Topklasse
Encyclopedia
Topklasse (ˈtɔp.ˌklɑ.sə) (Top Class) is the third tier of football in the Netherlands
, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie
and the Hoofdklasse
, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively. The introduction of the Topklasse resulted from discussions between the Royal Dutch Football Association
, the Coöperatie Eerste Divisie (the clubs in the Eerste Divisie) and the Centraal Overleg Hoofdklassers (the clubs in the Hoofdklasse).
, followed by the Eerste Divisie
and the Tweede Divisie
. The Tweede Divisie
was disbanded in 1971; six clubs were promoted to the Eerste Divisie
(champions De Volewijckers along with FC Eindhoven
, VVV, Fortuna Vlaardingen
, PEC
and Roda JC), while the remaining ten clubs became amateur clubs. The Eerste Divisie subsequently became the lowest league in professional football in the Netherlands
The amateur football clubs had a separate league system, the highest league of which was the Eerste Klasse (later: Hoofdklasse
). There was no promotion and relegation
between professional football and amateur football; a professional football club could only drop to the amateur leagues if its licence for professional football was revoked, while an amateur football club could only be promoted after application and meeting a number of criteria.
The calls for a Topklasse largely stem from a professionalization of amateur football clubs in the Netherlands in recent years, in the sense that many players of Hoofdklasse
clubs now receive a salary. This has closed the gap between the top of the Hoofdklasse and the bottom of the Eerste Divisie. Chairman of the Dutch football association Henk Kesler has therefore repeatedly called for the creation of the Topklasse, which would establish promotion and relegation between professional and amateur football, creating a league pyramid akin to the English football league system
.
The first plans for a Topklasse were rejected by the Eerste Divisie clubs in 1999.
, whose size will be reduced from 20 to 18 clubs, and the top four clubs from each of the six Hoofdklasse
divisions – a total of 26 clubs – will automatically join the new level. These clubs will be joined by six playoff winners from a pool of 12 clubs that finished in 5th or 6th place in their group within the Hoofdklasse. The 32 clubs within the Topklasse will be divided into two leagues comprising 16 clubs. One league will be a "Saturday" league and one league will be a "Sunday" league. At the end of the season, both clubs that finish at the top of their division will play each other. The winner of that tie will be promoted to the Eerste Divisie
, replacing the team that finishes 18th. If the winner refuses promotion or is ineligible for promotion, the runners-up will be promoted. If both teams refuse promotion, no promotion and relegation will take place between the Eerste Divisie and Topklasse.
On January 2010, the exclusion of bankrupt-collapsed HFC Haarlem
from the Eerste Divisie reduced the number of scheduled relegations to one only, and led the federation to announce such a vacancy will be filled by an additional Hoofdklasse club.
On May 12th it was announced BV Veendam
had declared bankruptcy, possibly giving (otherwise relegated) FC Oss a chance to stay in the Eerste Divisie, with the extra slot filled by another Hoofdklasse club. Veendam's bankruptcy was then reversed on appeal, thus confirming FC Oss' relegation into the Topklasse.
, one of the most successful amateur football clubs in the Netherlands, is a strong opponent of the plans; chairman Arian van de Vuurst has stated that "professional football does not fit in with our culture." Because of these objections, promotion to the Eerste Divisie is not mandatory for the champion of the Topklasse.
Football in the Netherlands
Football is the most popular Sport in the Netherlands. Football was introduced to the Netherlands by Pim Mulier in the 19th century when in 1879, at the age of 14, he founded Haarlemsche Football Club...
, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
and the Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively. The introduction of the Topklasse resulted from discussions between the Royal Dutch Football Association
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
, the Coöperatie Eerste Divisie (the clubs in the Eerste Divisie) and the Centraal Overleg Hoofdklassers (the clubs in the Hoofdklasse).
Background
A national football competition in the Netherlands was established in 1956. Prior to that, the districts of the Dutch football association held their own competitions, and the champions of these competitions faced each other for the national title. The highest national division in the new league structure became the EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, followed by the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
and the Tweede Divisie
Tweede Divisie
The Tweede Divisie was the lowest professional football league in the Netherlands. It was established in 1956, together with the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. Between 1956 and 1960 and between 1962 and 1966, the league consisted of two divisions, Tweede Divisie A and Tweede Divisie B. The...
. The Tweede Divisie
Tweede Divisie
The Tweede Divisie was the lowest professional football league in the Netherlands. It was established in 1956, together with the Eredivisie and the Eerste Divisie. Between 1956 and 1960 and between 1962 and 1966, the league consisted of two divisions, Tweede Divisie A and Tweede Divisie B. The...
was disbanded in 1971; six clubs were promoted to the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
(champions De Volewijckers along with FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven is a Dutch football club based in Eindhoven, North Brabant. They current play in the Eerste Divisie , and are one of two professional clubs which are based in the city of Eindhoven, the other one being PSV Eindhoven....
, VVV, Fortuna Vlaardingen
Fortuna Vlaardingen
Fortuna Vlaardingen was a Dutch football club which was founded in 1904 in Vlaardingen. The club played its matches in the Floreslaan stadium....
, PEC
FC Zwolle
FC Zwolle is a Dutch football club based in Zwolle, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the country's second level of professional club football. The club was founded in 1990 after the bankruptcy of PEC. They have played in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of Dutch football, for a total of...
and Roda JC), while the remaining ten clubs became amateur clubs. The Eerste Divisie subsequently became the lowest league in professional football in the Netherlands
The amateur football clubs had a separate league system, the highest league of which was the Eerste Klasse (later: Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
). There was no promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
between professional football and amateur football; a professional football club could only drop to the amateur leagues if its licence for professional football was revoked, while an amateur football club could only be promoted after application and meeting a number of criteria.
The calls for a Topklasse largely stem from a professionalization of amateur football clubs in the Netherlands in recent years, in the sense that many players of Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
clubs now receive a salary. This has closed the gap between the top of the Hoofdklasse and the bottom of the Eerste Divisie. Chairman of the Dutch football association Henk Kesler has therefore repeatedly called for the creation of the Topklasse, which would establish promotion and relegation between professional and amateur football, creating a league pyramid akin to the English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
The first plans for a Topklasse were rejected by the Eerste Divisie clubs in 1999.
Confirmed structure
The new league structure was approved at an amateur clubs meeting on 6 June 2009. The KNVB will introduce the new level during the 2010–11 season, comprising 32 clubs. After the 2009–10 season, the bottom 2 teams in the Eerste DivisieEerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, whose size will be reduced from 20 to 18 clubs, and the top four clubs from each of the six Hoofdklasse
Hoofdklasse
The Hoofdklasse is the 2nd highest league of amateur football in the Netherlands, and the fourth tier in general.-Background:The league is divided into two sections: Saturday and Sunday. This is a result of the traditional pillarisation , the segregation of Dutch society. The Saturday-clubs are by...
divisions – a total of 26 clubs – will automatically join the new level. These clubs will be joined by six playoff winners from a pool of 12 clubs that finished in 5th or 6th place in their group within the Hoofdklasse. The 32 clubs within the Topklasse will be divided into two leagues comprising 16 clubs. One league will be a "Saturday" league and one league will be a "Sunday" league. At the end of the season, both clubs that finish at the top of their division will play each other. The winner of that tie will be promoted to the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, replacing the team that finishes 18th. If the winner refuses promotion or is ineligible for promotion, the runners-up will be promoted. If both teams refuse promotion, no promotion and relegation will take place between the Eerste Divisie and Topklasse.
On January 2010, the exclusion of bankrupt-collapsed HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem was a Dutch football club from the city of Haarlem, established in 1889. The club won the Dutch national title in 1946 and reached five Cup finals, winning in 1902 and 1912...
from the Eerste Divisie reduced the number of scheduled relegations to one only, and led the federation to announce such a vacancy will be filled by an additional Hoofdklasse club.
On May 12th it was announced BV Veendam
BV Veendam
SC Veendam is a Dutch football club based in Veendam, Groningen province, playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of football in the Netherlands. The club's official colours are black and yellow.- History :...
had declared bankruptcy, possibly giving (otherwise relegated) FC Oss a chance to stay in the Eerste Divisie, with the extra slot filled by another Hoofdklasse club. Veendam's bankruptcy was then reversed on appeal, thus confirming FC Oss' relegation into the Topklasse.
Perception among amateur clubs
IJsselmeervogelsIJsselmeervogels
IJsselmeervogels are a Dutch amateur football club, based in Bunschoten-Spakenburg. The club was founded in 1932, as Na Arbeid Sport . The club currently plays in the Topklasse, the highest tier of amateur football in the Netherlands. It is the most successful amateur team in the Netherlands...
, one of the most successful amateur football clubs in the Netherlands, is a strong opponent of the plans; chairman Arian van de Vuurst has stated that "professional football does not fit in with our culture." Because of these objections, promotion to the Eerste Divisie is not mandatory for the champion of the Topklasse.
Champions
| Season | Saturday champions | Sunday champions | Overall champions | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 2010–11 Topklasse The 2010–11 Topklasse season was the first and inaugural edition of the newly created Dutch third tier. A total 32 teams competed in the league, one of them coming from the fully professional 2009–10 Eerste Divisie, and the remaining 31 from the amateur 2009–10 Hoofdklasse... |
IJsselmeervogels IJsselmeervogels IJsselmeervogels are a Dutch amateur football club, based in Bunschoten-Spakenburg. The club was founded in 1932, as Na Arbeid Sport . The club currently plays in the Topklasse, the highest tier of amateur football in the Netherlands. It is the most successful amateur team in the Netherlands... |
FC Oss | IJsselmeervogels | FC Oss |