 Den Bosch struggled following their return to the Eerste Divisie, failing to finish in the top half until the 1977–78 season.However, come the turn of the decade, Den Bosch were consistently challenging for promotion, with the club competing in the promotion play-off for the 1980–81 season, only to lose out to De Graafschap.However, they would win the promotion play-offs for the 1982–83 season, marking their return to the Eredivisie.