SC Heerenveen hails from the Friesland region of the Netherlands, and holds the honour of being the regions first top flight professional team. They also took part in one of the most famous games in Dutch football history. After the war, led by Abe Lenstra, the club took on Ajax. With 25 minutes left in the game, Ajax where cruising with a comfortable 5-1 lead. The Frisian team then staged a stunning comeback and took the game 6-5!

In the 90’s, the club finally cracked the top flight, but their place in the Eriedivisie was not secure, and they proceeded to swing between the top flight and second tier.

The late 90’s saw the club finally begin to achieve some successes, with the club qualifying for the UEFA Cup Winners Cup after Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his last goal in a special qualifying game against Twente. The 1999-2000 season saw the club achieve its highest ever position, by finishing 2nd. This allowed the club to qualify for the Champions League for the first time.

The club moved to its new home Abe Lenstra Stadion  in 1994, and seats 26,800. This has allowed the club a degree financial security, along with an ability to sell on some amazing players they have developed. Such as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, and Afonso Alves.

The club itself plays in white socks, white shorts, and a white and blue shirt. The club emblem is taken from the Friesland flag. And features the clubs name written in a ribbon across the centre of the badge.

The kit itself is manufactured by the German company, Jako, and comes in blue and white stripes, with red trim. A major feature of the kit is another image taken from the Friesland flag. In between the blue stripes, they feature what looks like several red hearts. However, they are actually to represent water lilies, or “Pompebled.” The flower of Friesland.

The clubs sponsor, a co-operative insurance company, Unive Verzekeringen features across the chest. Jako has its logo on the right side of the chest.

Finally, a unique note about the club. Before every game, the Dutch league allows the club to play the Friesian national anthem. However, UEFA do not, so the fans sing it anyway!

Paul Woodcock