The final match of the regular Eredivisie season is traditionally a day of mixed emotions. It is a time to celebrate achievements, prepare for the playoffs, and say goodbye to those who won’t be returning after the summer. Page 29 of the May 3, 2014 matchday programme perfectly captures this bittersweet atmosphere at the Euroborg.
Under the headline “AFSCHEID VAN ZIVKOVIC EN BAARVELD” (Farewell to Živković and Baarveld), the club announces the official on-pitch farewell ceremonies that would take place after the final whistle against Heracles Almelo. The crowd would say goodbye to 17-year-old striking sensation Richairo Živković, who was departing for Ajax. The text also notes the departure of club doctor Frank Baarveld. Interestingly, departing Slovenian winger Andraž Kirm was absent from his own farewell; the programme explains he was back in Slovenia celebrating the birth of his twin daughters. The ceremonies would conclude with the official crowning of Filip Kostić as the Essent Player of the Year.
But the page also looks forward. The top news block, “VRIJE TOEGANG SEIZOENKAARTHOUDERS BIJ HALVE FINALE PLAY-OFFS”, announces that season ticket holders would get free entry to the upcoming home leg of the European playoffs. It was a massive gesture by the club, ensuring a packed, hostile Euroborg for the crucial knockout matches that would define the success of the entire campaign.
A Look into the Future
The free entry initiative worked brilliantly. The Euroborg was rocking during the playoffs, helping FC Groningen navigate the knockout rounds and successfully secure a ticket to the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. As for the departing figures, Richairo Živković embarked on his complex, globe-trotting career, while Andraž Kirm enjoyed fatherhood and continued his career in Cyprus. The emotional farewells documented on this page marked the end of a turbulent but ultimately triumphant chapter in the club’s modern history.