Adventures in Football #112: De Herdgang (PSV Eindhoven vroewen) 

 

NOVEMBER 17, 2024 

 

PSV EINDHOVEN vs. AZ ALKMAAR (Eredivisie Vrouwen) 

 

One of my main aims this weekend was to tick off another country. However, the planning had gotten that far and no further. All the games in Germany were all pre-planned and organised. This one? Well, we basically looked at Eindhoven, because my friend Joao lives there, and then started trying to find the most interesting fixture. There was some debate over doing FC Eindhoven, who also played on Sunday, but their game was only open to club members so that didn’t happen.  

 

Sunday morning I woke up with a hangover, sorted out by a few cheese rolls, ibuprofen and coffee. We then hit the road, and Eindhoven is about 90 minutes’ drive from Dusseldorf. On arriving in Eindhoven, my first take is that it’s so clean. Why are other countries always so clean compared to the UK?  

We agree to meet Joao at a pub but then realise we need to be back at the car inside an hour to get to the game. Seeing as Joao’s timekeeping is as bad as ours was the day before, we end up strolling around and getting a look at Eindhoven. It’s a pretty place. The Dutch have some weird little ticks, which is always nice to find out. Instead of selling food over a counter, they frequently have vending machines.  

It’s no ‘meat machine’ like they have in Germany but still. A culture shock.  

I also include, for your pleasure, a shot I took of St Catherine’s church. A big unit with some Barcelona style gold on the top. I’m a little sad we only get an hour to mooch around Eindhoven. It seems like a cool place.  

We didn’t even get time to drop in at the Drinker’s Pub. It looked like my kind of place. We finally meet up with Joao and he suggests going to sit in a pub instead of going to the game because it’s cold. These Iberian Peninsula types, eh? I explained to him I needed my country tick.  

We bid him farewell. I hadn’t seen Joao in 4.5 years but, coincidentally, I went to see Bob Dylan with him last week. So, this doesn’t feel like a disappointment. We drive out to the game and it’s pretty clear we’re not allowed in the car park without a pre-booked ticket, so it’s 4/4 for street parking. Excellent work again from the Big Dohmi.  

Let’s fucking goooo! When I started groundhopping, I didn’t expect to be at 11 countries just three years later. Those 11, for those not paying attention, are; England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Belgium, Luxembourg and now the Netherlands. When I started doing this, post Covid, in May 2021, I had only been to five grounds. It’s been a wild ride.  

We’re immediately made to feel welkom. The Dutch language is an experience. Especially if you’re German as the bulk of the language is routed in German. Dohmi kept hearing it spoken and he said, “it’s like I’ve had a stroke”. Everything is slightly familiar but just wrong. The PSV Campus here is where they train the youth teams.  

It’s a big facility. Behind the pitch for tonight’s game is the youth facility. Three buildings with various training facilities. There are about 12 pitches here, of various sizes. The one we’re watching the game at is the only one with spectator facilities. Like the cafe and the grandstand.  

As with our arrival yesterday, we’re cutting it a bit fine, so seats are limited to the front row.  

I was trying to take a photo of this cameraman when Domi leaned right into it, so here’s his mug shot. In the background you can see a lot of tall trees. The area is surrounded by woods. Which makes for a pleasant backdrop. It would be nice to have a little walk around here. It’s bitterly cold, which is why Joao refused to come, but still above zero so Dohmi is still in his shorts.  

The teams are quickly out and with the TV cameras, the floodlights, the mascots and everything else, this feels like the biggest game of the weekend. Shout out to the #18 on the AZ team, who is shorter than the mascot. An absolute half pint. 4’10” max.  

AZ’s kit is neat. It’s a bit like a zebra print, only not that offensive. I would wear that. The notion that Dutch people are significantly taller than everyone else in Europe is a statistical thing. The tallest player was nowhere near the big unit referee though. I loved this ref. He played stuff for comedy. Reminded me of Tas.  

Renate Jansen is the #11 here. A clear POTM. The dead balls were brilliant. This free kick ended up causing havoc in the defence and was smashed home by Chimera Ripa. 16 minutes played. 1-0. PSV are clearly the better team with AZ resorting to kicking it long and hoping for the best. However, catastrophe strikes for them when Melanie Bross passes it back and the keeper forgets how to kick the ball. It rolls comically into the net. One of the funniest own goals I’ve ever seen. Amusingly, the first goal PSV have conceded all season. 

 

Another Jansen free kick alleviates the pressure though and Sisca Folkertsma heads it home. 2-1. Just before half time. We’re only one goal away from the quota. It feels like we’ll see it too. PSV have been really good, and AZ’s keeper is struggling with the set pieces. The oppressive angle of the floodlights, combined with the light from the LED boards, is causing Dohmi’s eyes to water, so we head over to the other side for the second half. 

In the back there is the AZ away support. There are four of them. The lack of people doesn’t stop noise coming from there and the one guy happily chants away for a big chunk of the second half. On his own. The other three lads could have joined in! Apart from the OG they’ve not had much to cheer.  

From this side of the field, you can see the grandstand and the setup of the field. It’s a cracking little facility. PSV continue to threaten in the second half with Folkertsma adding a third, again assisted by Jansen. AZ start to create chances and are dreadfully unlucky not to score. They have their best spell of the game only for PSV to come right back and Jansen herself finishes things with a tidy goal on 71’. 4-1. Game over. It could, and should, have been more with PSV blasting one over the bar with the goal open and another effort hitting the keeper when it looked easier to score.  

 

FINAL SCORE: PSV 4 AZ 1  

 

With the game in the books, we walk back to the car. It’s been a fun weekend but both of us feel run down now. The car journey back to Dusseldorf plays out in near silence. On returning to Dusseldorf Dohmi orders some pizza and we watch NFL RedZone. Around 11pm the lights go out and I struggle to sleep as the sound of the rain keeps me awake until after midnight. I have to get up at 4am to return to the UK. Dohmi gets up to drive me to the airport and as I’m walking through the doors of Dusseldorf airport, can of Monster Rossi in hand, the realisation strikes that the weekend is over.  

 

It’s hard to put into words what getting away for a weekend does to help my mental health. I like travelling and seeing new places and old friends. I will be counting down the hours until I get to do this again. Who knows what weird and wonderful places I’ll have seen football in this time next year?  

 

ATMOSPHERE 

Women’s games often have less atmosphere. The women’s game has had less time to develop and create a sense of importance and tribal support. Wins and losses feel like they matter less. It was interesting to see how committed the Dutch fans were here. Especially the one fella from AZ who was singing by himself. *** 

 

COST 

A mere FIVE euros. ****½ 

 

QUALITY 

It was a good game. Second only to Buderich for quality on this trip. PSV played some very good football throughout and AZ had spells in the second half where they looked good too. ***½  

 

EASE OF ACCESS 

It’s a solid hour walk out of Eindhoven, and it is so far out we passed a sign saying “Eindhoven” with lines through it. We had officially left the city. You can get a bus, but it looked like the bulk of people drove. ** 

 

MISC 

I did enjoy the woodland that surrounded the facility. You could come out here early and have a walk around. The option to sit across from the main stand was also a winner. It wouldn’t work in inclement weather, but I had a nice time. ***½  

 

OVERALL: 16.5 

I’m somewhat startled to learn this ground now tops my league table for this season. I know the bar has been quite low this year but even so.  

 

Until next time, I bid you a good day from Eindhoven and remind you that experiencing different things is key to living a full life. Something I frequently have to remind myself of. Eleven countries! Buzzing.