Season 1917-18

Summary

Season Results
Competition Mat Total points Win Drw Loss GF GA F-A Res
Dutch Cup 2 1 1 2 3 -1 Lost in round 2
First Division West A 22 33 14 5 3 58 20 38 Endranking: 1
Champions Competition 8 13 6 1 1 16 4 12 Endranking: 1
Zilveren Voetbal 4 2 1 1 5 3 2 Lost in Halve finale
Gouden Kruis 3 2 1 7 2 5 Lost in Finale
Friendly 3 1 1 1 17 6 11
Gouden Meer Beker 2 2 7 2 5 Winner

Results

Endranking First Division West A
Pos Club Mat Win Drw Loss Total points GF GA F-A
1 Ajax 22 14 5 3 33 58 20 38
2 HFC Haarlem 22 13 2 7 28 50 28 22
3 Blauw-Wit 22 12 4 6 28 35 23 12
4 Sparta 22 11 3 8 25 47 26 21
5 Hercules 22 11 3 8 25 32 31 1
6 HVV 22 10 2 10 22 41 39 2
7 UVV 22 10 2 10 22 45 45
8 DFC 22 7 4 11 18 33 42 -9
9 HFC 22 7 3 12 17 32 36 -4
10 HBS 22 7 3 12 17 36 71 -35
11 VOC 22 5 6 11 16 24 44 -20
12 Quick 22 5 3 14 13 16 44 -28
Endranking Champions Competition
Pos Club Mat Win Drw Loss Total points GF GA F-A
1 Ajax 8 6 1 1 13 16 4 12
2 Go Ahead 8 4 2 2 10 7 4 3
3 Willem II 8 4 1 3 9 10 10
4 AFC 8 2 1 5 5 11 17 -6
5 Be Quick 8 1 1 6 3 9 18 -9

Matches

Match Details
Date Competition Round Match Sum. Video Full Video Match Report
7/1/1917 Friendly - Go Ahead - Ajax 1 - 1 (0 - 1)
8/26/1917 Friendly - Robur et Velocitas - Ajax 0 - 13 (0 - 8)
9/2/1917 Zilveren Voetbal 1 DFC - Ajax 1 - 2 (0 - 0)
9/9/1917 Zilveren Voetbal Last 16 GVC - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 0)
9/9/1917 Zilveren Voetbal Quarter Final Blauw-Wit - Ajax 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
9/16/1917 Zilveren Voetbal Semi Final Ajax - Willem II 0 - 2 (0 - 1)
9/23/1917 First Division West A 2 HVV - Ajax 2 - 1 (1 - 0)
9/30/1917 First Division West A 3 Ajax - Hercules 3 - 1 (2 - 0)
10/14/1917 First Division West A 5 Ajax - HFC 3 - 2 (2 - 1)
10/21/1917 First Division West A 6 Quick - Ajax 0 - 2 (0 - 2)
10/28/1917 First Division West A 7 DFC - Ajax 3 - 0 (1 - 0)
11/4/1917 First Division West A 8 Ajax - UVV 4 - 4 (2 - 3)
11/11/1917 First Division West A 9 HBS - Ajax 1 - 4 (0 - 1)
11/18/1917 Friendly - Ajax - Be Quick (Z) 3 - 5 (1 - 2)
11/25/1917 First Division West A 11 HFC Haarlem - Ajax 0 - 2 (0 - 0)
12/2/1917 First Division West A 12 Ajax - Blauw-Wit 3 - 1 (1 - 1)
12/16/1917 First Division West A 14 Hercules - Ajax 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
1/20/1918 First Division West A 20 Ajax - HBS 10 - 0 (6 - 0)
1/27/1918 First Division West A 21 VOC - Ajax 0 - 2 (0 - 1)
2/3/1918 First Division West A 22 Ajax - HFC Haarlem 2 - 0 (1 - 0)
2/17/1918 First Division West A 16 HFC - Ajax 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
2/24/1918 First Division West A 17 Ajax - Quick 2 - 0 (2 - 0)
3/3/1918 First Division West A 4 Sparta - Ajax 2 - 1 (1 - 1)
3/10/1918 First Division West A 1 Blauw-Wit - Ajax 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
3/17/1918 First Division West A 18 Ajax - DFC 3 - 0 (2 - 0)
3/24/1918 First Division West A 19 UVV - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
3/31/1918 First Division West A 15 Ajax - Sparta 4 - 1 (1 - 1)
4/7/1918 First Division West A 10 Ajax - VOC 3 - 3 (2 - 1)
4/14/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Ajax - Willem II 2 - 0 (1 - 0)
4/21/1918 Dutch Cup Tussenronde HVV Helmond - Ajax 0 - 2
4/21/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Be Quick - Ajax 0 - 1 (0 - 1)
4/28/1918 Dutch Cup 2 Middelburg - Ajax 3 - 0
4/28/1918 Champions Competition Unknown AFC - Ajax 0 - 1 (0 - 1)
5/5/1918 First Division West A 13 Ajax - HVV 6 - 0 (2 - 0)
5/12/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Ajax - Be Quick 5 - 0 (3 - 0)
5/19/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Go Ahead - Ajax 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
5/20/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Ajax - Go Ahead 0 - 1 (0 - 1)
5/27/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Ajax - AFC 4 - 3 (3 - 0)
6/9/1918 Champions Competition Unknown Willem II - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
6/16/1918 Gouden Meer Beker Semi Final Ajax - Tubantia 5 - 1 (3 - 1)
6/22/1918 Gouden Kruis Quarter Final Ajax - DEC 2 - 0 (2 - 0)
6/30/1918 Gouden Meer Beker Final Ajax - Blauw-Wit 2 - 1 (1 - 0)
7/6/1918 Gouden Kruis Semi Final Ajax - VVA 5 - 0 (3 - 0)
7/14/1918 Gouden Kruis Final Ajax - Blauw-Wit 0 - 2 (0 - 0)

Selection

All players who have played for Ajax 1 this season
Player Team Matches Goals Yellow Red Assists Minutes Own Goals Remark
Cor Andriesse Unknown 2 180
Theo Brokmann Sr. A 30 20 4 2700
Frans Couton A 29 2610
Joop van Dort A 28 17 2 2520
Freek Gehrels Unknown 1 90
Jan Goosen Unknown 1 90
Jan Grootmeijer Unknown 2 180
Wim Gupffert A 28 12 5 2499
Frans de Haan A 23 10 2 2070
Henk Hordijk A 30 1 1 2700
Ger Kooge Unknown 3 2 1 270
André de Kruijff Unknown 3 270
Rinus Lucas Unknown 5 1 450
Jan de Natris A 27 10 6 2430
Fons Pelser A 30 2700
Joop Pelser A 29 2610
Jan Smit A 28 2520
Frits Terwee A 29 1 2610
Selection of Team A
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Jan Smit Keeper Unknown
Frans Couton Defender Unknown
Fons Pelser Defender Unknown
Joop van Dort Midfielder Unknown
Henk Hordijk Midfielder Unknown
Joop Pelser Midfielder Unknown
Frits Terwee Midfielder Unknown
Theo Brokmann Sr. Forward Unknown
Wim Gupffert Forward Unknown
Frans de Haan Forward Unknown
Jan de Natris Forward Unknown
Selection of Team Unknown
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Cor Andriesse Keeper Unknown
Freek Gehrels Defender Unknown
Pruis Defender Unknown
Frans Schoevaart Defender Unknown
Joop Bieshaar Midfielder Unknown
Jan Goosen Midfielder Unknown
André de Kruijff Midfielder Unknown
Jan Grootmeijer Forward Unknown
Ger Kooge Forward Unknown
Rinus Lucas Forward Unknown
Jan de Vos Forward Unknown
Others active at Ajax
Player Role Contract Type Contract From Contract To Remark
Jack Reynolds Head coach Contract
Willem Egeman President No Contract
Han Dade Vice president No Contract
Jan Grootmeijer Secretary No Contract
Marius Koolhaas 2nd Secretary No Contract
Tjerk de Munnik Treasurer No Contract
H.R. Reyenga 2nd Treasurer No Contract
J.Ph. Geerlings Commissioner No Contract
Joop Pelser Commissioner No Contract
Frans Schoevaart Commissioner No Contract

Transfers

Players who came/will come
Player Previous Club Type Announced Start Duration End Amount Remark
Joop Bieshaar VRA Transfer 07/01/1917

Statistics

See this overview for an explanation of the categorization of the various competition types.

Seasons matches and goals per competition
Player Comp. Comp. Play Off Dutch Cup Europa Other Off. Off. Mat. Friendly Total
Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals
Cor Andriesse 2 2 2 4
Joop Bieshaar 2 2 2 2
Theo Brokmann Sr. 22 13 8 7 30 20 12 10 42 30
Frans Couton 21 8 29 12 41
Joop van Dort 21 12 7 5 28 17 10 7 38 24
Freek Gehrels 1 1 1 2
Jan Goosen 1 1 4 5
Jan Grootmeijer 1 1 2 1 2 3 2
Wim Gupffert 22 9 6 3 28 12 7 4 35 16
Frans de Haan 17 9 6 1 23 10 5 1 28 11
Henk Hordijk 22 1 8 30 1 10 40 1
Ger Kooge 1 2 2 3 2 4 3 7 5
André de Kruijff 2 1 3 2 5
Rinus Lucas 5 5 6 1 11 1
André Maassen 2 2 3 1 5 1
Jan de Natris 20 10 7 27 10 9 3 36 13
Fons Pelser 22 8 30 10 40
Joop Pelser 21 8 29 10 39
Pruis 1 1
Frans Schoevaart 1 1
Jan Smit 20 8 28 10 38
Frits Terwee 21 8 29 8 37
Jan de Vos 1 1
Total 242 56 88 16 330 72 131 34 461 106

Videos and Photos

News

Dutch Competition

Now that the matches have more meaning things are not as fantastic anymore as they were in the previous season for Ajax, but still Ajax knows to make a good impression in the competition from the start and fights for top ranking. When Sparta looses some matches halfway the competition the championship seems to be be fought out between Blauw-Wit, HFC Haarlem and Ajax. Especially in the matches between these clubs Ajax does well (two wins against HFC Haarlem and one win against Blauw-Wit) and when the last match against Blauw-Wit is played Ajax has a great position: with (for Ajax) only 5 matches to go, of which 4 at home, Ajax has 4 losspoints less than Blauw-Wit and HFC Haarlem. Ajax does not falter and plays only one draw and wins the other 4 remaining matches and becomes the division champion of the 1ste division for the first time and participates in the champions competition. Ajax starts the championscompetition very strong by winning the first 4 games, but when everone thinks Ajax is already champion Ajax only gets one point from the double confrontation with Go Ahead. Afterwards Ajax wins twice which is enough to become the Dutch champion for the first time.

Beker

The NVB announces to exclude Ajax from the Dutch Cup, which only starts very late in the season, because Ajax also still participates in the championship competition. Ajax would like to be able to defend the Dutch Cup and the NVB quickly retracts its decision, but because the match dates are set on match dates of the championship competition Ajax decides to play the Dutch Cup matches with the second team. The first match, an in between round between the first and the second round, an away match against Helmond Ajax is able to win, but in round 2 Ajax is eliminated by Middelburg.

Lineup

This season Ajax starts with the same lineup as previous season: Jan Smit (goalkeeper), Frans Couton and Fons Pelser (defenders) Henk Hordijk, Joop Pelser, and Frits Terwee (midfield and stopper spil), Jan de Natris, Joop van Dort, Theo Brokmann Sr., Rinus Lucas and Wim Gupffert (attack). Joop Pelser is captain. At first Rinus Lucas seems to be replaced by Frans de Haan because the team committee is not satisfied with his performance, but because he doesn't return in any lineup, it could be the case that he left Ajax. Official matches are mostly played with the regular squad, but later in the season, because of injures, the following players also play some official matches: Cor Andriesse (when Smit is injured), Freek Gehrels, Jan Goosen, Jan Grootmeijer, Ger Kooge, André de Kruijff and André Maassen.

Coach

Also this season Reynolds is the trainer of Ajax.

Promotion

In the end the NVB is corrected by their general meeting and their original plan which they stuck to for such a long time, is changed to not relegate any team from the first division west A and allow the champion of the second division west to participate in the first division west A as well, so that this group consists of 12 teams. The new first division west B is also extended to 12 teams, so that there is place for all numbers 3 of the second division west of the previous season. Ajax was likely very happy, but it is of course strange that after the end of the competitions the rules were changed. So is now clear that the second division west championships has decided promotion after all, while the promotion competition first division west B has been played without the result having any relevance. The general meeting also decides to no longer have the promotion and relegation matches, and also introduces certain amateur rules to prevent certain excesses.

General Meeting

During the meeting it is announced that the membership has increased with 129 last season. The new board is: 1st president W.F. Egeman, 1st secretary J. Grootmeijer, 2nd secretary M.J. Koolhaas, 1st treasurer Tjerk de Munnik, 2nd treasurer H.R. Reyenga, and commitee members F Schoevaart, J. Ph. Geerlings and Joop Pelser. Survey commitee M.J. Koolhaas, H.D. Dade, W.F. Egeman, Tjerk de Munnik, J. Ph. Geerlings. Squad committee J. Grootmeijer, M.J. Koolhaas, J. van Oudheusden, P. van Os. Besides that it was decided to hire Reynolds again as trainer. Also it was decided to improve the entrance to the stadium and extend the stands. The extended capacity should be able to hold 13000 spectators. Later another stand for standing spectators is added for 3000 causing the total capacity to go to 16000 spectators.

Promotion and Relegation

With respect to promotion and relegation it is decided that the 2nd division west champion will be promoted to the first division and the 2 lowest ranked teams of both first division west groups play a full competition of which the last two will relegated. The idea is that this way through the course of some years the two first division west groups will be brought back to 10 teams, but later this is changed again and only 1 team will relegate.

Champions Competition

In March a statement from Go Ahead is published in the newspapers. Go Ahead shares criticism about the participation of two district champions from west in the championship competition (each district is supposed to only have one representative), the setup of the championship competition (Go Ahead wants a full competition, like what is the case normally, the NVB wants a half competition or series matches (what we now know as knock out competition), because otherwise the seasons becomes to long), the location of the matches and the percentage of takings going to the NVB. The underlying idea of the article is that the NVB should not decide things on her own so often and closes with asking the NVB to consult with the district champions.

Mixing of 1st Division West

The clubs of the western first division 1 A are strongly against the mixing with teams from division 1 B and even go as far as terminating their membership of the NVB, and only join again if the general meeting of the NVB later in June would decide in their favor.

Blauw-Wit

After the promotion issue at the end of season 1915-16 Ajax and Blauw-Wit get this season for the first time the opportunity to show on the pitch who is the strongest. Not that it is necessary to prove themselves, because both Blauw-Wit and Ajax have shown to belong to the strongest teams of the Netherlands. There are 4 matches. In the competition Ajax beats Blauw-Wit by having one win and one draw. In the final of the Gouden Meer Beker Ajax beats Blauw-Wit as well. Blauw-Wit wins the last match, the final of the Gouden Kruis matches. The interest of the public in Amsterdam is huge, and Ajax and Blauw-Wit each time come with the strongest lineups and are a close match.