During the Promotion Days in Groningen, Domino ICT auctioned a legendary FC Groningen shirt to visitors of the event. It is the shirt from the decisive cup final between FC Groningen and PEC Zwolle on 3 May 2015. That day, FC Groningen sent PEC Zwolle home with a superb 2-0 victory, securing the coveted cup for the first time in the club’s history. The shirt is covered with the signatures of FC Groningen players and is an absolute must-have for every FC Groningen supporter.
Raffle during the promotion days
The players of FC Groningen could not have made us happier as shirt sponsor with their victory, so we decided to raffle the shirt (with a heavy heart) among the visitors of the Promotion Days in Groningen. What we had not quite anticipated was that Frisians would also take part in the raffle – and that the eventual winner would actually be based in Friesland. The owner of the Leeuwarden company Domino ICT became the ‘lucky’ winner.
It was the ultimate proof that the raffle had been completely fair, though whether we at Payt were particularly pleased with that proof is another matter We already imagined the shirt disappearing into a desk drawer in a Frisian office – tucked away, forgotten, and gathering dust. With a heavy heart, Merijn drove to Friesland on 23 November 2015 to hand over the shirt to Domino ICT.
Groningen sentiment
Once there, Merijn Stapert, co-founder of Payt, regained hope. The men of Domino ICT also realised that Friesland could not be the final resting place for such a legendary shirt. Werner Bergsma shared his thoughts with Merijn and, in no time, a playful initiative was organised in good cooperation. Through the website Onlineveilingmeester.nl, enthusiasts, fans, and supporters of FC Groningen could bid to bring the shirt back to Groningen.
The highest bidder would be able to collect the shirt after the FC Groningen – FC Utrecht match on 17 January 2016, in the FC Groningen supporters’ home. The proceeds from the auction were to go entirely to KiKa, the Dutch foundation that raises funds for research into childhood cancer. Bidding was possible after free registration on Onlineveilingmeester.nl from Friday 18 December, 4:00 p.m. The auction closed on Monday evening, 28 December, at 8:00 p.m.
All’s well that ends well.
The cup victory by FC Groningen was the first in the club’s history. The Groningen side had reached the final once before, in 1989, but lost 4-1 to PSV. Initiator Werner Bergsma, account manager at Domino ICT, explained:
“This shirt must return to Groningen. It would be a shame if the shirt that marked the Groningen victory of the century ended up in a desk drawer in a Frisian office. I sincerely hope that Groningen supporters chip in to bring it back – especially since the proceeds go to such a worthy cause.”
From Payt, we have nothing sensible to add and can only breathe a sigh of relief with the words: “Wise man, that Werner Bergsma!”
