Willem Hesselink
Encyclopedia
Willem Frederik Hesselink (8 February 1878 – 1 December 1973) was a Dutch
football (soccer) player. Born in Arnhem
, he was one of the founders of local club Vitesse in 1892 at age 14. He played for HVV
during their glory years, becoming national champions several times. Hesselink moved to Munich
to study in 1903, and joined Bayern Munich
. In three years he would grow out to be their star player, manager and chairman. In 1905 he started in the first ever home match of the Netherlands national football team
, a 4-0 victory against Belgium. Some historians attribute one of the goals scored to him.
Hesselink also excelled in athletics, holding several national records including the long jump
. A team made up of him and his brothers became national champions tug of war
.
He was known for his blue woolen cap, which he seemed to wear day and night, and was nicknamed was the Cannon, although he was also referred to as the Doctor because of his doctorate in chemistry.
Over the years he built up a colourful curriculum vitae including doctorates in chemistry
and philosophy
, becominng director of the Keuringsdienst van Waren, being expert witness
in several murder trials, founding of a labotory, and writing several health books.
His thesis on the secrets of Port wine
made on the banks of the Douro
has proved to stand the tests of time and is still quoted regularly.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football (soccer) player. Born in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, he was one of the founders of local club Vitesse in 1892 at age 14. He played for HVV
HVV Den Haag
HVV is an amateur football club in The Hague in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1883 as an extension of HCC, the Hague Cricket Club...
during their glory years, becoming national champions several times. Hesselink moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
to study in 1903, and joined Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. In three years he would grow out to be their star player, manager and chairman. In 1905 he started in the first ever home match of the Netherlands national football team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, a 4-0 victory against Belgium. Some historians attribute one of the goals scored to him.
Hesselink also excelled in athletics, holding several national records including the long jump
Long jump
The long jump is a track and field event in which athletes combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far as possible from a take off point...
. A team made up of him and his brothers became national champions tug of war
Tug of war
Tug of war, also known as tug o' war, tug war, rope war or rope pulling, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of strength. The term may also be used as a metaphor to describe a demonstration of brute strength by two opposing groups, such as a rivalry between two...
.
He was known for his blue woolen cap, which he seemed to wear day and night, and was nicknamed was the Cannon, although he was also referred to as the Doctor because of his doctorate in chemistry.
Over the years he built up a colourful curriculum vitae including doctorates in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, becominng director of the Keuringsdienst van Waren, being expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
in several murder trials, founding of a labotory, and writing several health books.
His thesis on the secrets of Port wine
Port wine
Port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties...
made on the banks of the Douro
Douro
The Douro or Duero is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto...
has proved to stand the tests of time and is still quoted regularly.