Telstar

Telstar were founded on 17 July 1963, when the professional sections of local rivals VSV and Stormvogels merged. The club comes from Velsen, around IJmuiden on the North Holland coast, and took its name from the Telstar communications satellite, which had recently been launched. Home matches are played at Sportpark Schoonenberg in Velsen-Zuid, a compact ground opened in 1948 and known by sponsorship as the BUKO Stadion.

The all-white kit gives the team its nickname, De Witte Leeuwen, or the White Lions, and since the club's formation the players have walked out to "Telstar", the instrumental by The Tornados that shares the satellite's name. Telstar won promotion to the Eredivisie in their first season and stayed in the top flight for 14 consecutive years, with a best finish of sixth in 1973-74.