De Graafschap

Vereniging Betaald Voetbal De Graafschap, simply known as De Graafschap (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈɣraːfsxɑp]) is a professional association football club based in Doetinchem, Netherlands. The team competes in the Eerste Divisie, the second level of the Dutch football league system.

De Graafschap

Full name	Vereniging Betaald Voetbal De Graafschap
Nickname(s)	Superboeren (Super Farmers)
Founded	1 February 1954; 70 years ago (1954-02-01)
Ground	De Vijverberg Doetinchem
Capacity	12,600
Chairman	Theo Hek
Head coach	Jan Vreman
League	Eerste Divisie
2023–24	Eerste Divisie, 6th of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Founded on 1 February 1954, the club has played its home games at De Vijverberg since their foundation. Translated from Dutch, the club name means "The County", while its fans are affectionately referred to as Superboeren ("Super Farmers"). The club dons blue and white hooped shirts paired with white shorts and blue socks.

Though modest in stature compared to some European counterparts, De Graafschap has maintained a consistent presence in the top-tier Eredivisie, albeit without clinching any major trophies. Despite this, the club boasts a substantial stadium and a dedicated fan base, particularly notable within the second-tier Eerste Divisie. Over time, the club has cultivated heated rivalries, notably with Vitesse.^[1] However, circumstances have also fueled a burgeoning rivalry with Go Ahead Eagles.^[1][2][3]

History

Foundation

Under the leadership of Piet de Visser, the club was promoted to the Eredivisie for the first time in 1973.

In the 1990–91 season, the club, under the management of Simon Kistemaker (right), became undefeated champions of the Eerste Divisie.

Between 1995 and 2003, De Graafschap enjoyed its longest uninterrupted spell in the Eredivisie.

In 2015, Jan Vreman, affectionately known as "Mister De Graafschap," assumed the role as the club's manager.

Following the Watersnoodwedstrijd (Flood Disaster Match), a benefit game featuring Dutch foreign professionals, held at the Parc des Princes in front of 40,000 spectators against France one month after the devastating North Sea flood of 1953, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB)'s rejection of professional football prompted the establishment of the wilde bond (wild federation) Nederlandse Beroeps Voetbal Bond (NBVB) to advocate for its introduction.^[4][5] New clubs were founded to support this initiative. Under the guidance of Amsterdam native Johan Roodbergen, the professional football club De Graafschap was established in Doetinchem on 1 February 1954.^[6] The name was chosen to represent the Oost-Gelderland region known as De Graafschap, which encompasses Doetinchem, formerly known as Graafschap Zutphen (County of Zutphen; until 1795 known as the Quarter of Zutphen), and now recognised as the Achterhoek.^[7] The club adopted a uniform featuring horizontally striped blue and white shirts, white shorts, and horizontally striped blue and white socks.

Prior to this initiative, professional football had never been played in Doetinchem. Following the merger of the NBVB and KNVB, De Graafschap joined the professional league. To facilitate this transition, the club merged with VV Oosseld (founded in 1922, abbreviated as VVO) to establish the professional association De Graafschap after initial discussions about merging all clubs around Doetinchem fell through. The clubs completed the 1954–55 season independently, after which the merger was formalised, with Oosseld becoming the amateur department of De Graafschap.^[8] Despite attempts to involve VV Doetinchem in the merger, the Doetinchem members rejected the proposal.^[8] De Graafschap played their first competitive match on 4 September 1954, drawing 1–1 with Fortuna '54 featuring players such as Frans de Munck, Cor van der Hart en Jan Notermans.^[8]

De Graafschap stands as the only team from the NBVB that persists as an independent professional club. Founder Roodbergen, after whom a grandstand was named, never witnessed 'his' De Graafschap play due to his severe visual impairment.^[6] The team's home matches were held at the newly constructed stadium De Vijverberg.

First promotion (1972–89)

Under the leadership of head coach Piet de Visser and with Guus Hiddink as a key player, De Graafschap clinched the first promotion playoff win in Dutch football during the 1972–73 season.^[9] Their debut season in the Eredivisie proved successful, securing a fourteenth-place finish highlighted by a notable 1–0 home victory over Ajax.^[10] The following two seasons saw the team maintain its position in the top flight. However, in the 1976–77 season, De Graafschap finished bottom, marking the first of nine relegations throughout the club's history, with equally as many promotions.^[11]

In the 1980–81 Eerste Divisie season, De Graafschap found themselves out of contention for top spots in the league. Their striker, Boudewijn de Geer, was unpopular among supporters that season, and faced jeers from the crowd during a crucial promotion playoff match against Den Bosch. However, sentiments shifted dramatically when De Geer scored twice, propelling De Graafschap back into the Eredivisie.^[12] Despite this triumph, the club finished bottom in the subsequent season, resulting in their second ever relegation.^[13]

A motto in the Achterhooks dialect, embraced by the club and its supporters, encapsulates De Graafschap's sporting history: "Wi-j komt altied weer terug" ("We always come back").^[14] This phrase reflects the club's recurrent pattern of fluctuating between divisions, highlighting its resilience over the years.^[15]

Invincibles and eight years Eredivisie (1990–2003)

In the 1990–91 season, under the management of Simon Kistemaker, De Graafschap achieved an undefeated championship title in the Eerste Divisie.^[16] However, their Eredivisie stay lasted only one season as they were immediately relegated the following year.^[17]

Between 1995 and 2003, De Graafschap enjoyed its lengthiest unbroken tenure in the Eredivisie. Under Fritz Korbach's management in 1997, the club achieved its highest-ever league finish, securing eighth place.^[18] Subsequently, the club's performance began to decline, and in 2003, under the guidance of Peter Bosz, De Graafschap suffered relegation back to the Eerste Divisie after an eight-year spell in the top flight.^[19]

Up and downs (2004–present)

De Graafschap's rollercoaster ride between divisions culminated in a thrilling promotion to the Eredivisie, despite finishing sixth in the 2003–04 season of the Eerste Divisie. This achievement was made possible by a dramatic late goal from Michael van der Kruis during an away match against Excelsior at Woudestein. This crucial goal propelled them past Heracles Almelo in the standings, securing a last-minute promotion.^[20] However, a year later, they faced relegation back to the Eerste Divisie after a seventeenth-place finish in the Eredivisie.^[21]

In 2007, they dominated the Eerste Divisie under head coach Jan de Jonge with players such as Berry Powel, Jhon van Beukering, and Lasse Schöne, clinching the title, and briefly surprised in the Eredivisie the following season, albeit barely staying up through relegation playoffs after a poor second half to the season.^[8][22][23] However, in the 2008–09 season, they were relegated after a loss to RKC Waalwijk in the relegation play-offs.^[24] Again, they won the second-tier title in the 2009–10 season in convincing fashion under head coach and former player Darije Kalezić.^[25] He would subsequently lead them to one of their best Eredivisie performances in years, placing fourteenth in 2011, only losing three out of 17 home games. In 2012, however, they suffered relegation once again through the playoffs.^[26]

In the 2015–16 Eredivisie season, De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing seventeenth but not before drawing 1–1 against Ajax on the final day of the season, denying Ajax the championship. In 2018, the club gained promotion again by winning the promotion playoffs, beating Almere City FC in the playoffs finals.^[27] They were relegated in 2019, and the next season ended in further heartbreak on 24 April 2020 as they were denied a possible promotion back to the top flight due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the Eredivisie to declare their season void with no promotion or relegation.^[28]

Late in the 2020–21 season, De Graafschap were in control of their promotion hopes, only needing one win in their final two games to secure promotion. However, they were held to a 1–1 draw, followed by a goalless draw versus Helmond Sport, denying them an automatic promotion spot and forcing them to go through the promotion playoffs.^[29][30] De Graafschap crashed out of the playoffs in the first round after a 3–2 home loss to Roda JC, thus meaning that they would remain in the Eerste Divisie.^[31]

Interestingly, despite experiencing multiple relegations, including seventeenth-place finishes and relegation playoffs in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016, and 2019, De Graafschap has managed to avoid finishing at the bottom of the Eredivisie since 2003.^[26]

Honours

• Eerste Divisie
  • Winner: 1991, 2007, 2010
• Tweede Divisie
  • Winner: 1969
• Promoted to Eredivisie
  • Promotion: 1973, 1981, 1995, 2004, 2015, 2018
• Promoted to Eerste Divisie
  • Promotion: 1966

Results

Historical chart of league performance

Below is a table with De Graafschap's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.

Domestic Results since 1956
Domestic league	League result	Qualification to	KNVB Cup season	Cup result
2022–23 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	2022–23	Quarter Finals
2021–22 Eerste Divisie	9th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2021–22	First Round
2020–21 Eerste Divisie	3rd	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2020–21	Second Round
2019–20 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Season abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic	2019–20	First Round
2018–19 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2018–19	Second Round
2017–18 Eerste Divisie	4th	Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs)	2017–18	First Round
2016–17 Eerste Divisie	12th	–	2016–17	First Round
2015–16 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2015–16	Second Round
2014–15 Eerste Divisie	6th	Eredivisie (winning promo./releg. play-offs)	2014–15	Second Round
2013–14 Eerste Divisie	7th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2013–14	Round of 16
2012–13 Eerste Divisie	8th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2012–13	Third Round
2011–12 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2011–12	Quarter Finals
2010–11 Eredivisie	14th	–	2010–11	Third Round
2009–10 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2009–10	Second Round
2008–09 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2008–09	Quarter Finals
2007–08 Eredivisie	16th	– (surviving promotion/relegation play-offs)	2007–08	Third Round
2006–07 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	2006–07	Round of 16
2005–06 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	2005–06	Disqualified
2004–05 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (losing promo./releg. play-offs)	2004–05	Second Round
2003–04 Eerste Divisie	6th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	2003–04	Second Round
2002–03 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	2002–03	Round of 16
2001–02 Eredivisie	14th	–	2001–02	Third Round
2000–01 Eredivisie	15th	–	2000–01	Second Round
1999–2000 Eredivisie	14th	–	1999–2000	Second Round
1998–99 Eredivisie	13th	–	1998–99	Second Round
1997–98 Eredivisie	11th	–	1997–98	Second Round
1996–97 Eredivisie	8th	–	1996–97	Round of 16
1995–96 Eredivisie	14th	–	1995–96	Round of 16
1994–95 Eerste Divisie	2nd	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1994–95	Second Round
1993–94 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1993–94	Round of 16
1992–93 Eerste Divisie	5th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1992–93	Third Round
1991–92 Eredivisie	17th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1991–92	Second Round
1990–91 Eerste Divisie	1st	Eredivisie (promotion)	1990–91	Round of 16
1989–90 Eerste Divisie	7th	–	1989–90	First Round
1988–89 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1988–89	First Round
1987–88 Eerste Divisie	4th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1987–88	Second Round
1986–87 Eerste Divisie	10th	–	1986–87	Round of 16
1985–86 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1985–86	First Round
1984–85 Eerste Divisie	3rd	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1984–85	Second Round
1983–84 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1983–84	Round of 16
1982–83 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1982–83	Round of 16
1981–82 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1981–82	Second Round
1980–81 Eerste Divisie	7th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1980–81	First Round
1979–80 Eerste Divisie	6th	promotion/relegation play-offs: no promotion	1979–80	Second Round
1978–79 Eerste Divisie	8th	–	1978–79	Round of 16
1977–78 Eerste Divisie	14th	–	1977–78	First Round
1976–77 Eredivisie	18th	Eerste Divisie (relegation)	1976–77	Round of 16
1975–76 Eredivisie	12th	–	1975–76	Quarter Finals
1974–75 Eredivisie	13th	–	1974–75	Second Round
1973–74 Eredivisie	14th	–	1973–74	Second Round
1972–73 Eerste Divisie	4th	Eredivisie (winning promotion/releg. play-offs)	1972–73	First Round
1971–72 Eerste Divisie	11th	–	1971–72	Did Not Participate
1970–71 Eerste Divisie	16th	–	1970–71	First Round
1969–70 Eerste Divisie	9th	–	1969–70	Round of 16
1968–69 Tweede Divisie	1st	Eerste Divisie (promotion)	1968–69	First Round
1967–68 Tweede Divisie	6th	–	1967–68	Group Stages
1966–67 Eerste Divisie	18th	Tweede Divisie (relegation)	1966–67	Did not Participate
1965–66 Tweede Divisie	2nd (group A)	Eerste Divisie (promotion)	1965–66	Round of 16
1964–65 Tweede Divisie	11th (group A)	–	1964–65	First Round
1963–64 Tweede Divisie	5th (group B)	–	1963–64	First Round
1962–63 Tweede Divisie	15th (group A)	–	1962–63	Third Round
1961–62 Tweede Divisie	10th	–	1961–62	First Round
1960–61 Tweede Divisie	11th	–	1960–61	Group Stages
1959–60 Eerste Divisie	17th (group B)	Tweede Divisie (relegation)	not held	not held
1958–59 Eerste Divisie	14th (group A)	–	1958–59	Did Not Participate
1957–58 Eerste Divisie	4th (group A)	–	1957–58	Second Round
1956–57 Eerste Divisie	10th (group A)	–	1956–57	Second Round

Players

Current squad

As of 17 September 2024^[32]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  NED Ties Wieggers 3 DF  NED Rowan Besselink 4 MF  NED Maas Willemsen 5 DF  NED Levi Schoppema 6 MF  NED Lion Kaak 7 FW  NED Tristan van Gilst 8 MF  NED Donny Warmerdam 9 FW  NED Yannick Eduardo (on loan from RB Leipzig) 10 FW  MAR Mimoun Mahi 11 FW  CAN Simon Colyn 12 GK  NED Sten Kremers 14 DF  NED Joran Hardeman

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 FW  NED Jesse van de Haar (on loan from Jong Utrecht) 16 GK  NED Joshua Smits 20 DF  NED Rio Hillen 22 MF  CPV Jeffry Fortes 23 MF  NED Philip Brittijn 26 FW  NED Ralf Seuntjens 27 DF  NED Anass Najah 28 FW  NED Arjen van der Heide 30 FW  MAR Ibrahim El Kadiri 34 MF  NED Anis Yadir 37 FW  POR Wanya Marçal (on loan from Leicester City) 42 MF  NED Stan Wevers

Notable former players

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed represented their countries while playing for De Graafschap.

• Jason Čulina
• Mamadou Zongo
• Will Johnson
• Yannick Salem
• Zico Tumba
• Hans Aabech
• Lasse Schöne
• Hazem Emam
• Jussi Kujala
• Niklas Tarvajärvi
• Ville Väisänen
• Ali Ibrahim Pelé
• Loïc Loval
• Arnar Viðarsson
• Jhon van Beukering
• Ben Sahar
• Gil Vermouth
• Ģirts Karlsons
• Dulee Johnson
• Xhelil Abdulla
• Bakary Diakité
• Oussama Assaidi
• Youssef El Jebli
• Ernie Brandts
• John van den Brom
• Jean-Paul van Gastel
• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
• Luuk de Jong
• Jurrie Koolhof
• Kees Krijgh
• Martijn Meerdink
• Peter van Vossen
• Dick Schoenaker
• Sonny Silooy
• Erik ten Hag
• Hans Kraay Jr.
• Wasiu Taiwo
• Tomasz Rząsa
• Stephan Keller
• Charlison Benschop

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Jan Vreman
Assistant coaches	Mees Siers
	Mathijs de Waard
Goalkeeping coach	Jordy Rondeel

Managerial history

• Leendert IJssennagger (1954–55)
• Heinz Huber (1955)
• Jan Poulus (1955–59)
• Wim Engel (1959)
• Eric Jones (1960–62)
• Evert Teunissen (1962–67)
• Ad Zonderland (1967–71)
• Bert van Lingen (1971)
• Piet de Visser (1971–74)
• Evert Teunissen (1974–76)
• Ben Polak (interim) (1976)
• Hans Dorjee (1976–77)
• Henk Ellens (1977–78)
• Pim van de Meent (1978–80)
• Huib Ruijgrok (1980–83)
• Sandor Popovics (1983–85)
• Henk van Brussel (1985–87)
• Pim Verbeek (1987–89)
• Ben Zweers (1989)
• Simon Kistemaker (1989–93)
• Jan Versleijen (1993–94)
• Frans Körver (1994–95)
• Hans van Doorneveld (1995)
• Fritz Korbach (1995–98)
• Frans Thijssen (1999)
• Rob McDonald (1999–00)
• Jurrie Koolhof (interim) (2000)
• Gerard Marsman (2000–01)
• Jurrie Koolhof (2001–02)
• Peter Bosz (2002–03)
• Frans Adelaar (2003–04)
• Gert Kruys (2004–05)
• Andries Ulderink (interim) (2005)
• Jan de Jonge (2005–08)
• Henk van Stee (2008–09)
• Darije Kalezić (2009–11)
• Andries Ulderink (2011–12)
• Richard Roelofsen (interim) (2012)
• Pieter Huistra (2012–13)
• Jan Vreman (interim) (2013–14)
• Jimmy Calderwood (2014)
• Jan Vreman (2014–16)
• Henk de Jong (2017–2019)
• Mike Snoei (2019–2021)
• Reinier Robbemond (2021–2022)
• Jan Vreman (interim) (2022)
• Adrie Poldervaart (2022–2023)
• Richard Roelofsen (interim) (2023)
• Jan Vreman (2023–present)

See also

• Dutch football league teams

References

1. "Rivalen van De Graafschap". De Graafschap (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
2. Bolink, Judah (1 March 2018). "GA Eagles - De Graafschap een risicowedstrijd, maar rivaliteit?". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
3. Steenbergen, Mark van (8 March 2020). "Fans Go Ahead Eagles niet blij met feestende Superboeren: Blummel geraakt door aansteker". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
4. "Watersnoodwedstrijd leidt profvoetbal in". Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) (in Dutch). 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
5. Vooren, Jurryt van de (13 December 2006). "De Watersnoodwedstrijd van Cor van der Hart". Sportgeschiedenis.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 21 October 2007.
6. "Oprichter zag De Graafschap nooit spelen". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 10 October 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
7. Kuile, E.H. ter (1958). Zutfen, Het kwartier van Zutfen (in Dutch). The Hague: Staatsdrukkerij- en Uitgeverijbedrijf.
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9. Vooren, Jurryt van de (17 June 2023). "Vijftig jaar geleden was De Graafschap de eerste club die promoveerde via de nacompetitie". Sportgeschiedenis (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
10. "De Graafschap won pas twee keer van Ajax". Tubantia (in Dutch). 6 May 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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12. Kokke, Michiel (28 March 2007). "'Wij vormden een Achterhoekse familie'". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
13. Schoenmakers, Jan (2005). "Netherlands 1981/82". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
14. Jungmann, Bart (28 September 2015). "'Wi-j komt altied weer terug'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
15. "WI-J KOMT ALTIED WEER TERUG !". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 20 May 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
16. Sommerdijk, Jan (17 December 2023). "Boek over culttrainer Kistemaker: 'Legende voor De Graafschap'". Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
17. "Kistemaker: 'Omkoping bij degradatie'". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 6 November 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
18. "Met Fritz Korbach naar de top 3 (video docu)". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
19. "Peter Bosz weg bij De Graafschap". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 30 May 2003. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
20. "Promotie De Graafschap na doldwaas slot". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 3 June 2004. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
21. Vandenberghe, Dirk (4 June 2005). "De Graafschap bijna zeker van degradatie". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
22. "De Graafschap en VVV zijn de slechtste eredivisieteams van 2008". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 18 April 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
23. "De Graafschap 3–1 PEC Zwolle (11 mei, 2008) Commentaar". ESPN. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
24. Liethof, Alexander (3 June 2009). "Degradatie De Graafschap een feit". Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
25. "Kalezic langer bij De Graafschap". Het Parool (in Dutch). 26 April 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
26. "De Graafschap gedegradeerd". NOS (in Dutch). 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
27. De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie – Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch)
28. "Afwikkeling voetbalseizoen 2019/'20 een feit | Eredivisie". Archived from the original on 24 April 2020.
29. "De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 12 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
30. "Anti-climax voor De Graafschap na bizar slotstuk tegen Helmond Sport: Superboeren grijpen naast directe promotie in waterballet, Roda JC eerste tegenstander in play-offs". de Gelderlander (in Dutch). 12 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
31. "De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade – Eredivisie Qualification – Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups". FotMob. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
32. "Eerste Elftal - De Graafschap".

External links

• Official website (in Dutch)
• Fansite Superboeren (in Dutch)