Referees are rarely the most popular figures in a matchday programme, usually relegated to a dry list of names in the corner of a statistics page. However, page 21 of the August 2013 FC Groningen booklet dedicates a specific editorial block to the man in the middle, Dennis Higler, revealing a fascinating statistical anomaly that made him an unwitting talisman for the Pride of the North.
Under the headline “Higler voor tweede maal in Euroborg” (Higler for the second time in Euroborg), the text details the young referee’s brief history with the club. It notes that this match against FC Utrecht would be only his second time officiating an official home game in Groningen. His first? A comfortable 2-0 victory against Heracles Almelo in December 2012.
But the magic didn’t stop at the city limits. The programme proudly points out that Higler had also refereed two away games for FC Groningen: a 0-1 win against Excelsior in March 2012, and a 0-1 win against AZ Alkmaar in February 2013. For the superstitious football fan reading this before kickoff, the math was incredibly comforting. Under Dennis Higler’s whistle, FC Groningen had played three matches, won all three, and conceded absolutely zero goals. He was, statistically speaking, the perfect referee for the home side.
A Look into the Future
The “lucky charm” streak inevitably came to an end as the sample size grew, but Dennis Higler’s career certainly did not. Fast forward to 2026, and the young referee featured on this page has transformed into one of the most experienced and recognizable FIFA-listed officials in Dutch football. He has overseen hundreds of Eredivisie clashes, including countless high-stakes, controversial, and dramatic matches at the Euroborg. Looking back at this 2013 programme, it is amusing to remember a brief, fleeting moment in time when the sight of Higler walking onto the pitch guaranteed a clean sheet and three points for Groningen.