Season 1916-17

Summary

Season Results
Competition Mat Total points Win Drw Loss GF GA F-A Res
Dutch Cup 7 7 30 6 24 Winner
Second Division West A 14 27 13 1 67 4 63 Endranking: 1
Champions Competition 2nd Division West 3 6 3 11 1 10 Endranking: 1
Zilveren Voetbal 3 1 1 1 5 3 2 Lost in Finale
Friendly 16 13 3 58 13 45
Gouden Meer Beker 2 2 10 1 9 Winner

Results

Endranking Second Division West A
Pos Club Mat Win Drw Loss Total points GF GA F-A
1 Ajax 14 13 1 27 67 4 63
2 De Spartaan 14 9 3 2 21 46 9 37
3 AFC 14 8 2 4 18 35 19 16
4 EDO 14 5 3 6 13 19 18 1
5 ZVV 14 6 1 7 13 27 33 -6
6 DEC 14 5 2 7 12 25 31 -6
7 LVV 14 3 1 10 5 13 61 -48
8 Alcmaria Victrix 14 1 13 1 5 62 -57
Endranking Champions Competition 2nd Division West
Pos Club Mat Win Drw Loss Total points GF GA F-A
1 Ajax 3 3 6 11 1 10
2 VVA 3 2 1 4 6 4 2
3 DFC 3 1 2 2 2 6 -4
4 RFC 3 3 3 11 -8

Matches

Match Details
Date Competition Round Match Sum. Video Full Video Match Report
8/6/1916 Friendly - Ajax - Go Ahead 1 - 1 (1 - 1)
8/20/1916 Friendly - AFC - Ajax 0 - 3
8/27/1916 Friendly - Wilhelmina - Ajax 0 - 5 (0 - 4)
9/3/1916 Friendly - Ajax - Quick 2 - 1
(regular time:1 - 1)
9/10/1916 Zilveren Voetbal Quarter Final Ajax - Hercules 2 - 2 (1 - 2)
9/10/1916 Dutch Cup 1 De Tubanters - Ajax 0 - 4 (0 - 2)
9/17/1916 Zilveren Voetbal Semi Final Sparta - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
9/17/1916 Zilveren Voetbal Final Willem II - Ajax 1 - 0 (0 - 0)
9/17/1916 Dutch Cup 2 Ajax - Hengelo 4 - 3 (2 - 0)
9/24/1916 Friendly - AFC - Ajax 1 - 5
9/27/1916 Friendly - West Frisia - Ajax 1 - 4
10/1/1916 Friendly - Ajax - UD 4 - 1 (2 - 0)
10/8/1916 Second Division West A 3 Ajax - LVV 9 - 1 (6 - 0)
10/15/1916 Friendly - Ajax - NAC 6 - 2 (3 - 0)
10/22/1916 Second Division West A 5 Ajax - EDO 2 - 0 (2 - 0)
10/29/1916 Dutch Cup 3 Ajax - Tubantia 8 - 1 (4 - 1)
11/5/1916 Second Division West A 7 Alcmaria Victrix - Ajax 0 - 6 (0 - 5)
11/12/1916 Second Division West A 8 Ajax - DEC 5 - 0 (1 - 0)
11/26/1916 Second Division West A 9 De Spartaan - Ajax 1 - 1 (1 - 0)
12/3/1916 Friendly - Ajax - First Royal Naval Brigade FC 0 - 0 (0 - 0)
12/10/1916 Dutch Cup 4 ODE - Ajax 2 - 4 (1 - 1)
12/17/1916 Second Division West A 11 Ajax - AFC 3 - 1 (2 - 1)
12/24/1916 Second Division West A 12 EDO - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
12/26/1916 Friendly - Ajax - DFC 4 - 2 (1 - 0)
12/31/1916 Second Division West A 13 Ajax - ZVV 11 - 0 (4 - 0)
1/7/1917 Second Division West A 2 Ajax - De Spartaan 2 - 0 (0 - 0)
1/21/1917 Second Division West A 4 AFC - Ajax 1 - 2 (1 - 1)
2/18/1917 Second Division West A 10 LVV - Ajax 0 - 8
3/4/1917 Friendly - Ajax - Willem II 4 - 0 (3 - 0)
3/11/1917 Second Division West A 14 Ajax - Alcmaria Victrix 9 - 0 (6 - 0)
3/18/1917 Second Division West A 6 ZVV - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
3/25/1917 Friendly - Ajax - Vitesse 10 - 1 (8 - 0)
4/1/1917 Dutch Cup Quarter Final Hercules - Ajax 0 - 2 (0 - 1)
4/6/1917 Gouden Meer Beker Semi Final Ajax - DVS 5 - 0 (1 - 0)
4/9/1917 Gouden Meer Beker Final Ajax - Willem II 5 - 1 (1 - 1)
4/15/1917 Second Division West A 1 DEC - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
4/22/1917 Friendly - Zuidelijk Elftal - Ajax 1 - 1 (0 - 0)
4/29/1917 Dutch Cup Semi Final DFC - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 1)
5/6/1917 Champions Competition 2nd Division West 1 Ajax - DFC 3 - 0 (1 - 0)
5/13/1917 Champions Competition 2nd Division West 2 Ajax - RFC 5 - 1 (4 - 1)
5/20/1917 Champions Competition 2nd Division West 3 VVA - Ajax 0 - 3 (0 - 2)
5/27/1917 Dutch Cup Final Ajax - VSV 5 - 0 (2 - 0)
5/28/1917 Friendly - Ajax - MVV 3 - 0 (0 - 0)
6/10/1917 Friendly - Ajax - Be Quick 4 - 1 (2 - 1)
6/24/1917 Friendly - Ajax - Go Ahead 2 - 1 (2 - 1)

Selection

All players who have played for Ajax 1 this season
Player Team Matches Goals Yellow Red Assists Minutes Own Goals Remark
Theo Brokmann Sr. A 22 30 1 1980
Frans Couton A 17 1530
Joop van Dort A 21 10 1 1890
Freek Gehrels II 6 540
E. van Gelderen II 2 180
Jan Goosen II 4 360
Jan Grootmeijer II 4 1 1 360
Wim Gupffert A 22 11 4 1980
Antoon ten Herkel II 2 180
Henk Hordijk A 21 9 1890
André de Kruijff II 3 1 270
H. van der Laan II 2 180
Jan-Willem Lucas II 2 2 180
Rinus Lucas A 22 22 1980
Jan de Natris A 21 4 5 1869
Fons Pelser A 22 1980 1
Joop Pelser A 21 1890
Jan Schäfer II 2 3 180
Jan Smit A 22 1980
Staal Unknown 1 90
Frits Terwee A 21 1890
Chris Wintershoven II 2 180
Gerard Ziegeler Unknown 2 2 1 180
Selection of Team A
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Jan Smit Keeper Unknown
Frans Couton Defender Unknown
Fons Pelser Defender Unknown
Joop van Dort Midfielder Unknown
Henk Hordijk Midfielder Unknown
Joop Pelser Midfielder Unknown
Frits Terwee Midfielder Unknown
Theo Brokmann Sr. Forward Unknown
Wim Gupffert Forward Unknown
Rinus Lucas Forward Unknown
Jan de Natris Forward Unknown
Selection of Team II
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Chris Wintershoven Keeper Unknown
Freek Gehrels Defender Unknown
Jan Goosen Midfielder Unknown
Antoon ten Herkel Midfielder Unknown
André de Kruijff Midfielder Unknown
E. van Gelderen Forward Unknown
Jan Grootmeijer Forward Unknown
H. van der Laan Forward Unknown
Jan-Willem Lucas Forward Unknown
André Maassen Forward Unknown
Jan Schäfer Forward Unknown
Selection of Team IV
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Heere Schappert Keeper Unknown
Selection of Team Unknown
Player Position Contract Type Contract From Contract To Loan Out From Loan Out To Remark
Gerard Ziegeler Keeper Unknown
Frans Schoevaart Defender Unknown
Staal Defender Unknown
De Zeeuw Forward Unknown
Others active at Ajax
Player Role Contract Type Contract From Contract To Remark
Jack Reynolds Head coach Contract
Willem Egeman President No Contract
Han Dade Vice president No Contract
Jan Grootmeijer Secretary No Contract
Marius Koolhaas 2nd Secretary No Contract
Tjerk de Munnik Treasurer No Contract
J.Ph. Geerlings 2nd Treasurer No Contract
Joop Pelser Commissioner No Contract
H.R. Reyenga Commissioner No Contract
Frans Schoevaart Commissioner No Contract

Transfers

Players who left/will leave
Player Next Club Type Announced Start Duration End Amount Remark
Gé Bosch AFC Transfer 07/01/1916
Players who came/will come
Player Previous Club Type Announced Start Duration End Amount Remark
Frans Couton DEC Transfer 07/01/1916
Jan Smit DEC Transfer 07/01/1916
Staal Sparta Transfer 07/01/1916

Statistics

See this overview for an explanation of the categorization of the various competition types.

Seasons matches and goals per competition
Player Comp. Comp. Play Off Dutch Cup Europa Other Off. Off. Mat. Friendly Total
Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals Mat Goals
Theo Brokmann Sr. 14 19 3 4 5 7 22 30 18 17 40 47
Frans Couton 11 3 3 17 15 32
Joop van Dort 13 3 3 2 5 5 21 10 16 5 37 15
Freek Gehrels 3 3 6 5 11
E. van Gelderen 2 2 2
Jan Goosen 1 3 4 4
Jan Grootmeijer 2 1 2 4 1 2 6 1
Wim Gupffert 14 6 3 2 5 3 22 11 19 7 41 18
Antoon ten Herkel 2 2 2
Henk Hordijk 14 7 3 1 4 1 21 9 19 1 40 10
André de Kruijff 1 2 1 3 1 3 1
H. van der Laan 2 2 2
Jan-Willem Lucas 2 2 2 2 1 3 2
Rinus Lucas 14 15 3 2 5 5 22 22 17 14 39 36
Jan de Natris 13 3 3 5 1 21 4 19 4 40 8
Adriaan Pelser 1 1
Fons Pelser 14 3 5 22 14 2 36 2
Joop Pelser 13 3 5 21 18 3 39 3
Jan Schäfer 2 3 2 3 2 3
Frans Schoevaart 2 2
Jan Smit 14 3 5 22 18 40
Staal 1 1 3 4
Frits Terwee 13 3 5 21 16 37
Chris Wintershoven 2 2 2
De Zeeuw 1 1
Gerard Ziegeler 2 2 2 2 2 2
Total 154 54 33 11 77 30 264 95 204 53 468 148

Videos and Photos

News

Dutch Competition

Ajax does not show any disappointment on the pitch that they are not allowed to play in the first division and easily win the 2nd division west A, only the away match against De Spartaan ends in a draw, the rest is won, some of the matches with a large goal difference. Afterwards the championship competition is played between the 4 2nd division west champions (VVA, Dordrecht, RFC), which Ajax wins with a 100% score. There are no promotion matches.

Beker

By winning the Dutch Cup this season Ajax gets its first major price. The first two rounds Ajax is still not taking this tournament too seriously, the first team has different obligations on the same days and players of the second team were allowed to defend the Ajax colors and did so with success. After these two rounds the first team takes over and Ajax wins the cup convincingly. In the final VSV was beaten.

Lineup

This season Ajax plays a lot with the same lineup: Jan Smit (goalkeeper), Frans Couton and Fons Pelser (defenders) Henk Hordijk, Joop Pelser, and Frits Terwee (midfield and stopper spil), Jan de Natris, Joop van Dort, Theo Brokmann Sr., Rinus Lucas and Wim Gupffert (attack). Joop Pelser is captain. In comparison with the previous season the goalkeeper and two defenders are replaced. One of the new defenders is Fons Pelser and his spot in the attack is replaced by Joop van Dort. Because the first two Dutch Cup rounds the first team played other matches, the players from the second team also played a few official matches for Ajax 1. Notably Ziegeler, this seems to be the same player that was Ajax' goalkeeper the previous seasons, is one of the fieldplayers in these matches and even scores a couple of goals. Freek Gehrels replaces Frans Couton a few matches when the latter is facing an injury. Jan Grootmeijer is already a kind of superreplacement for a few years in the attack, and also this season plays a few matches. Besides that also Jan Goosen and André de Kruijff play a few matches.

Coach

Also this season Reynolds is the trainer of Ajax.

Fighting for the Promotion

The beginning of this seasons continues with the aftermath of the promotion competition, Ajax is in contact with the soccer association and later the general meeting of the soccer association to still try to be allowed to replay the match against Blauw-Wit, or be promoted by choice. Ajax makes the following proposals during the general meeting: 1. nullify the complete promotion competition because there was no relegation possibility for the participanting first division team, which is in conflict with the regulations. 2. nullify the decision to not replay the match Ajax - Blauw-Wit, which is in conflict with the originally approved regulation for this competition, and let this match be played again before the season starts. 3. Let Ajax be promoted by choice to the first division. DVS' view is that if Ajax will be promoted by choice the same argument can be used for DVS. Ajax has indicated it is willing to consider a civil action of all their proposals are rejected and this does not make them popular with the NVB and many clubs. The disapproval of such an action is made clear during the general meeting and the board make a proposal, which is approved with a large majority, which confirms that general meeting as the soccer association's highest power and that the meeting will only handle Ajax' proposals if Ajax will promise to accept the outcome of the general meeting. Ajax' representatives present at the meeting cannot guarantee this, because they have not been empowered by the Ajax board to do so, which results in the proposals not being handled.

General Meeting

During the general meeting Ajax held on August 5 it is announced that the club is going through a growing phase. During the meeting the board is composed as follows: 1st president W.F. Egeman, 2nd president H. Dade, 1st secretary J.J. Grootmeijer, 2nd secretary M.J. Koolhaas, 1st treasurer Tj de Munnik, 2nd treasurer J. PJh. Goerlings. Committee members: J. Pelser, F. Schoevaart, and Reyenga. About the promotion discussions it is announced that Ajax will try to get the support from all other clubs because it feels that her previous actions are interpreted in a wrong way by the NVB.

Last Attempt to get Promotion

Ajax addresses the NVB and clubs to explain that Ajax had not decided before the general meeting that it would start a civil procedure and it regrets that the condition to handle Ajax proposals was not communicated to Ajax before the meeting. Because the representatives were not authorized, they could not guarantee the condition on Ajax' behalf. Ajax has by now decided not to start a civil procedure. Ajax denies the accusation that they try to achieve via a judge what they could not achieve on the field, according to Ajax it is Blauw-Wit that needed a change in the regulations to guarantee the promotion. During a subsequent boardmeeting of the NVB de NVB decided not to promote Ajax by choice. When ajax shows in September during the matches for the Zilveren Voetbal to be regarded as one of the top teams in the Netherlands (Western division champion Sparta is beaten with 3-0, while the national champion Willem II is just barely able to win with 1-0, meanwhile Ajax play impresses many), some newspapers write to convince the NVB to promote Ajax by choice. The NVB does not change her opinion and Ajax does not continue the discussions and focusses on showing on the pitch they belong in the first division.

A second First Division West

The NVB has made the decision at the start of the season to introduce a second first division west in season 1917-18. The plan is this group will exist of 10 teams. One spot will be filled by the number last from the existing first division west, so that this will only consist of 10 teams. In addition all numbers 1 and 2 of the 4 second division west groups will be part of the new group, and the numbers 3 of the second division west groups will play a promotion competition who can fill in the last spot. This plan is criticised by everyone. Het Gouden Hoofd (the club of first division teams) is against a relegation without promotion degradation match. With the second division clubs the main issue is that there will be no mixing with the existing first division. Their point of criticism that it is only in name a promotion to the first class, but they will only all play second division teams. Also the more neutral critics have their doubts about the lack of mixing teams of the two first division west groups. Several other suggestions are done, both to let the new group be a real group between the first and the second division, but also to let the teams of the two groups fully mix (for example Noord (Haarlem, Amsterdam, Utrecht) and Zuid (Den Haag, Rotterdam)). The NVB however, not withstanding all criticism, stays until the end of the season with her original plan.

Magazine

In December 1916 the first Ajax Magazine is issued.

Away matches in Het Houten Stadion

Ajax has a large and modern stadium, for those days, and there is much interest from spectators. Not only does this make it easy for Ajax to find opponents that would like to come to Watergraafsmeer for friendly matches, but also the away matches for dutch cup and competition are sometimes played in Het Houten Stadion, which is financially attractive for both parties. For the Dutch Cup cames the regulations indicate that the takings should be divided between both clubs after subtracting the travel expenses for the away teams. Because when playing matches in Het Houten Stadion as described above the formal home team has travel expenses Ajax requests the NVB to be allowed to subtract the travel costs from the home team from the takings, but this is not approved, with as motivation it would require a change in the regulations. There are also situations in which the soccer association does not approve the requests from Ajax and their opponent to play away matches for Ajax in Het Houten Stadion. It is not clear what position the NVB takes, there are no reports that they are against because it is not fair with respect to other teams.

Gouden Meer Cup

A sportsfan makes a golden cup available to Ajax, which is meant as the price for a series of matches between the strongest teams of the Netherlands. The idea is that the matches for the Gouden Meer Beker will be a yearly recurring event which will be played around Eastern. Ajax wins the first edition by beating DVS in the semi final and Vitesse in the final.

Friendlies

Before the start of the competition it is already clear that Ajax will not get strong opposition in the competition and because of that it organizes many friendly matches. Ajax selects strong opposition and amongst others the previous and new national champion, various division champions and other 1st division teams are the opponents. Ajax is able to win 14 and draw 4 of the 19 friendly matches. The only loss, also the only loss in the complete season, is a 1-0 loss from Willem II, national champion 1915-16, which Ajax compensates later in the season by beating Willem II in a home game with 4-0. Critics point out that such matches are not taken serious by each opponent, but in general Ajax gains a lot of respect by reacting on the pitch to the strange ending of the previous season, and with attractive play beat most opponents it faces.

Zilveren Voetbal and Revue Beker

Since 1901 before the competition start each season the matches for the Zilveren (Voet)Bal were organized. This was based on an initiative by few people from Rotterdam. The goal of this toernament was to let the strongest teams of the Netherlands play against eachother before the start of the season. Since 2007 next to the Zilveren Bal there was a second price available for this tournament. The sports magazine “Revue der Sporten” introduced the Revue Beker for the team that reaches furthest in the tournament and is not playing in the first division. This was a very prestigious tournament and often the strongest teams indeed participated. The Dutch Cup (also known als Holdert Cup) was in those days less prestigious and this season Ajax chooses to play with the first team squad for the Zilveren Bal, while the second team squad plays the first rounds for the Dutch Cup. Ajax does not win the Zilveren Bal because it looses the final from Willem II, but does win the Revue Beker, because it reaches furthest from all teams not playing in the first division.

Reliability Data

Information about lineups and goalscorers this season is incomplete and unreliable. The main source used are newspaper reports and information often differs between different newspapers, sometimes newspapers also explicitly mention it is unknown when a goal is scored, and it is common that it is only mentioned that certain regular players are not playing, not who is playing instead. As much as possible we try to point out the information we are uncertain about.