Who are yer: PSV Eindhoven

PSV Eindhoven are one of the big boys of Dutch football. They're up there with the other giants, Ajax and Feyenoord, even if fans of the other clubs from the big cities look down on the side from the 'sticks'.

They've got no good reason to.

Apart from their fair share of domestic league and cup trophies, PSV, which started out as Philips' factory team (in case you didn't know, the PSV stands for Philips Sport Vereniging) have also been kings of Europe.

In 1978 they enjoyed UEFA Cup success, and they followed that up with the big daddy of the European Cup in 1988, Guus Hiddinck's team beating Benfica on penalties.

Hiddinck returned to the club in the mid 2000s for more success, with the legendary Bobby Robson also taking the club to the domestic title a couple of times in the 1990s after leaving the England job.

Where do you come from? Philips Stadion

It should come as no surprise to anybody that PSV, formed as the Philips works team, should play in the Philips Stadion. Indeed their kit sponsors for the umpteenth year in a row is, yes, you've guessed it, Philips too.

The site has hosted the club since the beginning in the 1930s. The present incarnation, most recently developed at the turn of the century, sees the stadium hold 35,000. If the Dutch had won the World Cup 2018 bid Eindhoven was a venue and the capacity would have been increased to 45,000. They didn't. So it won't.

From the outside it's a big concrete structure, giving the feel it has a bigger capacity than it does. At the city end there's a gym above the main entrance - offering you the rather bizarre sight of fitness types running on a treadmill while you are polishing off a pre-match frankfurter and coke on the pavement below.



Despite modern updates the two tiered nature does give the ground a certain character. The main stand, on the far side from the main railway line, houses the expected media and corporate brigade, with a similarly plush stand on the other side.

To its right the PSV hardcore gather in the lower tier. Away fans muster in the upper tier of the quadrant to the far left - quadrants added in the early 2000s.



Although the plastic seats have seen better days there's good space between them, they're reasonably steep and the view is generally good.

We're on our way: Getting to the stadium

It's central and dead easy to reach - all of a ten minute walk from the main station, in fact you've probably seen the stadium on your train in.

Exiting the station, turn right, go across the pedestrian square, go past the Piazza shopping centre and down the main road and you'll reach the home end of the stadium in no time.

From the main bars in the centre of town, you can head back towards the station, turn left at the Piazza and again you're on your way. All of 20 minutes.

There is also a Philips Stadion station next the stadium with a direct walkway into the ground, primarily for away fans I think. There's a spartan platform on one side only.

Who ate all the pies: Eating and drinking

It's fairly bog standard on your pilgrimage to a ground to be joined by thousands of people also on the march.

However, as I made a very early jaunt (well, an hour and a half before kick off is virtually the day before in my book) to grab a ticket, I was dodging the crowds (and bicycles) heading in exactly the opposite direction. All for a drink.

The main bar street is the Stratumseind, famous in Eindhoven and across the Netherlands as the longest and most packed bar stretch in the country.



When I visited it was getting busy early doors around the Tipsy Duck bar and others in the middle, showing reruns of Eindhoven glory days on the big screens, but frankly there are dozens for you to choose from. It's an even more popular district post match as the fans mingle with the party crowd, always a slightly bizarre and comical mix.

This is the main port of call for many because of the lack of alcohol inside the stadium. Even the beer kiosk outside the home end sells alcohol free beer.

However, on approaching from the city head right and halfway along the side of the stadium you'll find a couple of very respectable supporters bars. I checked out the first one and it's friendly enough - although note you have to buy tokens from kiosks inside the club and hand them over the bar. Try and offer cash at the bar and it doesn't go down well.

Over the road from the home end is the unashamedly home bar, rocking on a matchday with the music loud enough to be heard inside the ground. Whilst probably not one to go into wearing a Feyenoord scarf, neutrals are fine. It may well be worth your while dodging the mobile bar outside and heading into the building where service can be quicker.

There's a modest food and soft drink selection inside.

Bag a seat: Buying a ticket

Eindhoven's league games do sell out. And, because of the Dutch membership card scheme as an overseas fan you need to buy a match package. Essentially there's a gold package and a silver package.  Silver gives you a seat at one end, voucher for the club shop and 10 euros to spend on refreshments inside. Gold delivers you a seat on the side, a bigger voucher for the shop and refreshments. Both of these can be bought by applying online: http://www.psv.nl/Ticketing.htm

However, I attended a Europa League group fixture. The crowd was well short of capacity and I was able to rock up on the day and buy just a regulation ticket, no questions asked.



If in doubt head to Entrance 16 at the city end of the ground, next to the club shop. But as mentioned, Eredivisie fixtures sell out so sort in advance.

On tour, grab a souvenir: Tours and stores

Tours do take place (although not on matchdays) but you do need to organise these with the club in advance, you can't just turn up on the off chance.

The sizeable and stylish club store, PSV World, offers a variety of ways to part with your cash. It's underneath the gym at the city end of the stadium. Go online too: http://www.psvfanstore.nl/




You'll also find a smallish smattering of souvenirs in the tourist information centre by the station.