Dutch Lions experiencing a revival

The Dutch Lions, the national team of the Netherlands, are experiencing a revival.

No more than a decade ago, the Lions were a thriving program until discord drove the team out of the good graces of the AFBN, the American Football Federation of the Netherlands. However, under the leadership of national coach Fred Armstrong, the team is taking its first steps towards a rebirth.

Armstrong is pleased with the start he has made with his national team.

“It was our choice to make a start with this team instead of doing nothing for six months,” he says. His search for players who could perform at an international level was given the catchy slogan “Earned Orange” and yielded roughly 75 players who are eligible for the national team. Three of them are currently playing in colleges in the United States.

A return to 2015

Armstrong wants to return to the heyday of the national team. In the period around 2015, the team gained prestige by separating from the association. This new, unique, independent organization was given the mandate to make something of the national team with a limited budget. This move produced international matchups at Mandemakers Stadium in Waalwijk, where the then director of the local RKC saw the stadium sell out for the first time in ages. Around 4,400 spectators witnessed the victory over Belgium and experienced the same feelings that the Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe) once triggered in fans. However, due to internal squabbles, the initiative was not followed up and the national team fell into disarray. Just when it seemed that progress was being made after years of decline, the covid crisis seemed to deal the national team the final blow.

Fast forward to the end of 2022 when Armstrong took up the gauntlet. He asked for a mandate when he was appointed. Separate from the AFBN, as sole ruler of the national team. Give him a free pass to set up the system to his liking. Let him do everything possible to pull football in the Netherlands out of the doldrums.

After two years of hard work, he has now coached the team through its first international games, but it is still far from where it should be:

“I know that the national team is still in its infancy. I can’t train these guys all year round. There needs to be a coaching license and a certain standard, so that the internationals also have the right coaching with their own Dutch teams. That has been the problem in the past.”

Source: Gridiron Magazine