Enschedese Boys

Enschedese Boys was founded on 20 April 1906 by a couple of teenagers under the name Lotisco. When the club joined the Twentsche Voetbalbond (FA of Twente) a year later, the name was changed to Excelsior. In 1910 the club would get its current name. Enschedese Boys soon became the most popular team under the working class of Enschede. The rivalry with SC Enschede (supported by the middle class and the owners of the factories) became one of the fiercest in the country. It is said that supporters of De Boys refused to wear black shoe strings, since black is the colour of Sportclub. Supporters of Sportclub never cooked the green soupe erwtensoep for the same reason. Until 1954 Dutch football was organized regionally (regional champions would play each other at the end of the season for the national championship), so the Enschede Derby was played every season. In season 1949/50 De Boys finally won the championship of the east, so they could play the other regional champions. However, in a poule with AFC Ajax, Blauw-Wit Amsterdam, sc Heerenveen, SV Limburgia and Maurits they ended last. The home game against Ajax resulted in a record attendance of over 25,000 spectators in the small Volksparkstadion. When in 1954 professional football was introduced in the Netherlands and the regional system disappeared, Enschedese Boys had to start in the Tweede Divisie (3rd tier), while local rivals Sportclub and vv Rigtersbleek could start respectively in the Eredivisie (highest) and Eerste…

Champion East Netherlands (1) 1949/50