De Treffers and NEC Kick Off Pre-Season with “Collector’s Item” Friendly

The summer football calendar, often a period of transition, offered a unique fixture as amateur powerhouse De Treffers hosted Eredivisie club NEC Nijmegen in a pre-season friendly. The match, described as a “collector’s item,” provided an early look at team preparations as the professional circuit begins its build-up to the new season.

Early Summer Preparations

The friendly took place on July 1st, a date that signifies the halfway point of the year and the official start of the summer football break for many. The setting in Groesbeek, a town in the municipality of Berg en Dal, is home to De Treffers, recognized as one of the top amateur clubs in the Netherlands. The fixture marked a return to club focus after the national team’s recent World Cup exit, with the atmosphere in Groesbeek showing little lingering “Oranje koorts.”

Unique Encounter

This pre-season clash was not the first meeting between the two clubs this calendar year, having previously faced each other in the KNVB Cup on January 21, 2026. The “collector’s item” designation likely stems from the rarity of such a high-profile friendly between an amateur side and a professional Eredivisie team, particularly outside of traditional cup competitions. The only discernible “Oranje” element observed during the match was the bright orange shorts worn by the NEC players, part of their away kit, which drew a lighthearted comparison to festive occasions.

The event underscored the broader trend of professional clubs venturing into local communities during the pre-season to engage with fans and fulfill fixture schedules. These matches, often played on smaller grounds, are crucial for fitness, tactical development, and team bonding before the intensity of league and cup campaigns begins.

Key facts

For FootballGames10 readers, this match offers insight into the early stages of professional football’s off-season. It highlights how clubs, even at different levels of the football pyramid, utilize the pre-season period for essential preparation, team building, and fan engagement. The fixture serves as a reminder of the diverse landscape of football, where amateur clubs can share the pitch with professional counterparts in unique encounters.

Source: Voetbal International, https://www.vi.nl/pro/collectors-item-in-voorbereidingsklassieker