The municipality of Utrecht welcomes the arrival of the new club, which emerged from a broad call for a new purpose for the sports park. The initiators actively seek cooperation and connection with other organizations in the neighborhood. The sports park will not only host football for members but also provide space for social activities and sports opportunities for other residents. There is a great need for this. While much is happening worldwide, sport reminds us of the importance of connection - both in our city and with each other. A club like this, in my opinion, makes a wonderful contribution, says Eva Oosters, alderman for Sports. 

Restart of football 

After the cessation of football club DHSC in 2024, the sports park temporarily had no main user. With the arrival of VV Ondiep Vooruit, KNVB matches will take place again, and the sports park will gain a new role as a vibrant meeting place. We want to be a club that is accessible to everyone and runs entirely on volunteers, says Bas Bos, prospective manager of VV Ondiep Vooruit. Football is our foundation, but we want to be more than just a football club. Together we are committed to grassroots sports and the neighborhood, so young and old can play sports, exercise, and meet each other here. 

New members and volunteers wanted 

VV Ondiep Vooruit is still in the process of being established and is currently taking the necessary steps to officially start as a football club. The club is supported by the municipality, the KNVB, and SportUtrecht. It is important that VV Ondiep Vooruit has a strong foundation as a football club, so members can enjoy playing football here. We are working together on this, says alderman Oosters. To participate in the competition, the club must have at least 60 members. Interested parties, both youth and adults, can register via www.ondiepvooruit.nl. Additionally, the club is looking for volunteers to further build the association. 

Call for the future of the sports park 

The choice for VV Ondiep Vooruit is the result of an intensive process by the municipality of Utrecht. In the past year, several meetings have been held with football clubs, neighborhood organizations, and local residents. The call for a new user was widely shared, and interested parties could submit their plans until February 1, 2025. Ultimately, VV Ondiep Vooruit proved to be the best candidate as the new main user. 

With the arrival of the new football club and a wide range of sports and activities, Wesley Sneijder sports park gets a fresh start. The focus is initially on building a strong club, where football enjoyment is central. From that solid foundation, the sports park can further develop into a central meeting place in the neighborhood.