The Good Old Cup: Koninklijke HFC vs Go Ahead Eagles.

Words: Han Balk

Images: Han Balk

This week saw the first round of the 125th Dutch KNVB Beker and with plenty of Non-League competitors eager for a good result, this might be the most difficult round for the pro teams.

Go Ahead Eagles drew Koninklijke HFC (Royal Haarlemsche Football Club) away on a wet Tuesday night.

HFC, founded 1879, is the oldest football club in the Netherlands. Former Go Ahead rivals and Deventer neigbours Kon. UD are older (1878), but they started as a cricket club.

There is some doubt about the foundation of HFC as a football club, but who cares anyway after a few pints.

Koninklijke HFC are known as “The Good Old” and three seems to be the magic number given they won three Dutch titles in the 19th century, were three times cup winners (1904, 1913, 1915) and currently play at the third level.

Go Ahead Eagles vs Koninklijke HFC. The Netherlands.

The two teams had met in the cup 107 years ago when football was a growing sport in the Netherlands. In those days, extra time was played in two seven and half minute periods with sudden death in what was the Holdert Cup.

Koninklijke HFC made it through in 1916, due to the old rule of the away club progressing in the case of a stalemate.

But would it be a sign of things to come?

Just before the kick off, Go Ahead Eagles supporters reveiled a 50 yard banner: “Come On Eagles. Full throttle in the cup competition!”

When the smoke cleared, the ball boy’s chair suddenly had disappeared, but was found on the other side of the hoardings.

The first half was pensive and the unplanned half-time show by the Go Ahead support was the highlight of the night until HFC scored a late opener in the 86th minute.

Suddenly the match was on fire. Go Ahead scored the equalizer and after a short interruption the visitors from Deventer hit the post.

It was HFC who almost took the game with a long shot in the dying seconds.

Kowet made it 1-2 in extra time to disappoint those looking for an upset and a red card for the home side made their task an uphill battle.

Both teams were plunged into darkness briefly as the floodlights failed but Go Ahead were able to put the game to bed with two further goals to make it 1-4 to the visitors.

The Eagles are having a decent season and proved they can do it on a cold, Tuesday night against non-League opposition.

The cup remains unrivalled.