1972–73 Eerste Divisie

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1972–73 Eerste Divisie

Overview
The 1972–73 Eerste Divisie was the 17th season of the Netherlands’ second-tier football league. It featured 20 teams (one fewer than the previous year because Blauw-Wit Amsterdam merged with DWS to form FC Amsterdam). Roda JC won the championship. This season introduced a promotion competition for Eredivisie places because the Tweede Divisie had been disbanded; there was no automatic direct promotion from the league standings.

New entrants
- Relegated from the Eredivisie: Vitesse Arnhem and FC Volendam
- FC Dordrecht formed this season from DFC, which had changed its name

Promotion to Eredivisie
- League champions: Roda JC earned promotion to the Eredivisie
- Promotion play-off: Four period-winners competed for additional Eredivisie spots; De Graafschap won promotion through the playoff
- In total, Roda JC and De Graafschap were promoted to the Eredivisie for the 1973–74 season

League standings (highlights)
- 1. Roda JC – 52 points
- 2. PEC Zwolle – 48 points
- 3. Vitesse Arnhem – 48 points
- 4. De Graafschap – 47 points
- Other notable teams included Helmond Sport, FC Volendam, SC Cambuur, sc Heerenveen, FC Wageningen, Fortuna Sittard, Eindhoven, Wageningen, VVV-Venlo, De Volewijckers, and FC Dordrecht
- Total goals in the season: 913
- Average goals per game: 2.40

Attendances
- Highest average attendance: Roda JC – 7,789
- Followed by Vitesse Arnhem – 6,447 and De Graafschap – 5,921
- Other clubs drew lower crowds, with a range down to around 1,800 to 4,000 on average

Notes
- This season marked the first time a promotion competition was used to determine Eredivisie entrants after the Tweede Divisie’s discontinuation
- Two teams earned promotion to the Eredivisie: Roda JC (league champions) and De Graafschap (promotion playoff winner)

See also
- 1972–73 Eredivisie
- 1972–73 KNVB Cup