| Full name | Groninger Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Rapiditas | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 26 January 1921 | |
| Ground | Sportpark Kardinge, Groningen | |
| Capacity | 1,500 [1] | |
| Website | Club website | |
GVAV-Rapiditas are a Dutch multi-sport club based in Groningen, Netherlands. From 1954 to 1971, the club featured professional football. The professional branch was spun off and renamed FC Groningen in 1971. [2]
GVAV (Groninger Football and Athletics Association) was founded in 1915. The athletics club Rapiditas followed in 1917. Both club merged on 26 January 1921 under the new name "Groningse sportvereniging GVAV-Rapiditas", whose membership was only open to men. It was not until the 1970s that the club was also opened to female athletes. [3]
The new association consisted of a number of departments, such as athletics, boxing, gymnastics, football and swimming. Rugby was also played for some time. Many sporting successes were achieved in all these branches of sport, making GVAV-Rapiditas a well-known name in the Netherlands.
Especially in the field of football, the club reached the highest level. In 1940, GVAV won the Northern Football Championship. Later, after the introduction of professional football, the club competed in the top-tier Eredivisie. Finally in 1965, it was decided to set up the professional standalone club Stichting Betaald Voetbal GVAV. When this professional club was promoted to the Eredivisie in 1971, the name was changed to FC Groningen. [4]
In 1997, the organization of GVAV-Rapiditas was changed. The old association GVAV-Rapiditas became the Sports Federation GVAV-Rapiditas with a number of departments that became more or less independent clubs: gymnastics, triathlon and football. The athletics department merged in 2003 with ARGO '77 to become Groningen Atletiek. In September 2004, it was decided to dissolve the federation. Fellow consultation continued to exist at chairman level. [5]
On 22 May 2022, GVAV-Rapiditas' first men's team promoted to the Eerste Klasse, the sixth tier of the Dutch football league system, after winning the Tweede Klasse Sunday L group. [6]
Football Club Groningen is a Dutch professional association football club based in the city of Groningen, province of Groningen. Founded on 16 June 1971 as the successor of GVAV, the team compete in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, following relegation from the 2022–23 Eredivisie. Groningen played their inaugural season in the Eredivisie, before the side were relegated to the Eerste Divisie in 1973–74 as they got into financial difficulties. Groningen were promoted back to the Eredivisie as champions in 1979–80 and remained in the top flight for almost 20 seasons before they dropped to the second tier in 1997–98. The team won promotion to the Eredivisie in 1999–2000, where they remained for 23 seasons before suffering relegation in 2022–23.
TOP Oss, is a professional association football club based in the town of Oss, North Brabant, Netherlands, that competes in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of the Dutch football league system. Founded in 1928 as T.O.P., a Dutch abbreviation for Tot Ons Plezier, the team plays its home matches at the Frans Heesen Stadion, where it has been based since 1946.
The Eredivisie is the highest level of professional football in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956, two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. As of the 2023–24 season, it is ranked the 5th-best league in Europe by UEFA.
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Sportclub Veendam was a Dutch professional association football club based in Veendam, province of Groningen. Founded on 4 September 1894 as Look-Out, it became P.J. Veendam in 1909, Veendam in 1910, SC Veendam in 1974, BV Veendam in 1997 and again SC Veendam in 2011. The club was a founder member of the regional first tier Eerste Klasse Noord in 1916 and became champions of the division in 1931–32; it qualified for the national championship play-offs but finished in bottom place. Veendam took part in the inaugural season of the third tier Tweede Divisie in 1956–57; after yo-yoing between the third and second tiers, the team won promotion to the first tier Eredivisie for the first time in 1985–86. The side spent two seasons in the Eredivisie—1986–87 and 1988–89—but were relegated both times. Veendam then competed in the second tier Eerste Divisie until they were dissolved due to financial problems in 2013.
Football Club Volendam is a professional football club based in Volendam, Netherlands. They play in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football from the 2022–23 season following promotion. Nicknamed "de Palingboeren", the club was founded as Victoria in 1920, changed its name to RKSV Volendam in 1923 and emerged as an exclusively professional club, FC Volendam, in 1977, following a split from its parent club. The team plays its home matches in the 6,984-capacity Kras Stadion, where it has been based since 1975.
VVV-Venlo is a Dutch football club from Venlo, a city on the border with Germany. They play in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, following relegation from the Eredivisie in the 2020–21 season. The club plays its home games in the Covebo Stadion – De Koel stadium, which is named after one of the club's sponsors Covebo Uitzendgroep. VVV's home colours are yellow and black.
Kurt Elshot is a Dutch former professional footballer. He usually played as a defender in a right back position. He has formerly played for FC Groningen and NAC Breda.
Martin Drent is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward for SC Veendam, FC Emmen and FC Groningen.
Theodorus Maria "Dick" Tol was a Dutch footballer who spent his entire career with Volendam. Nicknamed "De Knoest", Tol played as a striker and was the top goalscorer in the Eredivisie in the 1961–62 season, scoring 27 goals. He is also the all-time top goalscorer of Volendam.
Klaas Nuninga is a former Dutch international footballer who played for GVAV-Rapiditas, Ajax and DWS during his career.
Erwin van de Looi is a Dutch professional football manager and former player. He most recently managed the Netherlands U21 team.
The Derde Divisie, formerly known as Topklasse, is the fourth tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season as a third tier in 2010–11 and as a fourth tier in 2016–17. The league is placed between the Tweede Divisie and the Vierde Divisie, the third and fifth tiers of Dutch football, respectively. The introduction of the then Topklasse resulted from discussions between the Royal Dutch Football Association, the Coöperatie Eerste Divisie and the Centraal Overleg Hoofdklassers.
Sportvereniging Door Ons Samenspel Komt Overwinning, usually known as SV DOSKO, is a football club from Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands. They play their home matches at the Sportpark Meilust. The club's colours are red and yellow.
Romano Ceciel Postema is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eerste Divisie club Groningen.
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Willem Gerrit "Wim" van der Gijp was a Dutch football player and manager. He gained one cap for the Netherlands national team in 1954.
Arjan Ebbinge is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Luciano Valente is a professional footballer, who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eerste Divisie club Groningen. Born in the Netherlands, he represents Italy at international level.
