HHC Hardenberg

HHC Hardenberg was founded in 1954, as the result of a merger between Hardenberg Voetbal Club of Hardenberg en SV Heemse of neighbouring Heemse. The letters HHC stand for Hardenberg Heemse Combinatie (Hardenberg Heemse Combination). The club won its first title, in the Vierde Klasse (Fourth Class), in the 1964–65 season, securing promotion to the Derde Klasse (Third Class). The club played in that division for 11 seasons, and won the title in 1975–76, clinching promotion to the Tweede Klasse (Second Class). The introduction of the Hoofdklasse changed the structure of the league. The Eerste Klasse (First Class) became the Hoofdklasse, and the Tweede Klasse, where HHC were playing, became the Eerste Klasse (First Class). HHC was relegated back to what had become the Tweede Klasse after the 1990–91 season. HHC won the playoffs in that division in 1998, securing promotion to the Eerste Klasse (First Class). In the 2000–01 season, HHC finished second in the Eerste Klasse E, qualifying for the playoffs. In the playoffs, HHC came close to being promoted to the Hoofdklasse. In the 2003–04 season, HHC finished tied on first place in the Eerste Klasse D. A decisive match against Excelsior '31 was lost, but HHC qualified for the playoffs and won both playoff matches, securing promotion to the Hoofdklasse, for the first time in the club's existence. In the first season on the highest level of amateur football in the Netherlands, the club managed to avoid relegation, finishing the season…

The structure of the Hoofdklasse allows HHC Hardenberg up to three title opportunities in one season: the regular division, the Saturday title and the national title. The overall Saturday title is contested between the champions of the three Saturday leagues, and the national title is contested between the Saturday champion and the Sunday champion.

Hoofdklasse division title: 2 2006–07, 2007–08