A football club’s greatness is not just measured by the trophies in its cabinet, but by how it treats the most vulnerable members of its community. Page 14 of the December 2013 KNVB Cup programme provides a heartwarming testament to FC Groningen‘s social conscience, dedicating its lead story to Kids United.
The article explains that Kids United is an initiative founded by Onno and Margriet Kukler, designed to give children with mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to play football. “FC Groningen has adopted Kids United as a G-team to support the initiative,” the text proudly announces. For this specific cup match against NEC, the club gave these children the ultimate stage: they were invited onto the pitch of the Euroborg to shoot penalties during the halftime break. Giving these kids the spotlight under the stadium floodlights is a pure, unfiltered display of football’s power to bring joy.
Below this, the Junior Club announces its post-winter activities, including the Valentine’s Day “Girls Only” night and the Indoor Soccer Tournament—events we saw successfully executed in later matchday programmes. But the most permanent record on the page is the list of 23 children who formed the pre-match Line-up. The home escorts were: Ige Bruin, Aaron van den Berg, Sidney J. den Otter, Elisa Kastermans, Jari Veenstra, Rob Siertsema, Sanne Aslander, Nils Dijkema, Koen Nijnuis, and Patrick Boerema. The referees were escorted by Bram Hulshof and Robin Post. The remaining escorts included: Naomi Roeszing, Mijron Huizinga, Jorn Westerhuis, Stijn Begeman, Dylano Dusseljee, Dylan Hovenkamp, Ronald Dolfing, Marieke Jongsma, Norah de Jongh, Xander Bos, and Florian Zuiderveld.
A Look into the Future
The partnership with Kids United blossomed into one of the most beautiful traditions in Dutch football. By 2026, the G-team is a fully integrated, celebrated part of the FC Groningen family, complete with their own kit presentations and official tournaments. The founders, Onno and Margriet Kukler, created a legacy of inclusion that outlasts any single season. As for the 23 children listed in the Line-up, the memory of walking out for a floodlit cup match undoubtedly cemented their lifelong loyalty to the green-and-white army.