History of SC Heerenveen

SC Heerenveen was founded in 1920 (July 20th 1920). Originally the club was known as Athleta, but in the 1921-1922 season the name was changed into  'Spartaan'. This change of name did not last long. In October 1922 it appeared the NVB (Nederlandse Voetbal Bond, Dutch Football Association) had registred the club as v.v. Heerenveen instead of Spartaan.

Since then the club acts as VV Heerenveen. V.V. Heerenveen won three regional championships in the years before World War II. After the war the club acted even stronger, mostly thanks to the presence of Abe Lenstra. He lead Heerenveen to a regional title six times in a row. Unfortunately Heerenveen never succeeded in winning the national

On June 1st VV Heerenveen was split up in an amateur section and a professional football section named SC Heerenveen Till to and uncluding the 1988-1989 season the club has always acted in the First Division. On May 31st 1989 SC Heerenveen reached the play-off finals and, by winning from Emmen in a two leg match, reached the highest level for the first time in history.

This was only for one year, the club went down to the First Division and stayed there for two years. In the years after the second promotion SC Heerenveen became a steady force on the highest level, the Eredivisie.

There was also success in the Cup. The club reached the Cupfinal in ‘92-’93. It did loose from Ajax (2-6), but made impression by taking 20.000 travelling fans who made a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium.

SC Heerenveen on tour

In ‘94-’95  SC Heerenveen reached the semi-finals, in which Feyenoord proved to strong.

Another cupfinal was reached in ‘96-’97, this time against Roda JC. This time even more supporters travelled to the national stadium “De Kuip” (25.000) They travelled by busses (350), trains (5) and lots of other options, but their support was not enough and Heerenveen lost it’s second cupfinal ever.
Heerenveen never reached European Cup Football in this years and therefore the club decided to contend in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. Several attempt were made, but it never lead to real European Cup Football.
In 1997-1998 SC Heerenveen played FC Twente in a play-off Cupfinal to decide which club would play in Europe the year after (both Champions League contestants Ajax and PSV played the Cupfinal, so the losing semi-finalists had to decide which club could play in the European Cup for Cupwinners).

Heerenveen won, but the joy did not last long. After an easy win over Amicka Wronki (Poland) Croatin side Varteks Varazdin ruined the dreams and hopes of Heerenveen.

Most memorable succes in the clubhistory was ending second in the 1999-2000 championship. This second place earned Heerenveen the right to enter the Champions League. In a group with later finalists Valencia, Greek side Olympiakos Piraeus and French side Olympique Lyon, Heerenveen only beat Olympiakos Piraeus at home and drew away at Valencia.

Olympiakos-SC Heerenveen                                                                           Talan scores in Lyon