De Graafschap
Full name | Vereniging Betaald Voetbal De Graafschap | ||
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Nickname(s) | Superboeren (Super Farmers) | ||
Founded | 1 February 1954 | ||
Ground | De Vijverberg Doetinchem | ||
Capacity | 12,600 | ||
Chairman | Martin Mos | ||
Head coach | Reinier Robbemond | ||
League | Eerste Divisie | ||
2020–21 | Eerste Divisie, 3rd of 20 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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VBV De Graafschap (Dutch pronunciation: [də ˈɣraːfsxɑp]) is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands, playing in the Eerste divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.
It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the De Vijverberg stadium. The stadium was opened on 12 August 2000 and stands on the site of the club's old pitch. The club name is Dutch for "The County". They are nicknamed Superboeren ("Super Farmers").
While not a large club by European club football standards, the club has remained a semi-permanent fixture in the Eredivisie (top league); although to date it has never won any silverware of importance. It also has a large stadium and a large fan base when compared to many other Dutch teams, particularly those in the Eerste Divisie. They had a fierce rivalry with Vitesse Arnhem, but during the years due several circumstances Go Ahead Eagles began to be a rival as well.
The club's colors are blue and white hooped shirts with white shorts and blue socks. The club's major sponsors are and
.De Graafschap's home base, De Vijverberg has been voted as the most atmospheric stadium in the Eredivisie for the 2018–19 campaign.
History[]
De Graafschap had their longest streak in the Dutch top tier from 1995 until 2003. In the 1995–96 season De Graafschap finished in 8th place, an all-time high. After this season results went down and in 2003 the club was relegated after finishing in last place (18th).
Since 2003, De Graafschap was relegated four times and gained promotion five times. They were crowned champions of the Eerste Divisie in 2007 and 2010, and won the promotion playoffs in 2004 and 2015.[1] De Graafschap never finished last in the Eredivisie since 2003 but lost relegation playoffs after finishing in 17th place in 2005, 2009 and 2012.[2] In the 2015-16 Eredivisie season De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing 17th but not before drawing 1–1 against AFC 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.[3] They were relegated in 2019, and the next season ended in further heartbreak on April 24, 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.[4]
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.[5][6] 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.[7]
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[]
Below is a table with De Graafschap's domestic results since the introduction of the Eredivisie in 1956.
showDomestic Results since 1956 |
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Players[]
Current squad[]
- As of 7 August 2021[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan[]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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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.
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Coaching staff[]
Position | Name |
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Head coach | Mike Snoei |
Assistant coaches | Richard Roelofsen |
Goalkeeping coach |
Former coaches[]
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See also[]
References[]
- ^ De Graafschap terug in eredivisie – Telegraaf (in Dutch)
- ^ De Graafschap gedegradeerd – NOS (in Dutch)
- ^ De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie – Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch)
- ^ https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit
- ^ "De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport". De Graafschap (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade - Eredivisie Qualification - Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups". FotMob. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Eerste Elftal - De Graafschap".
External links[]
- Official website (in Dutch)
- Fansite Superboeren (in Dutch)
- De Graafschap
- Football clubs in the Netherlands
- Football clubs in Gelderland
- Football clubs in Doetinchem
- Association football clubs established in 1954
- 1954 establishments in the Netherlands