FC Groningen 2013-14 Home Shirt Klupp ESSENT vintage

FC Groningen 2013-14 — The Klupp jersey sponsored by ESSENT, an Eredivisie gem to grab

In 2013-14, FC Groningen played in the Eredivisie with a kit manufacturer that few collectors truly know: Klupp, a discreet but authentic Dutch brand, far from the market giants. This Groningen home jersey from the 2013-2014 season, emblazoned with the ESSENT sponsor — the energy company that long adorned the chest of the Trots van het Noorden (Pride of the North) — is exactly the kind of piece that real hunters of vintage Eredivisie jerseys look for without always finding.

Jersey details

Season: 2013-2014
Club: FC Groningen
Type: Home
Kit manufacturer: Klupp
Sponsor: ESSENT
Condition: 9/10
State: SPONSOR: ESSENT — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, in remarkable condition for a piece from this era

What this jersey represents

FC Groningen, a club from the north of the Netherlands founded in 1971, has always held a special place in the Dutch football landscape. Not the glamour of Amsterdam or Rotterdam, but a strong identity, a stadium — the Euroborg — that exudes regional passion, and a historical ability to train and reveal talents. In 2013-14, the club played in the middle of the Eredivisie table, true to its status as an established championship club without claiming the title, but always capable of bringing down big teams.

That season, the Groningen squad relied on solid players forged in the club's culture. Bas Dost, a powerful center-forward, had already left the club but his time there had left its mark. This was a time when Groningen focused on teamwork, defensive solidity, and a direct style of play characteristic of the northern Netherlands. The Euroborg crowd cheered loudly, and this Klupp jersey was what the players wore before every home match in this special atmosphere.

Moments etched in this jersey

Klupp, the kit manufacturer that wanted to break the mold
Klupp is a Dutch brand that supplied several clubs in the country without ever trying to compete with Nike or Adidas in marketing. This choice of a local kit manufacturer gives this jersey a rare authenticity — exactly what collectors of vintage Eredivisie jerseys are looking for today.

ESSENT, the historic sponsor from the north
ESSENT, a Dutch energy giant headquartered precisely in the northern Netherlands, was for many years FC Groningen's main partner. This logo on the chest of the jersey is a piece of the economic and sporting history of the Groningen region — a strong geographical and cultural anchor.

A full Eredivisie season in a single fabric
A home jersey means a minimum of 17 matches in the championship, northern derbies, confrontations with Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord at the Euroborg. This Klupp fabric vibrated with every corner, every press, every free kick in the Groningen stadium during the 2013-2014 season.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage jersey is the real model — the one designed to be worn on a pitch, not a simplified commercial derivative for the general public. The cut, the materials, the finishes: everything is different from a replica. With Klupp, a niche brand without the budgets of big houses, what you hold in your hands is real, raw, without marketing artifice.

This one displays a 9/10 — which is exceptional for a jersey over ten years old. This means it has been carefully preserved, that the flocking and the ESSENT sponsor are intact, and that the fabric has not suffered. For a jersey worn at that time, this level of preservation is almost an achievement.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage sizes from the 2010s — and even more so from kit manufacturers like Klupp who cut their jerseys in the old style — are often more fitted than modern cuts. A modern S sometimes corresponds to an M from that era, and vice versa. Never rely solely on the label, especially on a retro football jersey that may have seen a few washes over the years.

Before ordering, take your chest measurements and compare them with the actual product dimensions. Measure the shoulder-to-shoulder width and chest circumference laid flat. This is the only way to be sure that your collector's Groningen jersey will truly serve you — whether to wear it or proudly frame it in your living room.

Why have it in your collection

Vintage FC Groningen jerseys are not common on resale sites. The club, although historic in the Eredivisie, remains under the radar of major collections dominated by Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord. This is exactly what makes it an interesting piece: its objective rarity, the kit manufacturer Klupp who is no longer in the spotlight today, and the ESSENT sponsor who anchors this jersey in a specific era and region. This type of piece is what discerning collectors of Eredivisie jerseys look for to distinguish themselves from mainstream collections.

And in this condition — 9/10, intact sponsor, clean fabric — there are frankly not many floating around at this level of preservation. Most jerseys from this period and club that you encounter have sustained damage, fading, and crumbling flocking. Here, you have an exception before you. The kind of piece that increases in value over time, not the other way around.

To go further

• FC Groningen - Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive - History of jerseys
• UEFA - European football

This Groningen 2013-14 Klupp jersey is a window into authentic Dutch provincial football — if you want a rare piece that tells a true story, it's right here.