Tilburg got 38000 people in town In 1896. and in the Netherlands live in total 5 million people . football is at that point not very popular in north Brabant. de ruiter bring 12 people together in pub marinus in Tilburg . where might be a team can be formed. The club is called Tilburgia. One year later . The club was renamed to Willem II, named after the then Prince of Orange and later king of the Netherlands.
Own accommodation for the association is not. Willem is playing on different fields in the city. Willem II plays the home games on the place called the King Hoeven. The first time it seems that the club is more for the fun than for the performance.
professional football
The KNVB have decide to introduce the semi-professional football in the Netherlands in November 1954. In Tilburg go’s Longa, NOAD as William II to professional football. a top-heavy adventure! . after the championship in 1954 comes willem II in a difficult period. The club degrades even to the First Division from the Netherlands. The first discussion became when NOAD, longa and Willem II starts conversations about going to be together start a football club. The discussion starts in 1958 and ends in 1970.
Willem II in Europe
The champions league and the Uefa cup are one of the biggest times of Willem II in the history. In 1997-1998 after a very poor season start Adriaanse get the team on track and done what no one had expected: Willem II ends on the fifth place right to participate in the UEFA Cup tournament. The joy in Tilburg is enormous. After thirty five years a way from Europe is Willem II back in Europe. In the first round wins Willem II twice of Dinamo Tbilisi. In the second round must they against Real Betis Sevilla at home was it a tie and in the away game was it 3-0 for Real Betis Sevilla. And Willem II has become proven in the Uefa cup. It likes more for Willem II in Europe. In 1998-1999 Willem II was 2de and goes to the Champions league. In the winter stop was Willem II 11de that was not good but after de stop won Willem II so what everything. At 16 May 1999 the Champions league in Leeuwarden that was for me a special moment in my live. But in the Champions league had Willem II in the group 2 points but it was a big party and a great experience.
.
Co Adriaanse a special men in Tilburg.
