Whereas a championship celebration erupted on one aspect of the sphere, it was silent on the opposite. The 5-2 loss in opposition to Laren sealed HGC’s destiny as soon as once more. The staff from Wassenaar, which till final 12 months by no means relegated from the large league, will subsequent season play on the third degree.. ‘It could sound loopy, however someplace I’m additionally proud.’
For a second, HGC nonetheless had hope. Hope for the required victory to keep away from direct relegation. Maurits Schut gave HGC the lead after seven minutes. However the pleasure was solely short-lived. The loss in opposition to Laren was finally nothing to complain about. Irrespective of how sensible the actions of Seve van Ass had been and the way stable the protection of Floris Benschop and captain Vincent Langenhuijsen was: HGC merely lacked the standard to essentially problem the champion.
Whereas final 12 months’s relegation got here as a bolt from the blue, this season’s was much less surprising. With a very new staff, other than captain Langenhuijsen, consisting primarily of younger and inexperienced gamers, HGC mainly needed to begin from scratch. From the beginning, the extent proved to be simply too excessive. The staff was spared big defeats, however nearly all the time got here up brief to win factors. HGC definitely has expertise, however the variations in degree had been simply as apparent.
Disappointment at HGC: the staff didn’t make it into the Promotion League. Picture: Rob Römer
No disgrace
The end result, the second relegation in a row, is nonetheless painful. Till final 12 months, the membership performed 51 consecutive years within the massive league. Achieved successes, each nationally and on the European degree. Produced such stars as Marc Delissen and Bram Lomans. Olympic champion Seve van Ass emerged as a defining participant for the Dutch nationwide staff. Now the identical Van Ass, referred to as up for the final three video games of the season, witnessed from contained in the traces how HGC dropped to the third degree of the Netherlands.
Langenhuijsen reacted resignedly afterwards. At first of the season I stated we had been going for survival. Gamers got here from all over the place and nowhere. No one talked to one another. However we had been by no means crushed. Not even when Floris Benschop and Seve weren’t taking part. And finally this grew to become a gaggle of pals. Many of the guys are about the identical age. It could sound loopy, however that collectively makes me proud. And that I see perspective for the long run.’
Based on the defender, the membership itself just isn’t upset both. ‘There may be definitely no outrage that we at the moment are going to play Transitional Class. They’re extra involved with continuity. That the staff doesn’t crumble once more. That’s why I rapidly stated myself that I’ll stick with HGC. Many guys have given that very same dedication. Eighty % will keep collectively after which we’ll go for it within the Overgangsklasse. A number of will go away. You possibly can’t escape that. However mainly we keep collectively and the ambition is to make HGC a secure promotion class participant. For a lot of company, this degree was only a bit too excessive, however I believe they are going to be prepared for it in eighteen months’ time.
The comparatively inexperienced HGC was unable to cease Laren final Sunday. Picture: Rob Römer
‘This staff has a particular place in my coronary heart’
For Langenhuijsen himself, it was an particularly intense season. Within the winter, his father, the co-founder of the present HGC Males’s 1, handed away. ‘It was a particularly turbulent, powerful six months. That’s additionally what makes the bond with this staff so particular. They’ve a particular place in my coronary heart as a result of they had been there in the course of the interval once I may barely stand on my ft from grief. It stays troublesome to overlook my father. Not having the ability to name him to debate one thing or ask for his assist.
It’s exactly from the reminiscence of his father that Langenhuijsen now will get the energy to maintain trying up. To stay loyal to HGC as an alternative of selecting a degree that fits his report higher. ‘On the finish of the day, area hockey stays enjoyable. Each Sunday I get pleasure from being on the sphere. And to see the boys getting higher and having enjoyable. As quickly as I lose the positivity, the remainder of the staff goes together with it. That’s how I used to be raised. Being optimistic and dependable. Even when the circumstances are much less cheerful.’
