Editing De Graafschap (section)

==History==
===Foundation===
[[File:De Graafschap gepromoveerd naar eredivisie door met 4-2 te winnen van PEC Zwolle, Bestanddeelnr 926-4889.jpg|thumb|220px|Under the leadership of [[Piet de Visser (football manager)|Piet de Visser]], the club was promoted to the [[Eredivisie]] for the first time in 1973.]]
[[File:Ajax tegen Volendam 5-0 Volendamtrainer Simon Kistemaker (r), Bestanddeelnr 932-8569.jpg|thumb|220px|In the [[1990–91 Eerste Divisie|1990–91 season]], the club, under the management of [[Simon Kistemaker (football manager)|Simon Kistemaker]] (right), became undefeated champions of the [[Eerste Divisie]].]]
[[File:20110731 CS55035 (5996163882).jpg|thumb|220px|Between 1995 and 2003, De Graafschap enjoyed its longest uninterrupted spell in the Eredivisie.]]
[[File:20110731 CS54948 (5995523185).jpg|thumb|220px|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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Watersnoodwedstrijd leidt profvoetbal in |url=https://www.knvb.nl/nieuws/oranje/nederlands-elftal/17384/watersnoodwedstrijd-leidt-profvoetbal |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=[[Royal Dutch Football Association]] (KNVB) |date=22 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012003353/https://www.knvb.nl/nieuws/oranje/nederlands-elftal/17384/watersnoodwedstrijd-leidt-profvoetbal |archive-date=12 October 2023 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vooren |first1=Jurryt van de |title=De Watersnoodwedstrijd van Cor van der Hart |url=http://www.sportgeschiedenis.nl/2006/12/13/de-watersnoodwedstrijd-van-cor-van-der-hart.aspx |website=Sportgeschiedenis.nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021030600/http://www.sportgeschiedenis.nl/2006/12/13/de-watersnoodwedstrijd-van-cor-van-der-hart.aspx |archive-date=21 October 2007 |language=nl |date=13 December 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="dg1">{{cite news |title=Oprichter zag De Graafschap nooit spelen |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/oprichter-zag-de-graafschap-nooit-spelen~aaea8fb5/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=De Gelderlander |date=10 October 2007 |language=nl}}</ref> The name was chosen to represent the [[Achterhoek|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]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kuile |first1=E.H. ter |title=Zutfen, Het kwartier van Zutfen |date=1958 |publisher=Staatsdrukkerij- en Uitgeverijbedrijf |location=The Hague |url=https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/kuil005kwar01_01/kuil005kwar01_01_0034.php#660T |language=nl}}</ref> 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 Netherlands Football League Championship|1954–55 season]] independently, after which the merger was formalised, with Oosseld becoming the amateur department of De Graafschap.<ref name="historie" /> Despite attempts to involve VV Doetinchem in the merger, the Doetinchem members rejected the proposal.<ref name="historie" /> De Graafschap played their first competitive match on 4 September 1954, drawing 1–1 with [[Fortuna Sittard|Fortuna '54]] featuring players such as [[Frans de Munck]], [[Cor van der Hart]] en [[Jan Notermans]].<ref name="historie">{{cite web |title=Historie |url=https://www.degraafschap.nl/club/historie |website=De Graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930164403/https://www.degraafschap.nl/club/historie |archive-date=30 September 2023 |language=nl}}</ref>

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.<ref name="dg1" /> 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 (football manager)|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 Eerste Divisie|1972–73 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vooren |first1=Jurryt van de |title=Vijftig jaar geleden was De Graafschap de eerste club die promoveerde via de nacompetitie |url=https://sportgeschiedenis.nl/sporten/voetbal/precies-vijftig-jaar-geleden-won-fc-wageningen-de-eerste-periodetitel-ooit-2/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Sportgeschiedenis |date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227043608/https://sportgeschiedenis.nl/sporten/voetbal/precies-vijftig-jaar-geleden-won-fc-wageningen-de-eerste-periodetitel-ooit-2/ |archive-date=27 December 2023 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> Their debut season in the [[Eredivisie]] proved successful, securing a fourteenth-place finish highlighted by a notable 1–0 home victory over [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]].<ref>{{cite news |title=De Graafschap won pas twee keer van Ajax |url=https://www.tubantia.nl/sport/de-graafschap-won-pas-twee-keer-van-ajax~acaf9c4b/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Tubantia |date=6 May 2016 |language=nl}}</ref> The following two seasons saw the team maintain its position in the top flight. However, in the [[1976–77 Eredivisie|1976–77 season]], De Graafschap finished bottom, marking the first of nine relegations throughout the club's history, with equally as many promotions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bijna recordaantal promoties De Graafschap |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2038727-bijna-recordaantal-promoties-de-graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=NOS |date=31 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210150143/https://nos.nl/artikel/2038727-bijna-recordaantal-promoties-de-graafschap |archive-date=10 February 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

In the [[1980–81 Eerste Divisie|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 [[FC Den Bosch|Den Bosch]]. However, sentiments shifted dramatically when De Geer scored twice, propelling De Graafschap back into the Eredivisie.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kokke |first1=Michiel |title='Wij vormden een Achterhoekse familie' |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/wij-vormden-een-achterhoekse-familie~a7d4466b/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=De Gelderlander |date=28 March 2007 |language=nl}}</ref> Despite this triumph, the club finished bottom in the [[1981–82 Eredivisie|subsequent season]], resulting in their second ever relegation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schoenmakers |first1=Jan |title=Netherlands 1981/82 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned82.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116081103/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/ned82.html |archive-date=16 November 2023 |date=2005}}</ref>

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"'').<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jungmann |first1=Bart |title='Wi-j komt altied weer terug' |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/wi-j-komt-altied-weer-terug~b7c26b5b/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=de Volkskrant |date=28 September 2015 |language=nl}}</ref> This phrase reflects the club's recurrent pattern of fluctuating between divisions, highlighting its resilience over the years.<ref>{{cite web |title=WI-J KOMT ALTIED WEER TERUG ! |url=https://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/wi-j-komt-altied-weer-terug |website=De Graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |language=nl |date=20 May 2018}}</ref>

===Invincibles and eight years Eredivisie (1990–2003)===
In the [[1990–91 Eerste Divisie|1990–91 season]], under the management of [[Simon Kistemaker (football manager)|Simon Kistemaker]], De Graafschap achieved an undefeated championship title in the [[Eerste Divisie]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sommerdijk |first1=Jan |title=Boek over culttrainer Kistemaker: 'Legende voor De Graafschap' |url=https://www.gld.nl/sport/8059693/boek-over-culttrainer-kistemaker-legende-voor-de-graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Omroep Gelderland |date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217075419/https://www.gld.nl/sport/8059693/boek-over-culttrainer-kistemaker-legende-voor-de-graafschap |archive-date=17 December 2023 |language=nl}}</ref> However, their [[Eredivisie]] stay lasted only one season as they were immediately relegated the following year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kistemaker: 'Omkoping bij degradatie' |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/kistemaker-omkoping-bij-degradatie~a86c6c32/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=De Gelderlander |date=6 November 2009 |language=nl}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Met Fritz Korbach naar de top 3 (video docu) |url=https://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/met-fritz-korbach-naar-de-top-3-video-docu |website=De Graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930153916/https://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/met-fritz-korbach-naar-de-top-3-video-docu |archive-date=30 September 2023 |language=nl |date=11 November 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peter Bosz weg bij De Graafschap |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/peter-bosz-weg-bij-de-graafschap |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Voetbal International |date=30 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210191813/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/peter-bosz-weg-bij-de-graafschap |archive-date=10 February 2024 |language=nl}}</ref>

===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 Eerste Divisie|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 Rotterdam|Excelsior]] at [[Stadion Woudestein|Woudestein]]. This crucial goal propelled them past [[Heracles Almelo]] in the standings, securing a last-minute promotion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Promotie De Graafschap na doldwaas slot |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/promotie-de-graafschap-na-doldwaas-slot |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Voetbal International |date=3 June 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210192942/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/promotie-de-graafschap-na-doldwaas-slot |archive-date=10 February 2024 |language=nl}}</ref> However, a [[2004–05 Eredivisie|year later]], they faced relegation back to the Eerste Divisie after a seventeenth-place finish in the Eredivisie.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vandenberghe |first1=Dirk |title=De Graafschap bijna zeker van degradatie |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2005/06/04/de-graafschap-bijna-zeker-van-degradatie-10527632-a1267981 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=NRC |date=4 June 2005 |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

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.<ref name="historie" /><ref>{{cite news |title=De Graafschap en VVV zijn de slechtste eredivisieteams van 2008 |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/de-graafschap-en-vvv-zijn-de-slechtste-eredivisieteams-van-2008~ad2b3196/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=De Gelderlander |date=18 April 2008 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=De Graafschap 3–1 PEC Zwolle (11 mei, 2008) Commentaar |url=https://www.espn.nl/voetbal/minuutperminuut/_/wedstrijdId/241273 |website=ESPN |access-date=10 February 2024 }}</ref> However, in the [[2008–09 Eredivisie|2008–09 season]], they were relegated after a loss to [[RKC Waalwijk]] in the relegation play-offs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liethof |first1=Alexander |title=Degradatie De Graafschap een feit |url=https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/283461/degradatie-de-graafschap-een-feit |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Omroep Gelderland |date=3 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531042336/https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/283461/degradatie-de-graafschap-een-feit |archive-date=31 May 2023 |language=nl}}</ref> Again, they won the second-tier title in the [[2009–10 Eerste Divisie|2009–10 season]] in convincing fashion under head coach and former player [[Darije Kalezić]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kalezic langer bij De Graafschap |url=https://www.parool.nl/sport/kalezic-langer-bij-de-graafschap~bcac261e/ |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Het Parool |date=26 April 2010 |language=nl}}</ref> He would subsequently lead them to one of their best Eredivisie performances in years, placing fourteenth in [[2010–11 Eredivisie|2011]], only losing three out of 17 home games. In [[2011–12 Eredivisie|2012]], however, they suffered relegation once again through the playoffs.<ref name="NOS1" />

In the [[2015–16 Eredivisie]] season, De Graafschap were once again relegated through playoffs after finishing seventeenth but not before drawing 1–1 against [[AFC Ajax|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.<ref>[https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/816432/de-graafschap-knokt-zich-voorbij-almere-city-en-keert-terug-in-eredivisie.html De Graafschap knokt zich voorbij Almere City en keert terug in Eredivisie]&nbsp;– Voetbalprimeur {{in lang|nl}}</ref> 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 in the Netherlands|COVID-19 pandemic]] forcing the Eredivisie to declare their season void with no promotion or relegation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424231654/https://eredivisie.nl/nl-nl/uitgelicht/afwikkeling-voetbalseizoen-201920-een-feit |archive-date=24 April 2020 |title=Afwikkeling voetbalseizoen 2019/'20 een feit {{!}} Eredivisie}}</ref>

Late in the [[2020–21 Eerste Divisie|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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=De Graafschap grijpt naast directe promotie door gelijkspel tegen Helmond Sport|url=https://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/de-graafschap-grijpt-naast-directe-promotie-door-gelijkspel-tegen-helmond-sport|access-date=13 May 2021|website=De Graafschap|date=12 May 2021 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 May 2021|title=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|url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/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~aa34e9a8/|url-status=live|access-date=4 September 2021|website=[[de Gelderlander]]|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513080645/https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/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~aa34e9a8/ |archive-date=13 May 2021 }}</ref> De Graafschap crashed out of the playoffs in the first round after a 3–2 home loss to [[Roda JC Kerkrade|Roda JC]], thus meaning that they would remain in the Eerste Divisie.<ref>{{Cite web|title=De Graafschap vs Roda JC Kerkrade – Eredivisie Qualification – Quarter-Final stats, H2H, lineups|url=https://www.fotmob.com/livescores/3587137/matchfacts/de-graafschap-vs-roda-jc-kerkrade|access-date=15 May 2021|website=FotMob|language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref name="NOS1">{{cite news |title=De Graafschap gedegradeerd |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/372611-de-graafschap-gedegradeerd |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=NOS |date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208003403/https://nos.nl/artikel/372611-de-graafschap-gedegradeerd |archive-date=8 December 2021 |language=nl}}</ref>