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Willem van der Ark

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In this Dutch name, the surname is van der Ark, not Ark.
Willem van der Ark
Personal information
Full name Willem van der Ark
Date of birth (1963-11-13) 13 November 1963 (age 61)
Place of birth Groningen, Netherlands
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1970–1984 GVAV Rapiditas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1987 Cambuur 119 (46)
1988 Willem II 14 (7)
1989–1991 Aberdeen 64 (13)
1991–1992 FC Utrecht 26 (5)
1993 FC Den Haag 10 (4)
1993–1994 FC Utrecht 31 (6)
1994–1996 Cambuur 7 (5)
Total 271 (86)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Willem van der Ark (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləɱ vɑn dər ˈɑr(ə)k]; born 13 November 1963 in Groningen) is a former Dutch football (soccer) striker, who played for Aberdeen in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He was one of a series of Dutch players signed for the Scottish side during this time[1] and Van der Ark was bought as a striker and noted for his height (6 foot, 5 inches).

Club career

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Van der Ark came through the GVAV Rapiditas youth system and joined Cambuur in 1984. He proved to be an immedatie success alongside fellow striker Bram Rontberg and was sold to Willem II for 250,000 guilders in 1988.[2] He then moved abroad to Scottish side Aberdeen after only half a season in Tilburg.

During his time at Aberdeen he made 77 appearances (38 of them as substitute), scoring 17 goals and securing 2 winners medals – the 1989/90 Skol Cup and 1989/90 Scottish Cup. He played alongside compatriots Theo Snelders, Hans Gillhaus and Peter van de Ven at the club.[3]

He later played for FC Utrecht and FC Den Haag. He left Utrecht to return to Cambuur in summer 1994.[4]

Retirement

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Van der Ark now works as a real estate agent in Leeuwarden.[5]

Career statistics

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[6]

Club Seasons League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 1988-89 Scottish Premier Division 8 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 2
1989-90 27 7 3 3 3 1 2 0 35 11
1990-91 11 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 4
1991-92 18 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 22 0
Total 64 13 4 3 5 1 4 0 77 17

References

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  1. ^ Schotse clubs in de rij voor Nederlanders - NRC (in Dutch)
  2. ^ Cambuur 50 jaar: Willem van der Ark (Bio) - Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch)
  3. ^ Aberdeen, rijk en Hollands verleden - NOS (in Dutch)
  4. ^ FC Utrecht koopt Peter Hofstede en verkoopt Van der Ark - Trouw (in Dutch)
  5. ^ Medwerkers - Makelaardij Hoekstra(in Dutch)
  6. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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