Feyenoord play out of the Feijenoord stadion in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The stadium is commonly referred to as “De Kuip,” which translates as “the tub.” An affectionate nickname. Feyenoord are one of the “Big 3” in the Dutch Eriedivisie (the other 2 being PSV and Ajax) who, between them, have won every title since 1965. With the exception of AZ 67 who won in 1981, and then again in 2009.

The club is located in the south of Rotterdam, in the Feijenoord district of the city, and began life back in 1908 as Wilhelmina, playing in red shirts with blue sleeves. Between 1908 and 1912, the club went through a series of changes, becoming the Hillesluise Football Club a year later, then on to RVV Celeritas. When they finally entered to the national leagues, they finally adopted the name SC Feijenoord, and adopted the red and white halved shirts that they wear today.

They finally moved to their now home back in the 30’s, a time when they enjoyed a series of successes, with 3 league titles, and 2 national championships. Unfortunately, the war years where not so kind to Feyenoord. Whilst they where able to win the national title in 1940 with a divisional title as well, it was not in their home. De Kuip had been occupied by the Nazis. This forced the club to ground share with Sparta Rotterdam, and if there was a clash, to go back to their original home.

The professional era was ushered in when Feyenoord joined in with a meeting that saw several other club chairmen and the KNVB discuss going professional. Feyenoord joined the inaugural season of the Eriedivisie, 1954-55, and they have not been relegated since joining!

After the birth of the professional league, Feyenoord began to rapidly develop one of the most intense rivalries in football today, with Ajax from Amsterdam. A rivalry that has earned the moniker of “de Klassieker.” Or “the Classic.”

In the mid 1960’s, Feyenoord began to make waves in Europe, famously sending 2 shiploads of fans to Lisbon for a European Cup semi-final against Benfica, and becoming the first Dutch club to lift a European title when they beat Celtic to lift the European Cup in 1970.

This sustained European success saw the club make another major change. Most foreigners struggle to pronounce the “ij” combination in Dutch properly, so the club dropped those from the name, and replaced them with the more foreigner-friendly “y.” Becoming “Feyenoord.”

For almost the clubs entire history they have played in halved red and white shirts, with alternate sleeves.  The clubs logo is a simple roundel, halved red and white, like the shirt, with a superimposed white “F.” This is within a black ring that carries the club name. This was modified for their 100 year celebrations, with the white lettering being replaced with gold.

The current kit is manufactured by the German company Puma, taking over from Kappa. Puma has used their standard template for kits with the ubiquitous flashes that come from over the shoulder and nearly meet under the collar. A la Tottenham Hotspur, Jubilo Awata, and many others.

For Feyenoord, the kit was still the traditional halved kit of red and white, with the sleeves contrasting to the main body of the kit. The shoulder flashes where initially introduced as opposite to the colour on that side of the shirt. So, on the right, the kit was red, with a white flash, and vice versa on the right.

This led to a huge outcry amongst the fans who objected to Puma breaking up the kits traditional clean halves. Such was the outcry that Puma had no choice but to return with an updated new kit, where they had switched the shoulder flashes. They are still included in the kit, but now they are the same colour, which makes them far less obtrusive.

The clubs logo is  on the left side of the chest with a gold star above, and on the chest is the clubs new sponsor, ASR Verzekeringen. ASR also have small patches on either sleeve. Puma has its cat logo on the right side of the chest, as well as on each shoulder.

Paul Woodcock