Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
De Kuip (Dutch Cup Finals)
Since 1989 all finals of the Dutch Cup ('KNVB-beker' in Dutch) have been played at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. This was part of a strategy of the KNVB to give the domestic cup competition more status in the Netherlands.
Roda JC have reached the Cup Final six times, in 1976, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2008. Only twice were they successful, in 1997 and 2000. They lost the finals in 1978 and 1988 to PSV and in 1992 and 2008 Feyenoord proved too strong.
I attended the finals in 1997, 2000, and 2008.
Outside the De Kuip for the 1997 final againt SC Heerenveen. It was the first time Roda were playing a cup final against a team other than one of the traditional Dutch top-three however Heerenveen were considered slight favourites.
Nevertheless Roda JC won the game convincingly: 4-2. The first major trophy in the history of the club was in the bag.
2000
Only three years later Roda JC were in the final again after beating Vitesse in the semi-final. Again Roda JC were playing a 'smaller' team, this time it was N.E.C. of Nijmegen. Roda JC won 2-0. Eric van de Luer scored this winning penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
Understandibly I was delighted to have won the cup again, only three years after the first one.
The players were happy too.
2008
It took eight years for Roda to reach the final for a sixth time. Roda had been close in 2006 when they lost the semi-final to Ajax in Amsterdam after extra time after having been up 1-0 and Huntelaar scored the equaliser almost 3 minutes in injury time.
We knew this was going to be more difficult than the last two editions as we were playing Feyenoord at their own home.
Nevertheless the Roda fans showed up in good numbers.
However what we all had feared happened. Roda never showed up on the day and Feyenoord won comfortably 2-0.
Unfortunately no white bath robes for Roda JC but blue ones. Interestingly when Amstel sponsored the Dutch Cup the losers would get the white robes and the winners received red robes.
Roda JC have reached the Cup Final six times, in 1976, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2008. Only twice were they successful, in 1997 and 2000. They lost the finals in 1978 and 1988 to PSV and in 1992 and 2008 Feyenoord proved too strong.
I attended the finals in 1997, 2000, and 2008.
1997
Outside the De Kuip for the 1997 final againt SC Heerenveen. It was the first time Roda were playing a cup final against a team other than one of the traditional Dutch top-three however Heerenveen were considered slight favourites.
Nevertheless Roda JC won the game convincingly: 4-2. The first major trophy in the history of the club was in the bag.2000
Only three years later Roda JC were in the final again after beating Vitesse in the semi-final. Again Roda JC were playing a 'smaller' team, this time it was N.E.C. of Nijmegen. Roda JC won 2-0. Eric van de Luer scored this winning penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
Understandibly I was delighted to have won the cup again, only three years after the first one.
The players were happy too.2008
It took eight years for Roda to reach the final for a sixth time. Roda had been close in 2006 when they lost the semi-final to Ajax in Amsterdam after extra time after having been up 1-0 and Huntelaar scored the equaliser almost 3 minutes in injury time.
We knew this was going to be more difficult than the last two editions as we were playing Feyenoord at their own home.
Nevertheless the Roda fans showed up in good numbers.
However what we all had feared happened. Roda never showed up on the day and Feyenoord won comfortably 2-0.
Unfortunately no white bath robes for Roda JC but blue ones. Interestingly when Amstel sponsored the Dutch Cup the losers would get the white robes and the winners received red robes.
De Kuip (Dutch Cup Finals)
Since 1989 all finals of the Dutch Cup ('KNVB-beker' in Dutch) have been played at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. This was part of a strategy of the KNVB to give the domestic cup competition more status in the Netherlands.
Roda JC have reached the Cup Final six times, in 1976, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2008. Only twice were they successful, in 1997 and 2000. They lost the finals in 1978 and 1988 to PSV and in 1992 and 2008 Feyenoord proved too strong.
I attended the finals in 1997, 2000, and 2008.
Outside the De Kuip for the 1997 final againt SC Heerenveen. It was the first time Roda were playing a cup final against a team other than one of the traditional Dutch top-three however Heerenveen were considered slight favourites.
Nevertheless Roda JC won the game convincingly: 4-2. The first major trophy in the history of the club was in the bag.
2000
Only three years later Roda JC were in the final again after beating Vitesse in the semi-final. Again Roda JC were playing a 'smaller' team, this time it was N.E.C. of Nijmegen. Roda JC won 2-0. Eric van de Luer scored this winning penalty in the dying minutes of the game.
Understandibly I was delighted to have won the cup again, only three years after the first one.
The players were happy too.
2008
It took eight years for Roda to reach the final for a sixth time. Roda had been close in 2006 when they lost the semi-final to Ajax in Amsterdam after extra time after having been up 1-0 and Huntelaar scored the equaliser almost 3 minutes in injury time.
We knew this was going to be more difficult than the last two editions as we were playing Feyenoord at their own home.
Nevertheless the Roda fans showed up in good numbers.
However what we all had feared happened. Roda never showed up on the day and Feyenoord won comfortably 2-0.
Unfortunately no white bath robes for Roda JC but blue ones. Interestingly when Amstel sponsored the Dutch Cup the losers would get the white robes and the winners received red robes.
Roda JC have reached the Cup Final six times, in 1976, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2000, and 2008. Only twice were they successful, in 1997 and 2000. They lost the finals in 1978 and 1988 to PSV and in 1992 and 2008 Feyenoord proved too strong.
I attended the finals in 1997, 2000, and 2008.
1997
Outside the De Kuip for the 1997 final againt SC Heerenveen. It was the first time Roda were playing a cup final against a team other than one of the traditional Dutch top-three however Heerenveen were considered slight favourites.Nevertheless Roda JC won the game convincingly: 4-2. The first major trophy in the history of the club was in the bag.2000
Only three years later Roda JC were in the final again after beating Vitesse in the semi-final. Again Roda JC were playing a 'smaller' team, this time it was N.E.C. of Nijmegen. Roda JC won 2-0. Eric van de Luer scored this winning penalty in the dying minutes of the game.Understandibly I was delighted to have won the cup again, only three years after the first one.The players were happy too.2008
It took eight years for Roda to reach the final for a sixth time. Roda had been close in 2006 when they lost the semi-final to Ajax in Amsterdam after extra time after having been up 1-0 and Huntelaar scored the equaliser almost 3 minutes in injury time.We knew this was going to be more difficult than the last two editions as we were playing Feyenoord at their own home.Nevertheless the Roda fans showed up in good numbers.However what we all had feared happened. Roda never showed up on the day and Feyenoord won comfortably 2-0.Unfortunately no white bath robes for Roda JC but blue ones. Interestingly when Amstel sponsored the Dutch Cup the losers would get the white robes and the winners received red robes.
Ibrox Stadium (Rangers)
View from the Main Stand against Werder Bremen on 6 March 2008 (UEFA Cup, round of 16, first leg). The Govan Stand and part of the Copland Road Stand can be seen.
View from the Main Stand on the Broomloan Stand. Rangers beat Werder Bremen 2-0. Rangers lost the return leg 1-0 but this was enough to see them through to the quarter finals. Attendance: 45,959.
Rangers v Sporting Portugal on 3rd April 2008 (UEFA Cup, quarter final, first leg). View from the Govan Stand on the Main Stand. The game ended goalless. Rangers won the return leg 2-0 and Rangers qualified for the semi-finals. Attendance: 48,923.
To my own suprise I managed to get an excellent seat on the Govan Stand for the UEFA Cup semi-final (first leg) against Fiorentina on 24th April 2008.
The Copland Road Stand. The game against Fiorentina ended goalless as well.
The Broomloan Stand: the Fiorentina supporters can be seen on the right. The return leg in Italy was another 0-0, even after extra time. Rangers won the penalty shoot-out 4-2 and qualified for the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester. Attendance: 49,199.
The following season I returned to Ibrox as a St Mirren supporter on 15th November 2008. Kris Boyd scored for Rangers after only five minutes and then Steven Davis made it 2-0 10 minutes after kick-off. We all feared the worst. The picture shows the Govan Stand after the final whistle.
St Mirren showed character and managed to avoid a thrashing. Franco Miranda scored for St Mirren in the 81st minute but it was not enough to salvage what would have been a well-deserved point. The game ended 2-1 to Rangers. The picture shows the Broomloan Stand and the impressive three-tier Main Stand. Attendance: 49,321.
With my mate Marco, who visits me from Holland regularly, outside Ibrox when we attended Rangers v Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 14th October 2006. Inverness stunned the Ibrox side when Graham Bayne put them 1-0 ahead in the 71st minute. Rangers were unable to pull one back and the game ended in defeat for Rangers. Attendance: 49,494.
Ibrox Stadium (Rangers)
View from the Main Stand against Werder Bremen on 6 March 2008 (UEFA Cup, round of 16, first leg). The Govan Stand and part of the Copland Road Stand can be seen.View from the Main Stand on the Broomloan Stand. Rangers beat Werder Bremen 2-0. Rangers lost the return leg 1-0 but this was enough to see them through to the quarter finals. Attendance: 45,959.Rangers v Sporting Portugal on 3rd April 2008 (UEFA Cup, quarter final, first leg). View from the Govan Stand on the Main Stand. The game ended goalless. Rangers won the return leg 2-0 and Rangers qualified for the semi-finals. Attendance: 48,923.To my own suprise I managed to get an excellent seat on the Govan Stand for the UEFA Cup semi-final (first leg) against Fiorentina on 24th April 2008.The Copland Road Stand. The game against Fiorentina ended goalless as well.The Broomloan Stand: the Fiorentina supporters can be seen on the right. The return leg in Italy was another 0-0, even after extra time. Rangers won the penalty shoot-out 4-2 and qualified for the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester. Attendance: 49,199.The following season I returned to Ibrox as a St Mirren supporter on 15th November 2008. Kris Boyd scored for Rangers after only five minutes and then Steven Davis made it 2-0 10 minutes after kick-off. We all feared the worst. The picture shows the Govan Stand after the final whistle.St Mirren showed character and managed to avoid a thrashing. Franco Miranda scored for St Mirren in the 81st minute but it was not enough to salvage what would have been a well-deserved point. The game ended 2-1 to Rangers. The picture shows the Broomloan Stand and the impressive three-tier Main Stand. Attendance: 49,321.With my mate Marco, who visits me from Holland regularly, outside Ibrox when we attended Rangers v Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 14th October 2006. Inverness stunned the Ibrox side when Graham Bayne put them 1-0 ahead in the 71st minute. Rangers were unable to pull one back and the game ended in defeat for Rangers. Attendance: 49,494.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Bloomfield Road (2006 Northern Rail Cup Final)
No football match for a change but a rugby game match, a rugby league match even, which was played in what is usually the home of Blackpool FC. My first encounter with rugby league was not planned but I found out there was a rugby cup final during our annual family weekend in Blackpool. I have to say I enjoyed it thoroughly. A fast-paced and close match with a well-behaved partisan crowd. Leigh Centurions won the Northern Rail Cup by beating Hull Kingston Rovers 22-18 after an impressive comeback.
The North Stand.
When I visited the stadium there was no South Stand. The South Stand is being built at the moment and you can check the progress here.
The temporary East Stand.
Our seats where on what was then called the Pricesbusters West Stand.
Both teams coming onto the pitch.
Leigh Centurions, 2006 Northern Rail Cup Winners.16th July 2006
Northern Rail Cup Final
Leigh Centurions 22 Hull Kingston Rovers 18
Att: 7,547
Bloomfield Road (2006 Northern Rail Cup Final)
No football match for a change but a rugby game match, a rugby league match even, which was played in what is usually the home of Blackpool FC. My first encounter with rugby league was not planned but I found out there was a rugby cup final during our annual family weekend in Blackpool. I have to say I enjoyed it thoroughly. A fast-paced and close match with a well-behaved partisan crowd. Leigh Centurions won the Northern Rail Cup by beating Hull Kingston Rovers 22-18 after an impressive comeback.The North Stand.When I visited the stadium there was no South Stand. The South Stand is being built at the moment and you can check the progress here.The temporary East Stand.Our seats where on what was then called the Pricesbusters West Stand.Both teams coming onto the pitch.Leigh Centurions, 2006 Northern Rail Cup Winners.16th July 2006
Northern Rail Cup Final
Leigh Centurions 22 Hull Kingston Rovers 18
Att: 7,547
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