collection that few would have seen before.
The recent Nuclear Summit at The Hague required so much policing that all risk games in the Ere Divisie that weekend (including this one) were cancelled and rearranged to midweek. Given it was an UCL night the games were originally scheduled for 3:45pm. My understanding is that, as no Russian teams were left in, kick off of these matched were put back till 6:45pm; lucky us!!
As a regular away traveler with NAC I have one of 40 ‘uitvak +’ cards, given to those poor souls who attend the most away games. There are a few (not many) perks to this, one being a chance to buy my tickets for away games a bit earlier than other season ticket holders, and another that, on a few occasions, I can drive when everyone else has to get the bus-combi. This was one such time.
I got to the ground about 30 mins before kick off (one of the advantages of away compounds, always somewhere to park!) to be greated by stewards, police, Breda plain clothes police and um, that’s it. No other fans. I was the first in the away end. Great for the photos, but a little worrying when, around 10 mins to kick off, there were only a dozen or so ‘uitvak +’ supporters.
At this point the away end was fine. View not too bad (not great) although I did notice the barriers were a little on the low side. 10 minutes later when the buses turned up the away end was not so great. The view is pretty poor and you couldn’t really see the goal nearest us.
But that said there were some good things to say; access was fine (which cannot be said for the home fans) the away compound was plenty big enough, they sold Kebabs and, most importantly (and somewhat perversely) we could buy beer, with alcohol.
So based on this, well primarily the last factor (!) I will say that this isn’t the worse away end I have been in.
As for the game, well NAC only have themselves to blame. Having most of possession in the second half, they failed to do anything constructive with it. With 10 minutes to go they started to sit back (cue comment ‘if the sit back they will lose this one’ to Miss NAC) and lost the game in the last few minutes to a deflected goal, I gather but I couldn't tell .
So the Eagles and NAC are now level on points, four above the drop with four to play. There is a reasonable chance both will avoid the relegation play offs, which, personally, I’m pleased about. The Ere Divisie is richer for having the Eagles, their ground and their colourful support in it.