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All Change at ADO

(Mon 04 July 2011)

Well the news finally became official on Thursday afternoon that ADO manager John van den Brom has left the club and has taken over at Vitesse Arnhem. Vitesse is a club that is deep in v/d Brom’s heart. It's his local club where he served well as a player. So the leaving of v/d Brom is no real surprise.

Thankfully the rumour mill can now cease as it was becoming an increasing saga of claim and counter claim. I do not believe that after all that has gone on that it would have been possible for v/d Brom to stay at ADO as he had lost the fan support after declaring many times in the press that he would lead ADO Den Haag into Europe. The chanting at the first training night was a small glimpse of what would have happened if he had stayed. The fans in the stand that night told my wife that they wanted him out!

The good news for ADO fans is that Maurice Steijn has now been promoted to take charge of the first team squad as manager: Promoting from within, a good choice in my opinion. I have seen close at hand that the players do respect Steijn which makes it easier for him to take over and move up a level. Maurice Steijn has only within the past few months gained his European training licence and can now put it all into practice.

ADO's new Manager Maurice Steijn (Middle)
The management debacle now sorted, it is time to see what will happen to the players. Derijck, Toornstra, Verhoek are still being spoken about in the press as leaving the club. No news still over Bulykin, but this is no fault of ADO or the player.

It is amazing how things turn out isn’t it? ADO’s first home game of the season will be against John v/d Brom’s new club, so you can expect a highly charged atmosphere for that match, sure now to be a sell out!

I hope the fans do not go over the top on him in any abuse they may chant. It will happen, it happens in every football ground in the world when a former player/manager returns after an acrimonious departure. Just hope the fans also remember what a great season v/d Brom gave us all last season! European qualification, the first ever home and away win over Ajax in the same season. John v/d Brom should be in the hearts of the supporters for what he did for the club - just get behind the team and Maurice Steijn from now on. The king is dead, long live the king!

Next some better news: On Friday evening ADO played their first friendly match of the season. This fixture has become the traditional opener to ADO’s season; away to HVV Laakkwartier.

The game itself went very well for the ADO side. The first team played for the first half and went in at half time leading 8-0. They were far too strong for the amateur opposition, a nice steady way to start a long season. ADO’s first goal of the season was scored after two minutes by Lex Immers, long may that continue. Immers scored two more in the half plus goals from Toornstra x 2, Verhoek, Chery and Hocher, the last two making their ADO debuts.

Toornstra celebrates his first goal

New player Jaap van Duijn

The second half gave the opportunity for the fringe players, new signings and youth players to get a run out and show what they can do. The second half saw two more goals, one a piece for the new players Wouter de Vogel and Jaap van Duijn, who looks to be an aggressive hard working winger, in a similar style to Verhoek.

Final score was HVV Laakkwartier 0-10 ADO Den Haag. A good crowd of 2,537 enjoyed an entertaining evening’s entertainment in the sunshine. I think new manager Maurice Steijn will be hoping for such an easy win each game from now on, a nice winning start for the new man in charge.

On Saturday afternoon, ADO played another friendly at Graaf Wilem which they won.0-15; Lex Immers scoring yet another hat-trick. So for all at ADO it is a case of so far so good.

Two games scored 25 goals conceding none, long may this continue.

Text & Photo’s by Neal McClimon
neal@thehagueonline.com
www.itpphotography.com

New player Filip Luksik