Editing De Graafschap (section)

===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>