When we meticulously digitize the rosters of the Junior Club in old matchday programmes, it often feels like we are just preserving cute childhood memories for local families. But every once in a while, we stumble upon an absolute journalistic pearl. Page 63 of the October 19, 2014 edition against Excelsior is one of those rare, mind-blowing discoveries.
Look closely at the right-hand column, under the header “SHOOT-OUT”. During halftime, five young members of the Green White Bengels were selected to take penalties on the pitch for the Gasunie Shoot-Out. Listed second is a 14-year-old local boy: Thijs Dallinga.
At that moment, Dallinga was just a kid from the region, playing in the youth ranks of local amateur clubs and dreaming of a professional career. He stepped onto the grass of the Euroborg, stared down the goalkeeper, and took his shot in front of thousands of fans. It is a beautiful, innocent snapshot of a fan living out a childhood fantasy. But the irony of the opponent that day makes this discovery truly cinematic.
A Look into the Future
Fast forward to 2026, and that 14-year-old boy taking a halftime penalty is a full-fledged European star. Thijs Dallinga‘s journey was not straightforward. He eventually joined the FC Groningen academy but struggled to break into the first team. In 2021, he left for the very club Groningen was playing against on the day of his shoot-out: Excelsior. There, he exploded, scoring an astonishing 32 goals in a single season. That earned him a transfer to French side Toulouse, where he won the Coupe de France, and later a massive move to Serie A side Bologna. He even earned a call-up to the Dutch national team (Oranje). Finding his name buried in a 2014 halftime entertainment list is the ultimate proof that the future legends of the game are often sitting right there in the stands, waiting for their turn.