On 17 July 1963, in a harbour corner of North Holland, a club was born with a name taken straight from the space age. Telstar turns 64 on 17 July 2027. It is the club of the all-white kit, the "White Lions" and one of the most romantic comebacks in Dutch football.

Two rivals become one

IJmuiden and the surrounding Velsen area had two local rivals with professional sections, VSV and Stormvogels. Both were struggling financially in the early 1960s.

The solution was to merge their professional teams into one. The two old clubs carried on as amateur sides, while the new team took on the job of representing the area in professional football.

A name from outer space

The name has nothing to do with a local hero or neighbourhood. The club was named Telstar, after the communications satellite that was a symbol of the space race at the time.

The space theme reached the stands too. Ever since its founding, the team has walked out to "Telstar", the instrumental by the Tornados, a hit from the same era.

The white of the "White Lions"

Telstar's identity is simple and clean: an all-white kit. It also gave the club its nickname, De Witte Leeuwen, the "White Lions".

In an era of busy shirt designs, Telstar stayed loyal to white. For the 2025 promotion the club even released a special commemorative shirt to mark the big moment.

Home is Sportpark Schoonenberg in Velsen-Zuid, known today as the BUKO Stadion. It is a small, warm ground with a capacity of just over 5,000.

Golden years and a long wilderness

Telstar rose quickly. It reached the Eredivisie after its very first season and stayed there for 14 straight years, until 1978.

Its best spell came in the mid-1970s, with sixth place in 1973-74. In its final top-flight season, 1977-78, a young Louis van Gaal made 25 appearances.

Almost five decades in the second tier followed. From 2001 to 2008 the club played as Stormvogels Telstar before returning to its historic name.

Players who left their mark

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, later a Premier League goalscorer, started his career in Velsen in 1990. Ruud Geels, five times the Eredivisie's top scorer, also wore the shirt.

The club's records belong to two loyal servants. Frank Korpershoek has the most appearances (386) and Glynor Plet the most goals (90).

The return after 47 years

In 2024-25 Telstar were only 11th at Christmas, but they won 11 of their last 18 games under coach Anthony Correia, a former Telstar player. In the play-offs they knocked out ADO Den Haag and Den Bosch.

In the final against Willem II they drew 2-2 at home and won 3-1 in Tilburg. It was their first promotion to the Eredivisie since 1978, with striker Youssef El Kachati as the hero.

In 2025-26 the league's underdog finished 14th and secured survival on the final day with a 2-1 win in Volendam. So the club stays in the Eredivisie for 2026-27.

Celebrate with us

Telstar reminds us that in football, dreams have no expiry date. A small club in a white shirt waited 47 years and found itself among the big names again.

Happy 64th birthday, White Lions! Keep "broadcasting" football from Velsen for many decades to come.

See our collectible jerseys at sportarena.gr.

Photo: fans singing at Telstar's ground during the match against DWS, 13 November 1966 – Joop van Bilsen / Anefo (Nationaal Archief), Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC0 1.0.