AZ (’67) trok in 1980/81 in de aanloop naar de finale van de UEFA Cup een volle ‘De Hout’ met circa 20.000 toeschouwers tegen Sochaux. In de wedstrijden ervoor was de publieke belangstelling aanmerkelijk minder vanwege vakanties, atv-dagen, feestweken, concerten, de Kaasmarkt, party’s, festivals, open dagen van woonboulevards, opgebroken toegangswegen, gratis bezoek aan autowasserettes, aanbiedingen bij Wastora in Zaandam, etc.
‘There’s isn’t much love between AZ’67 and their ‘superior provincial neighbours’ Ajax. However, their board opted for the Olympic Stadium to have the return leg against Ipswich Town hosted in Amsterdam, anticipating a 50,000 crowd AZ’67’s cosy ‘De Hout’ would never have been capable to accommodate. Much to their chagrin over the ‘heartless decision’, many AZ’67 supporters boycotted the match and didn’t make the 50 mile only round trip. They missed out on an exciting 4-2 result, witnessed by 28,500 only , including massive support from the ‘Tractor Boys’.