The DNA of De Graafschap: ‘D’ran’ with Guus Hiddink, Simon Kistemaker and Fritz Korbach | Dutch football

Cycling between the meadows of the Achterhoek, Sjoerd meets ESPN presenter and De Graafschap supporter Pascal Kamperman, whose grandfather is still one of the founders of the club. As a little boy, Kamperman cycled through the meadows to the stadium. He saw the light poles looming between the trees. His first match was in 1981. The post-competition match between De Graafschap and FC Den Bosch.

Not far from Doetinchem is Varsseveld, the village that is known worldwide as the birthplace of world citizen Guus Hiddink and whose nameplate still has a Korean translation. Sjoerd visits the home of the successful player and trainer and takes a look at the amateur club where Hiddink played his first matches when he was fifteen.

Near the city center of Doetinchem there is a cellar in a house that played a major role in the history of De Graafschap. Sjoerd meets former chairman Derk Haank there. Haank tells about the events in the cellar that most resembles a brown bar and where the motto applies: ‘First drink beer, then avert bankruptcy.’

The stadium of De Graafschap is perhaps the most beautifully located stadium in the Netherlands and it is also a good place to stay inside. With the stands close to the field, real De Graafschap players like Ted van de Pavert enjoy playing football. He tells Sjoerd about his most beautiful goal.

Next to the stadium there is the former home of former groundskeeper Theo Vergeer. Nowadays a fan shop. And when visiting a game of the club, just like Sjoerd, take a look at the home-built supporters’ home. Perhaps the most beautiful supporters home in the Netherlands. You should not miss the graffiti of two characteristic De Graafschap trainers Simon Kistemaker and Fritz Korbach.