Berry Nieuwenhuys
Encyclopedia
Berry Nieuwenhuys, was a South African football
er who played predominantly for Liverpool
, which he was contracted to from 1933 to 1947. He retired in 1947, returning to South Africa to be employed at the Transvaal Country Club.
He occupied the position of outside right, akin to an advanced winger, but could play on the opposite flank. Nieuwenhuys became noted for his pace, technical skill, power of shot, and adeptness at heading. He made 260 appearances, scoring 79 goals - 74 of which had been amassed in the league. He attained double figures in goals scored in six consecutive seasons in the 1930s. The Second World War
disrupted his career, forcing him to guest with Arsenal
and West Ham
while he served in the Royal Air Force
.
Many supporters found his surname unpronounceable, so he was often referred to by the diminutive "Nivvy".
, Nieuwenhuys worked as an engineer and played for his hometown side Boksburg FC and the Germiston Callies
before signing for Liverpool in September 1933. He became one of nine players from Boksburg to participate in the English and Scottish leagues during the 1930s. Liverpool, in particular, fielded at least six South Africans during the decade, including prolific goalscorer Gordon Hodgson
. He debuted against Tottenham
on 23 September, in a First Division fixture at White Hart Lane
, as a replacement for Harry Taylor
on the right wing. It proved to be an auspicious beginning, with Liverpool defeating Tottenham 3-0. He contributed to two of the goals, through his accurate crosses to Alf Hanson
and Sam English
. He registered his first goal just a week later, on 30 September against city rivals Everton F.C.
. His 32nd minute strike, along with Hanson's 60th minute and English's 80th minute goals, gave Liverpool a 3–2 win.
The club's overall performances in the league were unremarkable during manager George Patterson
's eight-year tenure. Liverpool's league form deteriorated dramatically in the 1935-36 season
, in which the club finished 19th. Patterson, suffering from stress and serious illness, resigned to be replaced by Southampton's
George Kay
.
Along with his incredible pace and quicksilver feet Nivvy could also hit a venomous shot and he would often be seen cutting in from the wide berth to unleash an unstoppable strike at goal.
After five years at the club, in 1939, Liverpool rewarded Niuewenhuys with a benefit match against Everton. The occasion attracted 13,000 people and generated £685 pounds (equivalent to £123,000 in 2008).
During the Second World War, Nieuwenhuys volunteered for the Royal Air Force
, receiving Czechoslovakia's Medal of Merit. Many of his teammates, including compatriots Arthur Riley
and Dirk Kemp, also enlisted in the British Armed Forces
.
He guested for both Arsenal
and West Ham United
.
Noted for having a passion for cars, Nieuwenhuys bought a Jaguar
from Carroll Levis
for £50 prior to enlistment. It remained in a journalist's garage for the duration of the war.
Nieuwenhuys returned to the club after the war. His place in the squad became uncertain in the 1946–47 season, which was the first season of competitive football since the league system's suspension. His final season yielded his only honour, the league championship under manager George Kay
. He scored five times in 15 appearances. His teammates during this era included Jack Balmer
, Bill Jones
, Albert Stubbins
, Billy Liddell
and Bob Paisley
. It would be the last of the club's league titles until the 1963-64 season. He retired in 1947, having briefly been installed as assistant professional at West Derby Golf Club. He returned to South Africa, assuming a similar responsibility at the Transvaal Country Club for World Golf Hall of Fame
r Bobby Locke
. Nieuwenhuys continued his association with football through coaching, specifically for Southern Suburbs
under manager Bernie Gibson, and the Callies
Nieuwenhuys supplemented his professional career by featuring for the baseball team Hurst Hawks, which included Liverpool colleagues Lance Carr
and Ted Savage
.
His surname's pronunciation presented a dilemma to many supporters, with even the Daily Express
Arthur Simmons describing it as a "jigsaw". The name is pronounced " Nivvenhows " - from The Football Who's Who 1935.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er who played predominantly for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, which he was contracted to from 1933 to 1947. He retired in 1947, returning to South Africa to be employed at the Transvaal Country Club.
He occupied the position of outside right, akin to an advanced winger, but could play on the opposite flank. Nieuwenhuys became noted for his pace, technical skill, power of shot, and adeptness at heading. He made 260 appearances, scoring 79 goals - 74 of which had been amassed in the league. He attained double figures in goals scored in six consecutive seasons in the 1930s. The Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
disrupted his career, forcing him to guest with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
while he served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
Many supporters found his surname unpronounceable, so he was often referred to by the diminutive "Nivvy".
Life and playing career
Born in Boksburg, Transvaal ProvinceTransvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
, Nieuwenhuys worked as an engineer and played for his hometown side Boksburg FC and the Germiston Callies
Germiston Callies F.C.
Germiston Callies was a South African football club based in Germiston. Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1906.The clubs original full name was Germiston Caledonian Society Amateur Football Club, the name was changed when the club turned professional in 1959...
before signing for Liverpool in September 1933. He became one of nine players from Boksburg to participate in the English and Scottish leagues during the 1930s. Liverpool, in particular, fielded at least six South Africans during the decade, including prolific goalscorer Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson was a South African-born English sportsman, being best known for as a striker for Liverpool and also a first-class cricketer for Lancashire, he also excelled at baseball....
. He debuted against Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on 23 September, in a First Division fixture at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, as a replacement for Harry Taylor
Harold Taylor (footballer)
Harold Taylor was a footballer who played in the Football League for Liverpool and Stoke City.-References:...
on the right wing. It proved to be an auspicious beginning, with Liverpool defeating Tottenham 3-0. He contributed to two of the goals, through his accurate crosses to Alf Hanson
Alf Hanson
Adolph Jonathan "Alf" Hanson , son of a Norwegian mariner, was a football player for Liverpool and Chelsea, South Liverpool, Shelbourne, Ellesmere Port Town and Tranmere Rovers.-Life and playing career:...
and Sam English
Sam English
Samuel English was an Irish football player who played for several clubs, but is mainly remembered for his time with Rangers.-Early life:He was born in the hamlet of Crevolea in Aghadowey, Northern Ireland...
. He registered his first goal just a week later, on 30 September against city rivals Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. His 32nd minute strike, along with Hanson's 60th minute and English's 80th minute goals, gave Liverpool a 3–2 win.
The club's overall performances in the league were unremarkable during manager George Patterson
George Patterson (football)
George Patterson was a football manager and secretary who was involved with Liverpool F.C. for much of the first half of the 20th century. After a playing career spent mostly with Marine F.C., Patterson joined Liverpool in 1908, as assistant to Tom Watson. After a spell as club secretary, he was...
's eight-year tenure. Liverpool's league form deteriorated dramatically in the 1935-36 season
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
, in which the club finished 19th. Patterson, suffering from stress and serious illness, resigned to be replaced by Southampton's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
.
Along with his incredible pace and quicksilver feet Nivvy could also hit a venomous shot and he would often be seen cutting in from the wide berth to unleash an unstoppable strike at goal.
After five years at the club, in 1939, Liverpool rewarded Niuewenhuys with a benefit match against Everton. The occasion attracted 13,000 people and generated £685 pounds (equivalent to £123,000 in 2008).
During the Second World War, Nieuwenhuys volunteered for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, receiving Czechoslovakia's Medal of Merit. Many of his teammates, including compatriots Arthur Riley
Arthur Riley
Arthur Riley was a South African who played football for Liverpool.-Life and playing career:Born in Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Riley played for Boksburg F.C before being signed by Reds manager Matt McQueen in the August of 1925, he made his debut on the 24 October 1925 in a First Division...
and Dirk Kemp, also enlisted in the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
.
He guested for both Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
Noted for having a passion for cars, Nieuwenhuys bought a Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
from Carroll Levis
Carroll Levis
Carroll Richard Levis was a talent scout, impresario and television and radio personality. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he moved to England in 1935 and joined the BBC. In the 1950s he hosted a talent competition for young people called The Carroll Levis Discovery Show.-References:...
for £50 prior to enlistment. It remained in a journalist's garage for the duration of the war.
Nieuwenhuys returned to the club after the war. His place in the squad became uncertain in the 1946–47 season, which was the first season of competitive football since the league system's suspension. His final season yielded his only honour, the league championship under manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
. He scored five times in 15 appearances. His teammates during this era included Jack Balmer
Jack Balmer
Jack Balmer was a footballer who played Centre Forward, for Liverpool Football Club.-Life and playing career:...
, Bill Jones
Bill Jones
William Leon Jones is a U.S. politician from California who served in the California State Assembly and later served as California's 27th Secretary of State...
, Albert Stubbins
Albert Stubbins
Albert Stubbins was an English footballer. He played in the position of centre forward, although his career was limited by the onset of World War II.-Life and playing career:...
, Billy Liddell
Billy Liddell
William Beveridge "Billy" Liddell was a Scottish footballer, who played his entire professional career with Liverpool. He signed with the club as a teenager in 1938 and retired in 1961, having scored 228 goals in 534 appearances...
and Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
. It would be the last of the club's league titles until the 1963-64 season. He retired in 1947, having briefly been installed as assistant professional at West Derby Golf Club. He returned to South Africa, assuming a similar responsibility at the Transvaal Country Club for World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
r Bobby Locke
Bobby Locke
Arthur D'Arcy "Bobby" Locke was the first internationally successful South African professional golfer. He won four Open Championships.-Early years:...
. Nieuwenhuys continued his association with football through coaching, specifically for Southern Suburbs
Southern Suburbs
Southern Suburbs is an Australian association football club from Clayton, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. The club was formed in 1979 as Oakleigh Suburbs by local Greek Australians. The club then changed their name to South Caufield in 1992, and finally to Southern Suburbs in 2004...
under manager Bernie Gibson, and the Callies
Nieuwenhuys supplemented his professional career by featuring for the baseball team Hurst Hawks, which included Liverpool colleagues Lance Carr
Lance Carr
Lance Lanyon Carr was a South African former professional football player. He was born in Johannesburg. He played for Liverpool from September 1933 to October 1936 making a total of 31 appearances scoring eight times....
and Ted Savage
Ted Savage (footballer)
Robert Edward "Ted" Savage was an English footballer who played at wing-half for Liverpool.-Life and playing career:Born in Louth, Lincolnshire, England, Savage played for Stewton F.C...
.
His surname's pronunciation presented a dilemma to many supporters, with even the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
Arthur Simmons describing it as a "jigsaw". The name is pronounced " Nivvenhows " - from The Football Who's Who 1935.
Honours
LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
- Football League championship: 1947