Editing De Graafschap (section)

===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>