FC Groningen

FC Groningen

FC Groningen in de Maatschappij Foundation (FC Groningen in the Society) was established in September 2010 within the professional football organisation FC Groningen. The foundation has gained an important position within the club and inspires people through great projects, intensive partnerships, or by participating in campaigns. Dutch star Arjen Robben is an ambassador of the foundation.

On 16 June 1971, FC Groningen was founded as the successor of GVAV. In 2006, FC Groningen moved to a new home, which was expanded two years later into a stadium, nicknamed the Green Cathedral, with a capacity of 22,550 seats.

The Pride of the North, as they are called by their fans, qualified regularly for a UEFA tournament, eliminating Atlético de Madrid in 1983 before FC Internazionale ended the European tour of FC Groningen and there were historic clashes with Partizan Belgrade and Fiorentina.

The club’s biggest triumph dates back to 2015 when they won the Dutch Cup, the KNVB Beker, beating PEC Zwolle in the final. The club has also a strong link with the Koeman Family, Father Martin played for GVAV while his sons Ronald and Erwin made their debut for FC Groningen before starting glorious international careers as player and manager.

As a proud people’s club with a strong commitment to the northern Netherlands, FC Groningen is aware of its social role. The FC Groningen in de Maatschappij Foundation bundles the many requests made to FC Groningen in the social arena and structures them accordingly. As a result, the foundation enables FC Groningen to participate in many projects and initiatives. The foundation works closely with several partners with the ultimate aim of enabling project participants to take a step in the right direction.

The FC Groningen in Society Foundation has various social programmes throughout the year. Programmes were deliberately chosen instead of projects because of their sustainable character. Through our reach, our philosophy and our network, FC Groningen wants to embed itself deeper in society. Action and exercise are in the FC Groningen DNA and we like to convey that DNA to our supporters.

This is done through a variety of programmes for all ages that rest on four building blocks:

Inspire: With our top-class sports mentality, our players are role models and we can inspire many target groups.

Motivate: By providing the right facilities and programmes, we give people opportunities and motivate them to get moving.

Develop: We focus on education, growth and research, actively visiting schools or clubs so that young people have the tools to develop themselves.

Connect: In order to combat movement poverty, we look for partnerships. With other sports clubs, with partners, with each other. We are going to connect. Because together we are stronger and together we make sure that more people get moving.

Examples of these programmes are Kids United, Fit with FC Groningen, Training in the Neighbourhood, Train as a pro and Playing for success to just name a few of their initiatives.