Once in Oranje: Hennie Meijer

They stood in line once to sing the National Anthem. In this special, it’s Henny Meijer. The ex Telstar, Volendam, Roda JC, Ajax, FC Groningen, Tokyo Verdy, Cambuur Leeuwaarden, Heerenveen, De Graafschap and Veendam player.

His career was a remarkable one. There’s no way around it. The chunky and strong-as-an-ox striker Henny Meijer. He was 18 years old (!!) when he first put on football shoes! Three years later, Telstar signs him and he makes his debut in pro football. He scores goals like Posh Beckham scores handbags and would end up playing at Ajax. He makes a move to FC Groningen where he would play for five season, along side local here Milko Djurovski. Meijer’s main strength was his butt. The somewhat rotund player was a master playing with his back to the goal. When the ball was played in, he’d use his butt to keep his marker away, and a swift turn and a shot at goal would do the rest.

In June 1989, he is selected to play for Suriname with the Colored Team. Stanley Menzo and Meijer decide to book a holiday to Suriname as well and fly ahead of the team. The rest is history. The plane with the Colored Team crashes at Zanderij and most of his team mates die a horrible death. Four years later, Meijer moves to Tokyo. He would be the first player ever to score in the recently formed J-League, but is told to leave a couple of months later. After a handful of other clubs, he ends his career where he started it: at the bottom of the First Division, this time at Veendam.

Highpoint
“Well, that’s not a hard one, eh? My only international game in September 1987. The opponent was Belgium and it was a scoreless draw. I can’t remember much of it though… I played well at Ajax and I never really thought about Oranje. I always felt the odd one out, being so late in football. Most players at Ajax had played in the orange jersey from their childhood onwards. I do remember it wasn’t a good game. I don’t think I made an impact, I would have remembered otherwise…”

Meijer was called up more after that game, but never got to play. “I was with the team away against Poland and I would have subbed against Cyprus. I already had my jumper off but some idiot decided to chuck a bomb on the pitch and the game was canceled. That was it for me.”

“My Ajax period was good, but my best football was at FC Groningen. I won the Golden Boot in Holland. I got more aware of tactics and hierarchy and all that. At Ajax I did score, but I was a bit of a lazy striker, counting on some good assists. I think I deserved a spot in Oranje more when I was with Groningen, but there was some competition back then. Some players like Van Basten, Gullit, Kieft, Bosman, Gillhaus…pretty decent players…”

Gullit
Meijer remembers sharing a room with Ruud Gullit during his Oranje trips. “We had a room inwhich the beds were next to each other. Gullit looked at the beds, looked at me and decided to sleep on the floor. Honestly! What was he thinking? He must have been scared to take me in his arms during the night…”

Every debutant in Oranje gets a traditional hare. Meijer still has it. “I’ve got it in my cupboard where all my awards and prizes are. The jersey however is gone. When I signed with Tokyo the owner of the club – an avid Oranje fan – wanted to see the shirt. So, I took it in and I could tell he wanted it. So, I gave it to him. I regret that now…due to the fact that Tokyo Verdy had too many foreigners I was released from the club after four months.”

Statistics:

9 september 1987, Stadion Feyenoord, Rotterdam, friendly

Nederland – Belgium 0-0.

Attendance: 30.311

Line-up Nederland: Van Breukelen; Silooy, R. Koeman, Troost, Van Tiggelen; Winter (67. Meijer), Rijkaard, Vanenburg; Bosman, Van Basten, Van ’t Schip.