On 12 June 1910 two small teams from the Dutch city of Zwolle joined forces. PEC Zwolle turns 117 on 12 June 2027. Its name hides a motto that suits it perfectly, since the club has been through bankruptcy, a change of colours and one of the most legendary wins in the Dutch cup.

What PEC means

PEC stands for Prins Hendrik Ende Desespereert Nimmer Combinatie. The club was born from the union of Prins Hendrik, founded in 1906 and named after Prince Henry, and Ende Desespereert Nimmer from 1904.

The second name means "And never despair". According to the Libero guide, one team had its roots among railway workers and the other in the town's middle class.

The club turned professional in 1955 and took the name PEC Zwolle in 1971. From 1982 it was known for years as PEC Zwolle '82.

The "blue fingers"

The fans and the team are called the Blauwvingers, "blue fingers", a nickname shared by all the city's residents. According to the best-known legend, Zwolle sold a set of bells to neighbouring Kampen, which paid with so many small copper coins that the fingers of those counting them turned blue.

Sources disagree about the real origin, and other versions link it to the medieval trade disputes between the two towns. Whatever happened, the teasing name eventually became a badge of pride.

From green to blue

For decades the team played in green and white shirts with black shorts. In March 1990, however, the old club went bankrupt, and in its place FC Zwolle was born straight away, with new sponsors, a new organisation and a new badge.

The colours changed too, becoming blue and white, with white shorts. Today the home shirt usually has blue and white horizontal hoops.

On 14 April 2012, after promotion to the Eredivisie, the club took back the historic name PEC Zwolle. It was a way of reconnecting the present with the tradition of 1910.

From the Oosterenk to a new ground

From 1934 the team played at the Oosterenk stadium, which was demolished in 2007. Its new home was first called the IJsseldelta Stadion and since 2016 has carried the name MAC³PARK stadion, with 14,000 seats.

Names such as Jaap Stam, Johnny Rep, Piet Schrijvers and Arne Slot have played for Zwolle. Ron Jans wore its shirt as a striker in the late 1970s and later became the coach of its greatest moment.

The night of 5-1

On 20 April 2014, at De Kuip in Rotterdam, Zwolle met league leaders Ajax in the cup final. Ajax scored early and the match was stopped for half an hour in the 5th minute, when their fans threw fireworks onto the pitch.

After the break, Ron Jans's players played as if in a dream. Ryan Thomas and Guyon Fernandez scored twice each and Bram van Polen made it 5-1, for the first cup in the club's history.

That August Zwolle beat Ajax again, 1-0, to win the Dutch Super Cup as well. In 2023 they also set a second-tier record with a 13-0 win over Den Bosch.

Celebrate with us

From the two small teams of 1910 to that night at De Kuip, Zwolle have stayed true to their motto and never despaired. Happy 117th birthday to the "blue fingers"!

See our collectible jerseys at sportarena.gr.

Photo: PEC Zwolle's MAC³PARK stadion – KSKB1935, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.