A close-knit group of friends made the switch from Almere Heren 3 to Buitenhout Heren 1 in the summer of 2022, just because they wanted to keep playing field hockey. But three years later they are writing an unforgettable field hockey fairytale, with already the third promotion in a row. ‘If you had said three years ago that we would promote three times in a row, we would have laughed at you,’ says captain Nils Tossijn (24).
From the Fourth Division to the Third Division, by finishing a four-team nacompetition pool as the winner. From the Third Division to the Second Division, thanks to a second-place finish that ensured direct promotion. And now, as icing on the cake, from the Second Division to the First Division, again via a direct ticket after a handsome second place finish. It begs the question: where will the journey of this group of friends from Almere end?
‘In the big league? No… That is really too high for us,’ captain Tossijn laughingly dismisses the now naturally sky-high expectations. The joking suggestion that the relatively young club Buitenhout, founded in 2010, might be on its way to the national title, he doesn’t head in. Maintenance is the down-to-earth goal for next season. Although: ‘Last season we also went for the middle ground. Look where we are now.’
The team photo taken of Buitenhout Heren 1 earlier this season.
From Almere Heren 3 to Buitenhout Heren 1
Architect of this unexpected success is Vincent van den Broeck, the man who pulled Heren 1 out of the doldrums after the difficult very first season in the club’s history. Says Tossijn, “He is the father of a former teammate of ours, someone who has not played with us for many years. Also, he’s friends with my father. That’s how we know him.’
It was he who put his shoulders to the wheel as coach of Men’s 1 in the summer of 2022, after a leaden season full of substitutes from the juniors and trimmers. He believed he needed a complete and motivated squad at his disposal. So he threw out a line to his son’s former team: the close-knit group of friends of Almere Men’s 3. That team’s future hung by a thread, however, as several players planned to quit. But when Van den Broeck managed to entice a few former players to reunite, the choice was quickly made: the field hockey adventure at Buitenhout could begin.
Tossijn cannot exactly remember the first game in the Fourth Division. ‘But I do remember that after that we resolved to promote as soon as possible,’ recalls the captain, who adds that the team was shocked by the level in the bowels of field hockey.
‘With Almere Men’s 3 we played in the Reserve First Division. How much did we know what the level was in the Fourth Division. That was quite a switch. We didn’t win every game 12-0, we didn’t even become champions. But the basic level – accepting, passing – was much lower than we were used to. We just wanted to play good field hockey, but the game was very physical in the Fourth Division. That’s why we agreed: we have to move up as quickly as possible.’
Great was the joy after achieving promotion.
Several trainers were already at the helm
The first promotion tasted like more and excited many people within the club. The club said it would be nice if we became a stable first division team within five years. Well, we are two years down the road and we are going to the First Division. Now we have to become stable and then we are there,’ laughs Tossijn, who still has to pinch himself in his arm now and then to believe all that is happening.
But the success certainly did not go up in one straight line. The balance between the players’ close friendship and their sporting ambitions was not always balanced. You could even jokingly label Buitenhout as a trainer’s graveyard in recent years.
Tossijn: “Vincent is a great and motivated guy, but if we wanted to make substantive steps, we needed a new trainer. So he put down the baton and became our manager. In our second year came Neill Saarberg, a trainer from Gooische. An incredibly sociable man with more knowledge, so that was already a first step up. This season we had Edwin Vermeulen as our coach. Another step forward in terms of content, but sometimes it clashed with the group. Nothing against him, but it just didn’t click. The last few weeks his assistant Tijs Kappé was in charge of the group. For years he was a physiotherapist on the bench of Almere Men 1, so he got a good look behind the scenes.
But those hectic weeks are now behind us. Last Sunday, after the last league game, the team was festively honored at the club. In the season that the club exists fifteen years, there is unprecedented wealth: Ladies 1 also promoted, to the Third Division. Tossijn: “It was one big party last weekend. No, we certainly don’t regret starting this adventure three years ago.’
by Hockey.nl
