Gerard Kerkum
Encyclopedia
Gerard Kerkum is a Dutch
retired footballer and was twice chairman of Dutch football team Feyenoord Rotterdam
.
Kerkum, born in Rotterdam
played a total of 349 matches in Feyenoord's (Feijenoord in those days) first team from 1951 to 1965. He was the team's captain for many years and scored a total of 13 goals for the club. He played one match for the Dutch national team
.
After his career Kerkum entered the Feyenoord staff and board before he became the first and to present only former Feyenoord player to be chairman of the club in 1982. He stayed at the club until 1989, when Feyenoord suffered with financial problems and was succeeded by Jorien van den Herik
. In 1984 Feyenoord won the double, winning both the Eredivisie
and the KNVB Cup
.
In the time that Van den Herik was Feyenoord's chairman (1989–2006) Kerkum was no longer part of the team, but always stayed in contact with those who were. After the growing pressure on Van den Herik in the media and by the fans in 2006 due to financial trouble and underachievements Feyenoord decided that the club's future had to be re-evaluated. This was done by a newly formed commission called the Commissie Kerkum, led by Gerard Kerkum.
The Commissie Kerkum had several meetings and finally came to the conclusion things at the club had to change. One of the results was that Van den Herik had to leave the club in December 2006. As Feyenoord was unable to find a new chairman right away Van den Herik was temporary replaced by Kerkum himself, until the end of the 2006-07 season. From then on Dick van Well
took over as the new chairman at the club.
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...
retired footballer and was twice chairman of Dutch football team Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
.
Kerkum, born in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
played a total of 349 matches in Feyenoord's (Feijenoord in those days) first team from 1951 to 1965. He was the team's captain for many years and scored a total of 13 goals for the club. He played one match for the Dutch national 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...
.
After his career Kerkum entered the Feyenoord staff and board before he became the first and to present only former Feyenoord player to be chairman of the club in 1982. He stayed at the club until 1989, when Feyenoord suffered with financial problems and was succeeded by Jorien van den Herik
Jorien van den Herik
Jorien van den Herik is a Dutch business man and was chairman of Feyenoord Rotterdam till 2006.Van den Herik helped Feyenoord to purchase some players in 1984 as chairman of the "Friends of Feyenoord Group". In a few years time he had invested 3 million Dutch guldens in the club. In 1989 be became...
. In 1984 Feyenoord won the double, winning both the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and the KNVB Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
.
In the time that Van den Herik was Feyenoord's chairman (1989–2006) Kerkum was no longer part of the team, but always stayed in contact with those who were. After the growing pressure on Van den Herik in the media and by the fans in 2006 due to financial trouble and underachievements Feyenoord decided that the club's future had to be re-evaluated. This was done by a newly formed commission called the Commissie Kerkum, led by Gerard Kerkum.
The Commissie Kerkum had several meetings and finally came to the conclusion things at the club had to change. One of the results was that Van den Herik had to leave the club in December 2006. As Feyenoord was unable to find a new chairman right away Van den Herik was temporary replaced by Kerkum himself, until the end of the 2006-07 season. From then on Dick van Well
Dick van Well
Dick van Well is a Dutch business man and currently chairman of Dutch football team Feyenoord Rotterdam.Van Well was chairman of the Dura Vermeer Group in Zoetermeer for many years...
took over as the new chairman at the club.