The 2015–16 Eerste Divisie, known as Jupiler League for sponsorship reasons, is the sixtieth season of Eerste Divisie since its establishment in 1955. It began in August 2015 with the first matches of the season and ended in May 2016 with the finals of the promotion/relegation play-offs, also involving the 16th- and 17th-placed teams from the 2015–16 Eredivisie.
This season was the last where promotion and relegation was optional. No club was relegated to the new third-tier division Tweede Divisie (Second Division). This change in the league system was approved in a KNVB assembly in December 2014. Thus, the Topklasse and leagues below it were reduced by one level, and furthermore, promotion and relegation between the Eerste Divisie and Tweede Divisie became mandatory from 2016–17.
Teams A total of 19 teams took part in the league. 2014–15 Eerste Divisie champion NEC gained promotion to the Eredivisie, and was replaced by Dordrecht, which finished last in the 2014–15 Eredivisie. Roda JC Kerkrade and De Graafschap won the post-season playoff, and were replaced in the 2015–16 Eerste Divisie by NAC Breda and Go Ahead Eagles. No teams were relegated, but Jong FC Twente voluntarily withdrew from the league.
Club Location Venue CapacityAchilles '29GroesbeekSportpark De Heikant4,500Jong AjaxAmsterdamSportpark De Toekomst4,000Almere CityAlmereMitsubishi Forklift Stadion3,000Den Bosch's-HertogenboschDe Vliert9,000DordrechtDordrechtGN Bouw Stadion 4,088EindhovenEindhovenJan Louwers Stadion4,600EmmenEmmenUnivé Stadion8,600Fortuna SittardSittardTrendwork Arena12,500Go Ahead EaglesDeventerAdelaarshorst 8,000Helmond SportHelmondStadion De Braak4,100MVVMaastrichtDe Geusselt10,000NAC Breda Breda Rat Verlegh Stadion 19,000OssOssHeesen Yachts Stadion4,700Jong PSVEindhovenDe Herdgang2,500RKC Waalwijk Waalwijk Mandemakers Stadion7,508Sparta RotterdamRotterdamHet Kasteel11,026TelstarVelsenTATA Steel Stadion3,625VolendamVolendamKras Stadion6,260VVV-VenloVenloDe Koel8,000
Personnel and kits Club Manager Kit manufacturer Sponsors Achilles '29 Eric Meijers Klupp Van Helden Relatiegeschenken Jong Ajax Jaap Stam Adidas Ziggo Almere City Jack de Gier Adidas Van Wijnen Den Bosch René van Eck Macron Van Wanrooij Dordrecht Harry van den Ham Macron Riwal Hoogwerkers Eindhoven Mitchell van der Gaag Joma VDL Groep Emmen Gert Heerkes Robey Q&S Gartendeco Fortuna Sittard Ben van Dael Macron Fitland Go Ahead Eagles Hans de Koning Hummel Drukwerkdeal Helmond Sport Remond Strijbosch Hummel Vescom MVV Ron Elsen Masita Drink Water NAC Marinus Dijkhuizen Legea cm. Payments Oss Reinier Robbemond Erima NGSN Jong PSV Pascal Jansen Umbro Philips RKC Waalwijk Peter van den Berg Hummel Mandemakers Keukens Sparta Rotterdam Alex Pastoor Robey Axidus Telstar Michel Vonk Hummel MPM Oil Volendam Robert Molenaar Jako HSB VVV-Venlo Maurice Steijn Masita Seacon Logistics
League table
Results
Play-offs
Promotion/relegation play-offs Ten teams, two from the Eredivisie and eight from the Eerste Divisie, play for two spots in the 2016–17 Eredivisie, the remaining eight teams play in the 2016–17 Eerste Divisie.
Key: * = Play-off winners, (a) = Wins because of away goals rule, (e) = Wins after extra time in second leg, (p) = Wins after penalty shoot-out.
Attendances
# Club Average 1 NAC 13,959 2 Go Ahead 8,477 3 Sparta 7,841 4 MVV 4,227 5 Volendam 4,136 6 VVV 3,903 7 Emmen 3,280 8 Den Bosch 2,989 9 Eindhoven 2,613 10 RKC 2,150 11 Helmond 2,144 12 Fortuna 2,013 13 Telstar 1,956 14 Dordrecht 1,902 15 Oss 1,706 16 Achilles 1,578 17 Almere 1,287 18 Jong PSV 653 19 Jong Ajax 519
Source:
References
External links