The First Division has a very exciting ending this year. With three games to go, Willem II, Roda JC and FC Groningen all still have promotion in their own hands. Partly thanks to two more mutual matches between these three on the programme. Starting with the cracker between number 1 Willem II and number 3 FC Groningen. For the people of Tilburg the opportunity to secure promotion, while for the people of Groningen there is an ultimate opportunity to make the race exciting until the last match day. It was a hectic evening with pyro, bivouacs and goals!
Before the match the standings are as follows. Willem II at 74. Roda JC at 71. FC Groningen at 70. With 3 rounds to go. A win for Willem II tonight means that promotion becomes a certainty. A win for Groningen means that the Pride of the North approaches the leader (who will play a difficult away match at FC Dordrecht next week) to within 1 point. In the event of a draw, Roda JC, which will simultaneously visit Ajax at De Toekomst, could easily be the winner. Enough tension and calculations. With a clash between FC Groningen and Roda JC in the final round still in prospect…
Return of the King
In any case, Willem II has a lot of confidence in a good outcome this season. If not this match, then next week. There are already plenty of stickers and shirts on display with the new design. 24 – 25: The Return of the King. The return of King Willem II to the Eredivisie. After a 2-year absence, the Tricolores want to shine again at the highest level next year. This Return of the King couldn’t be much more fitting than the evening before King’s Day.
Today’s match has therefore been sold out for weeks and even two dozen friends of Royal Antwerp have not been able to get tickets. They would like to be present because there are rumors that fellow townspeople Beerschot will take part in the away section with their friends from Groningen. The lack of maps does not appear to be a major problem in practice. While the hastily assembled military police gathered at the King Side, about 20 Belgians with bivouacs broke into the main stand and then all walked into the stands. It can be that simple. Everything to be present at what will hopefully be the promotion of Willem II tonight.
If it were up to the guests from Groningen, nothing would come of it. At least, not tonight. They will focus more on Roda JC and place 2 than on dethroning Willem II. But to make things difficult for Kerkrade residents, a win today is more than welcome. Losing in Tilburg and winning against Roda JC tonight would mean that Grunn no longer has fate in his own hands. The fact that the green and white are even competing for promotion can be called a small miracle, given the dramatic start that left the clubs outside the play-offs for a while. The sold-out branch hopes to take the next step in that amazing comeback today!
Our passion, our pride
All the ingredients for a fantastic evening seem to be there. Two of the best supporter groups in the Netherlands in a match full of sporting tension. At FC Groningen they have a small promotion at the turnout. A cut-out FCG in graffiti style has been pasted on the wall. There are some green stripes and black sheets in the box. Surprisingly enough, there is no large banner at Willem II, something that may be saved for when the promotion is finalized. There are a few casual supporters who liven up the turnout by lighting a few torches and a smoke bomb.
Vocally, the starting signal for this competition is given in a different way. Willem II’s capo will be in the main stand at kick-off instead of his old, familiar capo stand on the Kingside. All this to activate the entire stadium for tonight’s important match, instead of just the short side. The book kicks off with a loud “our passion, our pride” in the King Willem II Stadium and this crucial match can start.
It turns out to be the starting signal for a first half full of vocal violence. You notice that something is really at stake today, because the support on Willem II’s side is fantastic. Things have also been tough in the away field from the start. Now FC Groningen is known for its excellent away games and today is certainly no exception. On the field it is clear from the start that FC Groningen is most looking for a victory today. The team has been in top form in recent months and this is reflected on the field. The Tilburg team had exactly 0 shots on target during the first half. The home club is very satisfied with the halftime score of 0-0.
Flares
In the second half it is time to focus the players again. A few decorative fireworks are set off behind the KingSide. While the sky changes into exploding color and smoke, five flares also descend from the sky. A type of fireworks that was popular around empty stadiums during Corona times, but you rarely see these days. While the glowing red fireballs that descend from the sky are always a beautiful sight. While one bullet is still smoldering on the roof of the stadium and the fireworks are still going on, the second half starts.
It turns out to be exactly the push needed for the selection of Willem II to explode the stadium. It is assist king Nick Doodeman who unexpectedly gives the Tilburg team the lead from a difficult angle. The stadium immediately explodes. There is a madhouse in all the stands, supporters are falling into each other’s arms and beer is flying over the people. Everyone realizes how historic this goal can be. The promotion is now really within reach.
In the minutes after the goal, the stands are much louder than before. It is now a matter of persevering and Eredivisie football will return to Tilburg. However, that dream soon shattered. 6 minutes after the opening goal, FC Groningen scored the equalizer. Now it is the branch that can celebrate and slowly start dreaming of promotion. As a result, it is once again the branch that takes over vocally. This way everything waves up and down throughout the entire match.
Monkey cages
In the remainder of the match, the focus is increasingly on the clock and on the calculator. A draw tonight is a more than excellent result, especially for Willem II. Roda JC is still tied with Jong Ajax, which would mean that Willem II only needs 1 point for promotion in the event of a draw. For Groningen, this means that a win at Telstar and at home against Roda JC is enough for direct promotion. This way, both sides can accept the 1-1 score, which is also on the scoreboard after 90 minutes.
After all players have been thanked and the match is finally over, the match starts next to the stands. What starts with a guest on the home section and a guest in the away section climbing up the nets ends in a full fifteen minutes of monkey cages. Antwerp is also making an appearance and although the security in the stadium is such that the groups can never come close to each other, things are still going well. The nets are burned through, after which they hit each other with sticks and fireworks are thrown into the away section from the home side.
After the capo has also announced that “playtime” is now over, emotions slowly calm down and we can look at the denouement in the coming weeks. FC Groningen can prepare for two very exciting rounds and possibly even play-offs. At Willem II the motto is clear: the club must retain one point for Dordrecht away or Telstar at home. Something that will almost certainly succeed. The Return of the King seems imminent!
Thanks to stu.art.photo for some of the photos. Be checked Instagram for more!
