Willem van der Ark
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Willem van der Ark | ||
| Date of birth | 13 November 1963 | ||
| 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) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Willem van der Ark (born November 13, 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
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
Van der Ark now works as a real estate agent in Leeuwarden.[5]
References
- ^ Schotse clubs in de rij voor Nederlanders - NRC Template:Nl
- ^ Cambuur 50 jaar: Willem van der Ark (Bio) - Leeuwarder Courant Template:Nl
- ^ Aberdeen, rijk en Hollands verleden - NOS Template:Nl
- ^ FC Utrecht koopt Peter Hofstede en verkoopt Van der Ark - Trouw Template:Nl
- ^ Medwerkers - Makelaardij HoekstraTemplate:Nl
External links
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Groningen (city)
- Association football forwards
- Dutch footballers
- SC Cambuur players
- Willem II Tilburg players
- Aberdeen F.C. players
- FC Utrecht players
- ADO Den Haag players
- Eredivisie players
- Eerste Divisie players
- Scottish Football League players
- Dutch expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in Scotland
- Dutch expatriates in Scotland
- Dutch real estate brokers