Ajax
Amsterdam
A short history of famous Alax Amsterdam
football club
If you are a football (soccer) fan, then that name of Ajax,
Amsterdam’s and Netherlands well-known football club is well known
to you. Here’s a brief history about the club and the many
different stadiums Alax Amsterdam played on at different
times.
Have you seen the Ajax Amsterdam playing their part in the
football championships? Or, are you familiar with Ajax Amsterdam?
Well, Ajax, as many people love to call it, is one of the famous
football clubs in the world. It is a club with a very rich history.
Accordingly, the Ajax Amsterdam started as a club with a group of
friends who got together in their spare time. From this group of
friends, the club grew until it became world famous, known for its
beautiful and attractive football.
Ajax's many stadiums
A century ago, Ajax Amsterdam played soccer on a barren little
The Small Pitch. However, since the club has always been closely
connected with the places where it played its matches, the team had
moved several times until it settled to a new bigger and more
impressive stadium, the Olympic Stadium.
- The Small Pitch (1893-1900) – Before the official
foundation of the Ajax Amsterdam in 1900, the club had played
soccer on a small pitch at the end of Overtoom in the municipality
of Nieuwer Amstel, which had been designated in 1881 as an
extension for the Vondelpark. For fifteen guilders, the club was
allowed to play on a field for a period of six months. And, it was
only during 1896 that the City of Amsterdam pushed through its
building plans. The field was then incorporated into the city
borders, and so the players had to look for another pitch.
Fortunately, they found the Amsterdam North.
- Amsterdam North (1900-1907) – In 1900 until 1907, there
was a great shortage of football fields in Amsterdam. This is the
situation that tempted Ajax Amsterdam to play alongside farmer’s
fields in the Builsloterham, Amsterdam Noord. The place was quite a
trip for the spectators as it took them to travel with a chain
ferry and a quarter-hour walk to reach to field. Dissatisfied with
this far away location, the club moved to a playing field only a
five-minute walk away from the ferry.
- The Wooden Stadium (1907-1934) – In 1907, the building
plans for a new housing at the location in Amsterdam Noord forced
Ajax Amsterdam once again to move and find a new playing field.
There were actually two football fields found at Middenweg, which
was again located in the middle of nowhere in a typical Dutch
polder. However, it was here actually that for the first time in
the club’s history real stands were established around The Small
Pitch. This stadium underwent expansion until it grew to a much
bigger field. It is also here where Ajax Amsterdam won four league
championships in succession and the number of their spectators
increased rapidly.
- De Meer (1934-1996) – The Ajax team moved once again as
they realized that the value of a football stadium is not
determined by the building costs, but by the team playing in it.
The De Meer stadium was to became Ajax home base for 62 years, and
it was here where the legendary players built up the worldwide
reputation the club now has. But again, the club successes and
outside pressure were reasons to move. As the stadium could no
longer accommodate the large numbers of supporters, they looked for
another bigger place and that they found the Olympic Stadium.
- Olympic Stadium (1930-1996) – The Amsterdam Olympic
Stadium has played an important role in the history of AFC Ajax.
The area was used for matches for which more than 20,000 spectators
were expected or which had to be played in the evening. And,
although this stadium had not been intended for football games,
Ajax Amsterdam had played many important matches in the
stadium.
Ajax Amsterdam has won the national championship 27 times. The
club also won 25 important international prizes, making the club
one of the best in Europe.
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