A fan’s guide – the club from early doors to today
Eindhoven’s other club, formerly EVV, were formed shortly before PSV, in 1909. Always in blue and white, EVV played their first ‘City of Light’ derby against PSV in 1915.
The Blauw-witten surpassed their city rivals either side of the war, winning the Dutch Cup in 1937 and League in 1954.
This solitary title win, under former Feyenoord attacker Wim Groenendijk, is the most recent addition to the club’s trophy cabinet.
Relegated shortly afterwards, EVV, later FC Eindhoven, have spent most of the last few decades in the lower flight. Operating in co-operation with PSV for the last ten years, with young players exchanged, FC Eindhoven achieved a top-flight play-off place in 2013-14.
Losing out to Sparta Rotterdam, the Blue and Whites dusted themselves down and maintained the chase for promotion in 2014-15, again falling at the play-off stage.
Recent team captain was Kinshasa-born centre-back Chiró N’Toko, once of Barnet and looking to take FC Eindhoven to the top flight for the first time since 1977.
Stadium Guide
The field of dreams – and the stands around it
The Jan Louwers Stadion is part of a sports education complex set in woodland at the far southern edge of Eindhoven.
It’s a simple 4,600-capacity ground with low stands on three sides, the Frans Tebak Tribune containing the supporters’ bar and club shop, the Henk Bloemers Tribune behind one goal. There the scattering of visiting supporters is allocated section M at one end. The Noed van Melis Tribune runs along the other sideline.
getting there
Going to the stadium – tips and timings
Unlike PSV, FC Eindhoven is too far to walk from the centre – it’s almost in Aalst, all the way down Alsterweg from town.
Buses 7, 171 and 172, each half-hourly, run from the concourse at Eindhoven station, stand K or L. Alight at Theo Koomenlaan, right by the entrance to the education complex and the Jan Louwers Stadion. Allow 15-20mins. Services are hourly in the evenings.
getting in
Buying tickets – when, where, how and how much
There’s a little ticket office open on match days, behind the Frans Tebak Tribune, straight up as you walk in from the bus stop. Prices are set an across-the-board at €13, €5 under-17s.
Dutch-language online purchase is only available for the Noed van Melis Tribune.
what to buy
Shirts, kits, merchandise and gifts
A modest match-day fan shop operates behind the Frans Tebak Tribune, though items such as fashionable tracksuit tops bearing the foundation year of 1909 can be purchased online from the club shop.
Where to Drink
Pre-match beers for fans and casual visitors
On match days, fans gather in the Jupiler Supportershome and the separate restaurant in the Frans Tebak Tribune.
At the Indoor Sportcentrum alongside, near the main entrance to the complex, there’s a large café to the right as you walk in, offering draught Amstel beer all week long.
The only other venue in the vicinity is the Oriental Green House, a three-in-one Japanese restaurant across Alsterweg, set in an atmospheric pavilion. It opens every day from 5pm.
