If you thought the editorial copy-paste error on page 9 of the May 2013 matchday programme was a minor slip-up, page 44 delivers the ultimate punchline. This page is dedicated to the official “Selectie” (Squad List) of the visiting team. Right next to the iconic Ajax logo, the massive, bold headline proudly declares the opponent as: ADO Den Haag 2012/2013.
What follows is one of the most surreal lists in the history of FC Groningen publications. Under the banner of the club from The Hague, you will find the names of the squad that had just won the Eredivisie title for Amsterdam. There is Kenneth Vermeer in goal, a young Daley Blind and Toby Alderweireld in defense, and the creative genius of Christian Eriksen in midfield. Even the “Technische Staf” section lists Frank de Boer as head coach, assisted by none other than the legendary Dennis Bergkamp. The graphic designer clearly duplicated the template from the previous home game against ADO Den Haag and completely forgot to change the main header text before sending the file to the printers.
For the fans sitting in the Euroborg that afternoon, it must have been a hilarious talking point. It is a stark reminder of the intense, unforgiving deadlines of print journalism, where a single moment of lost concentration becomes permanently etched in ink.
A Look into the Future
By 2026, the players listed on this misprinted page have become global football royalty, winning Champions League titles and dominating the Premier League. Because of this, this specific matchday programme has transformed from a simple editorial embarrassment into a highly sought-after collector’s item. In a modern digital world where a typo on a club website is corrected in three seconds, the permanence of this massive, glaring error makes the physical booklet a priceless, comedic artifact of football history.