ODIN '59

HSV ODIN '59 is a football club from Heemskerk, Netherlands. The club was founded in 1959 and is currently playing in the Vierde Divisie. ODIN stands for Ons Doel Is Nuttig (Our goal is useful).^[1]

ODIN '59

Full name	Heemskerkse Sportvereniging Ons Doel Is Nuttig '59
Nickname(s)	De gele leeuwen ("The yellow lions")
Founded	17 December 1959; 65 years ago (1959-12-17)
Ground	Sportpark Assumburg, Heemskerk
Capacity	3,000
Chairman	Wilco Verschoor
Manager	Patrick van Leeuwen
League	Vierde Divisie
2024–25	Vierde Divisie A, 11th of 16
Website	odin59.nl
Home colours Away colours

In the 2021–22 season, ODIN lost in the first round of the relegation playoffs, and were relegated to the Hoofdklasse.

History

ODIN '59 (Ons Doel Is Nuttig 1959) was founded on 17 December 1959 in Heemskerk, North Holland, during a period of rapid urban and industrial development associated with employment at nearby Hoogovens.^[2] The football branch was established shortly after the club's volleyball and korfball sections. Founded by Jan Milikan, Jan Overvliet, Cor Blok and Joop de Graaf, the name "ODIN" ("Our Goal Is Useful") was chosen to reflect the club's founding ethos, with the suffix '59 later added at the request of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).^[3] Contrary to assumptions, Saturday football was adopted not for religious reasons but due to the shift work schedules of local steelworkers.^[2]

The club began at Hoogdorperweg with modest facilities, gradually expanding its fields and constructing a heated canteen and a clubhouse by 1966.^[2] In the early 1960s, ODIN '59 rose quickly through the Haarlemse Voetbalbond (HVB), earning multiple promotions. By 1970, it had reached the KNVB's Vierde Klasse, completing a decade in which the club's membership expanded from fewer than 60 to nearly 400, fielding 11 senior and 18 youth teams.^[2]

The 1970s brought both structural changes and competitive setbacks. After briefly dropping back to the HVB in 1972, ODIN '59 returned to the national system by 1975. That same decade saw the move to a new facility at Hoflaan, culminating in the construction of a permanent clubhouse near Slot Assumburg in 1974.^[4]

During the 1980s, the club implemented new governance policies and technical frameworks. Promotion to the Derde Klasse came in 1982, followed by a second-place finish the next season. However, player departures led to declining results by the mid-1980s. A resurgence in 1989–90 saw the first team win a period title under the KNVB's new system, narrowly missing promotion to the Tweede Klasse after a play-off defeat.^[5] Meanwhile, the club expanded its reserve teams and modernised its training infrastructure, converting gravel fields to grass with support from local fundraising.

The 1990s were mixed: the first team remained in the Derde Klasse, but failed in several promotion play-off attempts and faced relegation in 1996. A league restructuring, however, allowed the club to retain its status within the newly formed KNVB District West I.^[6] A strategic shift followed in 1997, focusing on youth development, player retention, and infrastructure investment. These efforts paid off in the 1998–99 season when ODIN '59 clinched the Derde Klasse title, defeating SMS 6–0 in a decisive match.^[6]

The early 2000s saw further professionalisation. A financial committee, technical management staff, and new governance systems were introduced, alongside facility improvements such as additional floodlights, an artificial turf pitch, and the expansion of the clubhouse. The club also introduced girls' football and formalised youth development.^[7]

On the pitch, the club secured promotions in 2001 and 2009, reaching the Hoofdklasse for the first time during its 50th anniversary season.^[8] ODIN '59 finished ninth in its debut season, missing out on the newly formed Topklasse.^[9] A high point came in 2018 when ODIN '59 defeated Emmen 3–1 in the KNVB Cup, gaining national attention.^[10][11] The club went on to compete regularly in the Derde Divisie, cementing its status as one of the leading amateur sides in the Netherlands.^[7]

Following a nationwide league restructuring in 2022, ODIN '59 began competing in the Vierde Divisie.^[3] Under head coach Richard Plug [nl], the club secured promotion to the Derde Divisie in the 2022–23 season, but were relegated after just one year at that level.^[12][13]

Notable former players

Further information: Category:ODIN '59 players

Managers

From To Manager 1959 1961 1961 1963 Henk van de Wateren[14] 1965 1969 Piet Dijkman[14] 1969 1971 Toon Dekker[14] 1971 1975 Wim Nieuwenhuis[14] 1975 1978 Jan Muskee[14] 1978 1980 Paul Kerssens[14] 1980 1982 Cees Glas[14] 1982 1985 Jan van der Steen[14] 1985 1990 Hennie van Es[14] 1990 1994 Fred de Boer[15] 1994 1995 Ron van Aanholt[14] 1995 1998 Hennie van Es[14]

From To Manager 1998 2002 Cees Bruinink[16] 2002 2007 Jacques Koster[14] 2007 2012 Rowdy Bakker[14][17] 2012 2015 Mark Evers[18] 2015 2019 Richard Plug 2019 2020 Anthony Correia[19] 2020 2021 Ted Verdonkschot[20] 2021 2022 Alex Geernaert[21] 2022 2023 Richard Plug 2023 2024 Mark Kranendonk[22] 2024 2025 Arjan de Zeeuw[23] 2025 Present Patrick van Leeuwen[24]

Anthony Correia managed ODIN '59 in the 2019–20 season.

Honours

Honour	Year(s)
Hoofdklasse Saturday A champions	2015–16
Eerste Klasse	2009–10
Tweede Klasse	2000–01
Derde Klasse	1998–99
Vierde Klasse	1981–82
KNVB District Cup West I winner	2010–11