NAC Breda
The Pearl of the South, The Yellow Army
Founded: 1912, Stadium: Rat Verlegh Stadion (Breda), Capacity: 19,000
NAC Breda was founded in 1912, when two clubs ADVENDO and NOAD merged to one club. In their history NAC won one national title in 1921 and won one Cup in 1973. They were the first Dutch club to establish a supporters council to protect their culture. During their existence, NAC had 4 different crests. After their foundation in 1912, their crest was a black shield, with a yellow diagonal line running over it and in it the letters N.A.C.. This crest was replaced in 1968 by another crest. The reason for this crest change is unknown. In 1974 the crest was replaced by a crest which contained the letters NAC in a black and yellow combination. The crest was most probably changed due to the dismissal of the NAC board in 1974. In order to state a new beginning, a new board member’s daughter designed NAC’s third crest. The fourth crest was developed in 1996, when NAC moved to the Rat Verlegh Stadion. It consisted of two lions, three crosses, the letters NAC and it contains NAC’s official club colours. The two lions and the three crosses are derived from Breda’s crest. In 2012, the first crest was re-adopted since, as NAC celebrated its 100th anniversary. Eventually upon initiative (and paid for) by the fans it was decided to reinstate the first crest permanently. NAC Breda’s longest-running and deepest rivalry is with their nearest neighbour, Willem II from Tilburg. This rivalry originated in the 1920s. Matches between the two are referred to as the derby of Brabant. The two cities of Breda and Tilburg are just 20 kilometres apart, leading to an intense feeling of a cross-town rivalry, heightened by a feeling that it is city against city with local pride at stake. The cities differ culturally where Breda is considered a working class city and Tilburg is considered more elitist. This is also apparent from the fact that Willem II is named after a Dutch king. NAC Breda’s other deep running rivalry is Feyenoord Rotterdam.
