A football club is a generational institution. The fans who stand in the freezing rain today are often the same people who were led onto the pitch by the hand of their heroes a decade ago. Page 63 of the 2014-2015 matchday programme is a beautiful, meticulously detailed historical document of FC Groningen‘s youth outreach: the Junior Club.

For this specific match against FC Utrecht, the club published the exact “roster” of children who were given vital matchday roles. This wasn’t just a generic list; it was a roll of honor for the youngest generation of the Green-White army. Fourteen lucky children were selected to walk onto the hallowed turf of the Euroborg alongside the players and referees. For the historical record, the proud mascots that day were: Julius Merlijn Mens, Stef Koetje, Sem Raangs, Sam Kamphuis, Lucas Lansink, Manuel Tarmelit, Manou Roggema, Lars Feiken, Jelle van der Steeg, Finn Wekema, Jamai Veenstra, Thijs Dammer, Danisha Kuipers, and Marijn ten Hove.

But the involvement didn’t stop at the first whistle. The halftime entertainment featured the Gasunie Shoot-Out competitie, sponsored by the local natural gas giant Gasunie. Five young fans faced the immense pressure of scoring a penalty in front of thousands: Dylan Klinkhamer, Rutger van Bergen, William Datema, Herwin Boskma, and Thomas Martijn Kuipers.

Finally, the club offered a truly unique educational experience through the “Junior Reporter” program. Young Jasper Berends was given a seat in the official press box, tasked with writing a match report and attending the post-match press conference with the managers. It was a brilliant initiative that treated a child’s passion with professional respect.

A Look into the Future

By 2026, the children listed on this page have grown into young adults. Many of them are undoubtedly still filling the stands of the stadium, their lifelong bond with FC Groningen permanently cemented by the events of that day in 2015. The corporate landscape has shifted, too. Gasunie, the sponsor of the halftime shootout, has transitioned heavily away from natural gas following the region’s seismic crisis, focusing now on green hydrogen networks. Yet, while sponsors rebrand and players retire, the names printed on this page remain a permanent part of the club’s social history—a testament to how a football club builds its community, one child at a time.