Groene Ster

Groene Ster has one final to its name, and it came against the odds. In June 1944, the club from Heerlerheide became the first amateur side from the lower divisions to reach the KNVB Beker final, facing Willem II. The scoreline, 9-2, still stands as the highest-scoring final the cup has produced.

That same season it knocked out VVV-Venlo, an Eredivisie club, on penalties in the first round of the cup before AZ Alkmaar ended the run in the second. Relegation from the Derde Divisie came in 2024, but the club won its way straight back through the playoffs.

Sportpark Pronsenbroek has been the only home Groene Ster has known, its changing rooms rebuilt in 1945 and a canteen added in 1982. Among those who wore the green and white, Danny Hoesen carried the club's name furthest, while Mo Kourouma came up through the youth ranks before moving on to make his professional debut at Fortuna Sittard. Meetings with EVV, from Echt in Limburg, are still billed locally as the Limburg derby.

The club was founded in Heerlerheide on 2 November 1926, and it has stayed there ever since, playing at the same ground that watched its first game.