Volleyball club
During the 1950s, volleyball found fertile ground at the HBS. Physical education teacher Jan van Zijtveld began training a men’s team that could enter the competition, followed some time later by a women’s team. He came up with the name BOVO, short for BOom VOlleybal, a reference to the lime tree in Aalten’s municipal coat of arms. BOVO volleyball club was founded in September 1959.
The first training sessions were held in the Feestgebouw on Polstraat, but too many light fittings were broken there. Later venues included the gym of the then HBS on Julianastraat (?) and Irene Hall on Hogestraat. In the early 1960s, volleyball moved to the HBS site on Slingelaan.
Women, men, youth and recreational players
A disagreement between the coach and one or more players over the team line-up meant that the men disappeared from competition for two years. During that period BOVO consisted of two women’s teams under the leadership of the highly committed Marjan van der Drift. Through her intervention, qualified volleyball coach Leo Groeneveld was approached and the men resumed playing under him. An initiative was also launched to promote volleyball among young people, and a recreational section was established.
Henk Bruens
Among the pioneers, Henk Bruens emerged as a particularly energetic coach and player for the first men’s team. He encouraged many people, including the Leeuwenstein family, to become involved in volleyball and laid the foundations for the club’s strong sense of community. Combining the roles of player, coach and chairman, he helped raise volleyball to a higher level. A fatal accident on New Year’s Eve 1980 prevented him from completing his work. His name lives on in the Henk Bruens Tournament, also known as the Oliebollen Tournament.
Top division
In 1977 the club moved to the new Aladnahal, with its notorious Aladnabar. Particularly during the time of managers Martin and Monique Hüning, many memorable years followed. BOVO also progressed on the sporting front, with the men’s team and later the women’s team reaching the third division. A team made up mainly of Aalten players, supported by sponsors and a large following, was able to move up to the first division and then the national top division. That was a major step and a considerable financial challenge for the board. Ultimately, however, the adventure came to an end because it proved financially unsustainable for a club from Aalten.
55 years
The club even came close to collapse, but fortunately imaginative fundraising ideas were developed. One result was the well-known Sjoks Festival. With voluntary contributions from many BOVO members and non-members, including Aalten’s hospitality businesses, the event continues to be organised by the board of the Stichting Sjoks Evenementen.
After the years in the top division, the club entered calmer waters under a new board. Even today, however, the stands remain full. More than 55 years after its foundation, volleyball in Aalten remains an attractive and thriving sport thanks to BOVO.