Holland. Ranked 8th and that mostly because of the weak years in the first half of 1980s – now the Dutch were again formidable, but UEFA ranking computed 5 years. Yet… 2 teams clashed for the title, leaving the rest far behind and the champion was not going to represent the country in the European Champions Cup. New and more complicated rules for promotion/relegation were introduced: from this year onwards, only one club promoted directly to the Eredivisie, instead of two. Also, one of the Eredivisie-clubs (the number 16 of 18) now had a chance to avert relegation. Promotion was no longer certain for the runner-up of the Eerste Divisie. A new and expanded play-off system was introduced. The following teams entered:
Group round
Six entrants would play in two groups of three teams.
4 period champions (the best teams during each of the four quarters of the regular competition)
2 best placed teams in the league (not being league or period champion)
The two group winners: play-off 1. Losers: remain in Eerste Divisie
Play-off 1
The two group winners from the group round.
Winners: promoted to the Eredivisie. Losers: play-off 2.
Play-off 2
The losers of play-off 1
The numbers 16 from the Eredivisie (the numbers 17 and 18 already relegated directly)
Winners: Eredivisie. Losers: Eerste Divisie.
The 2 professional leagues were still closed, so no relegation from Second (Eerste) Division. 19 teams played in the Second Division, as it has been for years.
DS’79 ended last with 22 points.
Telstar – 18th with 26 points.
RBC – 17th with 32 points.
SC Heerenveen – 16th with 32 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.
PEC Zwolle – 15th with 32 points.
Excelsior – 14th with 33 points.
Helmond Sport – 13th with 33 points.
AZ’67 – 12th with 33 points.
Cambuur – 11th with 34 points.
FC Wageningen – 10th with 35 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.
Go Ahead Eagles – 9th with 37 points. Going to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.
Veendam – 8th with 38 points.
De Graafschap – 7th with 38 points.
FC Emmen – 6th with 38 points. Qualified to promotion/relegation play-offs as quarterly winner.
FC Eindhoven – 5th with 39 points.
VVV Venlo – 4th with 39 points.
SC Heracles’74 – 3rd with 42 points. Going to promotion play-offs.
NAC Breda – 2nd with 43 points. Going to promotion play-offs.
SVV (Scheidam) – 1st with 58 points. Excellent season: 26 wins, 6 ties, 4 lost matches, and 67-21 scoring record. Dominant champions and directly promoted to First Division.
And after the regular season the play-offs started: they consisted of three rounds. In the group round, four period winners (the best teams during each of the four quarters of the regular competition) and two (other) best placed teams in the league, played in two groups of three teams. The group winners would play in play-off 1. The winners of that play-off would be promoted to the Eredivisie, the loser had to take on the number 16 of the Eredivisie in play-off 2. These two teams played for the third and last position in the Eredivisie of next season.
Group 1
1. SC Heerenveen 2 0 2 7-6 4
2. Go Ahead Eagles 2 0 2 7-7 4
3. NAC Breda 2 0 2 6-7 4
Group 2
1. FC Emmen 3 0 1 7-5 6
2. FC Wageningen 1 2 1 5-3 4
3. SC Heracles’74 0 2 2 2-6 2
Play-off 1:
FC Emmen – SC Heerenveen 1-0 and 0-2.
SC Heerenveen promoted to First Division. FC Emmen going to play-off 2.
FC Emmen – NEC Nijmegen (16th in First Division) 1-2 and 0-0.
NEC Nijmegen stays in First Division, FC Emmen stays in Second Division.
Thus, SC Heerenveen and SVV Scheidam were the teams promoted to play in the top league next season.
Champions deserve a second look: SVV Scheidam.
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