FC Groningen

The predecessor of FC Groningen was founded as Unitas in 1915. When Unitas joined the Eerste Klasse Noord their name was changed to GVAV (Groningen Football and Athletics Association). The Eerste Klasse Noord was a football league that consisted of teams from the northern provinces Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, of which the winner went on to compete for the national title. During the days of the Eerste Klasse Noord GVAV stood in the shadow of Be Quick 1887 and Velocitas, two other sides from the city of Groningen. After the KNVB allowed professionalism in 1954 the Eerste Klasse Noord, along with the other regional leagues, ceased to exist. From the city of Groningen the teams GVAV, Be Quick 1887, Velocitas and Oosterparkers turned professional but the latter two soon had to step back to amateurism. Be Quick stayed professional until 1964, leaving GVAV as the only professional football team in the city of Groningen. In 1971 GVAV was reformed as FC Groningen.