Football clubs are generational institutions. The loyalty of a fanbase isn’t just inherited; it is actively cultivated. Page 30 of the October 2013 matchday programme against AZ Alkmaar provides a perfect blueprint of how FC Groningen builds its future through the Junior Club (for fans aged 0 to 16) and the Green White Bengels (specifically for teenagers aged 13 to 16).
The page, titled “Wij zijn de Junior Club” (We are the Junior Club), outlines the perks of membership: from Sinterklaas parties and football clinics to receiving the club magazine Coooool!. But the ultimate prize for any young fan is active participation on a matchday at the Euroborg. The programme meticulously lists every child given a special role for this specific fixture, immortalizing their names in print.
The prestigious “Line-up” duty—walking onto the pitch hand-in-hand with the players—was awarded to Tom Cazemier, Manú Tirtosentono, Boris Bootsma, Justin de Zwart, Silvan Nieboer, Olaf Ploeg, Bram Bootsma, Jelte Smid, Ramona Liewes, Jordy van Biessum, and Stan Jonkers. The “Referee-escort” trio consisted of Milan Scheven, Sem van Deursen, and Milan Gorter.
But the involvement didn’t stop at kickoff. During halftime, the pitch was handed over to the older kids from the Green White Bengels for the traditional Gasunie Shoot-Out penalty competition, featuring Frank Hidding, Marnix Hol, Nick Jager, and Marcel de Boer. Finally, the club even appointed a “Junior Reporter” for the day: Anouk Werkman. By distributing these roles, the club ensured that the matchday experience was deeply interactive for its youngest demographic.
A Look into the Future
Fast forward to 2026, and the children listed on this page are now young adults in their twenties. The strategy outlined in this 2013 programme worked flawlessly. Those kids who walked onto the pitch, took halftime penalties, or reported on the game are now the lifeblood of the club, likely holding season tickets and standing in the vocal sections of the Euroborg. While sponsorships like the Gasunie Shoot-Out eventually evolved (especially as the region transitioned away from natural gas), the core philosophy remains unchanged: a football club that invests in its youth today secures a sold-out stadium for tomorrow.