Telstar is located in the city of Velsen, on the North Sea coast, about 20 kilometers west of Amsterdam.

The Club was founded in 1963, when two local rival clubs in the city merged, and took its name from the US-satellite that had been launched a year earlier. The Club badge shows the satellite together with a burning torch, on a red and blue background, which were the colours of the two teams that merged (VSV & Stormvogels). Telstar play in an all-white strip, and have the nickname of “The White Lions”.

In its first season, Telstar won promotion to the top league, and stayed there for 14 years, including a 6th place finish in 1974, and an appearance in the 1975 Intertoto Cup.

However, in 1978 the team were relegated and have played in the second division ever since (relegation from the second league is possible since 2010). The lads have reached the promotion play-offs in 1979, 1982, 1994, 2001, 2005 and 2009, but on each occasion they have been unsuccessful.

The Ground

Sportpark Schoonenberg opened in 1948 and has always been Telstar’s home since being founded in 1963. The stadium is situated in the town of Velsen-Zuid (South-Velsen), although Telstar are often referred as being a club from neighbouring IJmuiden.

Located in a very pleasant area and surrounded by trees and parkland, it has retained a slightly old-fashioned and “nostalgic” feel which makes it popular with groundhoppers and anyone interested in football culture.

Visiting Home Matches

In general, matches kick off on Friday night at 8pm. Tickets can be bought -without restrictions- at the door before the matches, but you can also buy online or contact Telstar to make reservations. Home fans are also welcome in the social club, before and after the match.

The Club is ideally located for anyone visiting Amsterdam, and the frequency of the train service means that you can easily come to the game, have a few drinks in the Supporters Club before and after the match, and still get back to Amsterdam with plenty of time to enjoy the Friday “nightlife”.

Getting here couldn’t be easier, with regular train or high speed ferry services from the centre of Amsterdam.

Train services run from Amsterdam Centraal Station every 30 minutes, and the journey takes about 25 minutes. Take the service for Beverwijk and get off at Driehuis. Coming down the platform stairs turn left. Out of the station proceed for about 400 yards along Hagelingerweg, and then Van den Vondellaan, before following the main road around to the left along Waterloolaan. You should see the floodlights on you right across the parkland, and should follow the road around to the ground. (approx 15 mins walk).

Return trains to Amsterdam also run every half hour, until 1am.

There are also direct bus lines between Amsterdam, Haarlem and the city of Velsen.

Follow Telstar from afar

If you want to keep an eye on Telstar and you are not able to visit the matches or follow local media coverage, this English section on Telstarfans.nl is of course your new favourite. Besides that there are some other ways to keep track during the week and on matchdays:

Official websites: Telstar – Keuken Kampioen Divisie (first division) – FOX Sports
Twitter:
Facebook:
Instagram
Youtube:
Statistics and Livescores