Consistently ranked amongst European football’s top clubs PSV Eindhoven (Philips Sports Vereniging Eindhoven) celebrated 103 years of sporting existence in 2016.
Originally called Philips Elftal upon formation in 1910, they officially became PSV on 31st August 1913.
Essentially they were founded as a sports club for the employees of the electrical company Philips (which was established in 1891); then a maker of carbon-filament lamps. Today the organisation is more known for its sponsorship of the Philips Stadium the home stadium of the club.
The original sporting field of the team was the Philips Sportpark located in exactly the same Philips district location on which the current Philips Stadium stands. Naturally, being a stadium named after a multinational company, the current ground is a multi-functional, technology enabled stadium. It contains premier facilities both for players and coaches as well as exceptional viewing potential for paying supporters.
But it wasn’t always this way; the original ground was very basic and wooden in parts at least until the 1970’s; the period within which the club first became successful domestically. When the ground started to be redeveloped it become a commercial hub for Philips with the organisation using its expertise to install pitch powerful lighting.
Philips also built advanced technology into the stadium infrastructure; multimedia high-tech facilities that were way ahead of what many other stadiums were offering. By the mid-1980’s it was one of the most modern grounds in Holland and only its small capacity prevented more matches of the Dutch national team being played in Eindhoven.
Today the stadium of PSV dominates the centre of a modern town bursting with energy and a strong work ethic. This is a city with a constant flow of development in the fields of technology creativity, multi-media innovation, design and knowledge.
While Ajax and a host of other clubs have caught up in terms of stadium design the ground in Eindhoven is still regarded as one of the most modern in Holland. Eindhoven itself is like the football stadium that sits at its centre; it represents creativity, innovation and design. The Philips Stadium serves as a focal point on match-days for a club museum with the playing surface a fitting exhibition space for the team.
It can currently accommodate 35,000 spectators at its home matches.
Winners of the UEFA Cup in 1978 and then the European Cup in 1988 – when Benfica was defeated – PSV are regular campaigners in European football. They have dominated the landscape of Dutch football through the decade’s thanks to attracting numerous foreign stars to a league not known for its superstars. The success enjoyed domestically is all the more praiseworthy given the extent to which football in Holland was once dominated by Feyenoord and Ajax Amsterdam.
A host of famous names from Bobby Robson, Ronaldo through to Dutch greats like Koeman and Gullit have been associated with the club and its success. Although no longer a simple sports association the club’s elaborate connection with Philips continues and is witnessed in the sponsorship of the stadium, shared technology partnerships as well as board member advisory ties.
