Go Ahead: Up for the cup — Terrace Edition

Words: Stef Bruggeman

Images: Han Balk

After a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Sparta, a class win over FC Twente and a routine victory against Non League VV Noordwijk, we suddenly found ourselves in Eindhoven at the end of February for the semi-final of the KNVB Cup.

Our opponent? None other than reigning champions PSV Eindhoven. On paper, they had the best squad in the country and were clear title favourites.

Before the winter break, they were unstoppable. The pundits called it early: Champions. But even in the South, pride comes before a fall. The empire built by Peter Bosz crumbled, and Ajax gratefully picked up the pieces.

In Deventer, we smelled blood.

If this is going to happen, it has to be now. Over 1300 Eagles set off in a convoy of buses toward the City of Light. Every single one of them dreaming the same dream: the cup final. And for many, that dream felt exactly like that—a fantasy.

Beating the mighty PSV? Come on.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Deventer streets decorated with Go Ahead Eagles colours.

And just when the mission couldn’t get any harder, star man Jakob Breum dropped out the day before the match with a broken foot.

Everyone expected the obvious replacement, but gaffer Paul Simonis pulled a wild card: Milan Smit started up front.

Smit joined from Cambuur last summer. And to be fair, before that night in Eindhoven, the 22-year-old hadn’t exactly lit things up. A flukey goal off his body was all he had to show.

But everything changed in Eindhoven, Smit played the game of his life. Pure class.

Half an hour in, we’re leading 0-2. Madness. The away end is bouncing, stunned looks mixed with wild celebration: is this really happening?

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. GAE Cup final souvenir t-shirts.

Around the hour mark, PSV pull one back from the spot. The final thirty minutes? Pure hell.

But this Deventer side isn’t just a football team. It’s a machine—a fighting, scrapping, never-say-die machine. And they drag themselves over the line.

The 1300 travelling fans are lost for words. People cry. People scream. People stand in awe.

For the first time in sixty years, Go Ahead Eagles are in the KNVB Cup Final. Waanzin. Totally nuts.

But before we dream too loud, we’ve had to wait. The final’s not until Easter Monday, 21 April. Two months seemed like forever—but now? Time’s flown. And cup fever in Deventer is absolutely peaking.

Credit where it’s due: the club stepped up. No, it wasn’t all perfect, but everyone who deserved a ticket got one. Long nights at the Larenstein offices, but they pulled off Operation Bekerfinale.

For a club not used to the big stage? Massive.

Even just for them—you’d wish they could lift that trophy already.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Active Diehards Deventer cup final stickers.

And now? Deventer’s on fire. Initiatives left and right. Everyone wants in.

Even the lads from the Active Diehards Deventer (ADHD) are moving early, dropping a PSA: they’ll be releasing official cup final merch and kindly ask fans not to buy from outsiders. Why? Because profits go to the tifo. And this one? It's gonna be the biggest they’ve ever done.

Knowing their track record, It’ll be nothing short of art.

But the madness doesn’t stop there. ADHD’s rolling out a full cup final drop: two shirts, a scarf, stickers, a pin, sunglasses, and yes—the traditional bathrobe. You know, the one players get when they win the cup. A cheeky nod to what’s coming? We can dream.

Even the booze game has joined the party. In collaboration with ADHD, local liquor store Mitra’s dropping a special edition cup final beer.

And Grolsch? They’re all in. 200,000 red-and-yellow cans hit the shelves with “Kowet naar De Kuip” across the label. No surprise—they're already chilling in fridges all over Deventer.

Even bakeries are baking Eagles cakes.

©Han Balk/ Terrace Edition. Limited Edition Grolsch cup-final cans.

Two weeks out, and it’s everywhere. Streets draped in red and yellow. Banners from every balcony. Walk into any café and all anyone talks about is “the 21st.”

One thing’s clear: Deventer is ready.

As I write this, we’re just seven days away. The nerves? Oh, they’re kicking in. Hour by hour.

Maybe that’s what happens when you’re new to a stage this big. But here’s what I do know: me and my 18,000 red-and-yellow brothers and sisters are heading for a day we’ll never forget.

Win or lose—we fly. Heads high. Voices loud. Respect but no fear. Belief but not arrogance. Hard work and talent go hand in hand. If Go Ahead wins, the city of Deventer wins.

We’ve waited a long time for this and will leave everything on the pitch and in the stands of De Kuip.