AJAX HONOURS
Today we welcome to The Hawthorns
Ajax of Holland.
Give or take a day or two Albion came into
existence on 20th September 1879. Re
cords do not exist to pinpoint the exact
date with certainty, however, our oppoents
today have no such doubts.
At 9-45am on the morning of Sunday 18th
March 1900, saw the birth of AJAX
currently rated as one of Europes, and
indeed. World footballs top teams.
Their commencement was in the Third
Division and in eleven season only, the big
time was theirs First Division status.
Two years later relegation hits them and
the intervention of the First World War
keeps Ajax down until 1918 when they
regain their leading position and win the
National Championship.
They repeated the feat the following
season this being the first occasion that a
team had won the National trophy twice in
succession.
Then Came a period of, for Ajax, little or
nothing until the 1930's.
Championship winners on five occasions
and runners-up once in a decade really set
the Dutch football scene alight.
A new ground was a must, completed in
December 1934 the ground is still used for
the club's League matches, however,
whenever there is a need to accommodate
the supporters in European Cup and other
top matches they prefer to use the
Amsterdam Olympic Stadium, which is
just a short distance from their own
ground.
Some professionalism comes to Nether
lands football in 1954 and three years on
Ajax by being Champions gain entry to the
European Cup, reaching the quarter-finals.
Another glorious decade from the mid-
Sixties saw Ajax top the League on six
occasions and fill the runners-up spot the
other four, a truly marvellous record.
During the club's quest for European Cup
honours one particular tie stands out, and
so does the result.
In 1973 having put out Besiktas of Turkey,
Ajax were confronted by our domestic
Champions, Liverpool's might 'Reds'.
Played in foggy conditions the players of
Ajax rose to the occasion emerging
victorious by five goals to one. Bill Shankly
refused to accept that all was lost,
however, lost they were for Ajax secured a
draw at Anfield 2-2, having twice been in
the lead. Unfortunately that was the end of
Ajax hopes as Dukla Prague ousted them
from the competition in the quarter-finals.
To celebrate 75 years of soccer, Ajax
pioneered a Youth Tournament. Leedsa
United being one of the invited teams, at
the end of which it was known that in
excess of 50,000 people watched various
stages of the competition.
Like English clubs, Ajax look upon the
development of youth as a vital necessity,
consequently in 1975 they embarked upon
a 'Young Talent' plan which involves ten
teams playing in various competitions. Of
these ten, seix were successful in winning
their respective Championships.
During their life-time Ajax have supplied
many players for the National XI, in fact
the squad for the 1974 World Cup had no
less than ten senior players selected.
Foreigners too have played their part, both
on and off the field. In the early 1900's
Irishman Kirwan was the trainer and in the
1920's Ajax fortunes were guided by
KJack Reynolds an Englishman.
More up to date Ray Clarke one time of
Manssfield Town figured prominently in
Ajax ranks emerging as top goalscorer
finding the net on 26 occasions. Clarke has
recently joined F.C. Bruges with £200,000
changing hands for his transfer.
No dbout about it Ajax has a history full of
success.
Albion too has had many successful
occasions and today a little more is to be
written in our history with two fine teams
gracing The Hawthorns stage in cele
bration of the first 100 years. We hope that
everyone enjoys the Birthday Celebrations.
World Club Champions:
1972
European Cup Winners:
1971,1972,1973
Runners-up:
1969
League Championship Winners:
17 times.
Dutch Cup Winners:
7 times
*ln seasons 1966-67, 1969-70,
1971-7Z Ajax achieved the League
and Cup double.
