Alkmaar Zaanstreek ([ˈɑlkmaːr ˈzaːnstreːk]), better known as AZ Alkmaar or simply AZ (Dutch pronunciation: [aːˈzɛt]), is a Dutch professional football club from Alkmaar and the Zaanstreek. The club plays in the Eredivisie, the highest professional football league in the Netherlands, and hosts home games at the AFAS Stadion.
AZ has won the Eredivisie twice, in 1980–81 and 2008–09. In the same season as their first league title, they also reached the UEFA Cup Final, which they lost to Ipswich Town. In addition, the team has won the KNVB Cup on four occasions.
AZ was founded on 10 May 1967 as AZ '67, the result of a merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek. FC Zaanstreek was formed in 1964, continuing the professional adventure of the Kooger Football Club (KFC). KFC had been founded in 1910, had nearly become National Champion in 1934 through a narrow loss to Ajax in the finals, and had been professional since 1955.
In 1964, the brothers Cees and Klaas Molenaar, former players for KFC and owners of a growing appliance store chain, sought to create a powerful football team in Zaanstreek by merging the two local professional teams: KFC and Zaanlandsche Football Club.
My daddy came a-marchin'
Over the hill at dawn
Had to make that wage, man
That's how we got along
My daddy's life was workin'
Workin' all day long
Put food on the table
And the children sang a song
Yes, the children sang a song
My granddad's name was Pulpwood
Wore a coat of green
Took a wife in '31
Drove the big machine
My daddy load the lumber
Put it on the truck
I used to see him walkin' home
On U.S. 41
That's right, U.S. 41
Well, all my life's been workin'
Out the door and gone
Got to make that overtime
Keep us movin' on
I need a drink of water
Get out of the sun
Burnin' up to make that wage
That's right, U.S. 41
The boss man owns the business
Keeps it goin' strong
Blowin' like a hurricane
And work like nothing wrong
We got to keep on movin'
'Til the bell gone ring
Fill her up with kerosene
And let that lady sing
Whoa, now let that lady sing
His given name was Lucky
His wife's name, Annie Brown
Ran outside the law
And they chased him right on down
Lucky faced the lawman
The captain drew his gun
They put him with a sling blade
On U.S. 41
That's right, U.S. 41
Yeah, that's right
On U.S. 41
My daddy came a-marchin'
Over the hill at dawn