Richard Sneekes
Encyclopedia
Richard Sneekes is a Dutch
former footballer
, who played as a midfielder. He is currently the First Team Coach at Hereford United F.C.
, and made 22 appearances for Netherlands National
Schoolboys. He made his debut for Ajax at the age of 16, and broke through into the Netherlands U21
team, but never quite fulfilled his potential for the club and was transferred out at the age of 21.
After a short spell at Volendam
Sneekes signed for Fortuna Sittard
and spent four years at the club after which he moved to FC Locarno
in Switzerland before being transferred to England
.
in August 1994 for £200,000. He was part of their team that won promotion to the Premier League that season, but was a casualty the following season when Bolton struggled in the Premier League and was transferred shortly before the end of the season. Whilst at Bolton he played in the 1995 Football League Cup Final
.
signed the Dutchman for West Bromwich Albion
in March 1996 for £400,000. Despite Buckley claiming it would be a while before he made any difference, Sneekes almost immediately became a cult hero at The Hawthorns
. Quite literally an overnight sensation, and many of the Baggies
crowd took to wearing long blond wigs as gestures of worship - even the club shop was selling them. Sneekes finished his first season with ten goals from thirteen games, arguably for some Albion fans saving them from relegation. Sneekes spent seven seasons at West Brom before finally being transferred at the start of the 2001–02 season. After Sneekes' retirement in 2007, he went on to captain West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands 'Masters' and has done so ever since. He scored in the 2008 and 2011 tournaments.
on a free transfer in September 2001, but stayed just two months before a move to Hull City
. That move also didn't work out and he left the latter club in May 2002. A further year was spent with Danish
club Herfølge BK
, before retiring from the professional game at the age of 34.
manager Dean Thomas, at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in July 2007. Sneekes initially trained with the Conference North
club, but then decided to sign for them. However his debut was put on hold as his International Clearance was sought after last playing in Denmark
. He eventually made his debut in Hinckley's 4-2 FA Cup
win over Grantham Town
in September 2007. However, a disastrous start for Hinckley United in the league meant that Sneekes was released, after playing only three games for the club, in October 2007. Sneekes immediately went back into retirement, saying "The fact that I was not really enjoying it meant that it became too much of a chore to do it".
In October 2007 Sneekes' daughter Melissa
won Miss Netherlands, thus qualifying for Miss World 2007
.
, who play in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division. Richard Sneekes' son, Giorgio also signed for the club in the 2010/2011 season. Richard made his debut in Dudley's 2-2 draw at Shifnal Town on 5 October 2010.
where he will be developing Tamworth
youth talent.
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...
former footballer
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...
, who played as a midfielder. He is currently the First Team Coach at Hereford United F.C.
Ajax and Fortuna Sittard
Sneekes started as a Youth player at Ajax AmsterdamAjax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, and made 22 appearances for Netherlands National
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...
Schoolboys. He made his debut for Ajax at the age of 16, and broke through into the Netherlands U21
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
team, but never quite fulfilled his potential for the club and was transferred out at the age of 21.
After a short spell at Volendam
FC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
Sneekes signed for Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard is a football club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1,...
and spent four years at the club after which he moved to FC Locarno
FC Locarno
FC Locarno is a Swiss football club based in Locarno. It was founded in 1906 and was played in Swiss Super League during periods of 1930-1931, 1933-1936, 1945-1953 and 1986-1987.-Current squad:As of 27 July, 2011....
in Switzerland before being transferred to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Bolton Wanderers
Sneekes first came to prominence in England when he signed for Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in August 1994 for £200,000. He was part of their team that won promotion to the Premier League that season, but was a casualty the following season when Bolton struggled in the Premier League and was transferred shortly before the end of the season. Whilst at Bolton he played in the 1995 Football League Cup Final
1995 Football League Cup Final
The 1995 Coca-Cola Cup Final was played between Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium on 2 April 1995. Liverpool won the match 2–1. Two Steve McManaman goals in the 37th and 68th minutes put Liverpool ahead, but Alan Thompson scored a brilliant goal for Bolton to give them some...
.
West Bromwich Albion
Alan BuckleyAlan Buckley
Alan Peter Buckley is an English football manager. He was manager of League Two side Grimsby Town until his dismissal in September 2008...
signed the Dutchman for West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in March 1996 for £400,000. Despite Buckley claiming it would be a while before he made any difference, Sneekes almost immediately became a cult hero at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
. Quite literally an overnight sensation, and many of the Baggies
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
crowd took to wearing long blond wigs as gestures of worship - even the club shop was selling them. Sneekes finished his first season with ten goals from thirteen games, arguably for some Albion fans saving them from relegation. Sneekes spent seven seasons at West Brom before finally being transferred at the start of the 2001–02 season. After Sneekes' retirement in 2007, he went on to captain West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands 'Masters' and has done so ever since. He scored in the 2008 and 2011 tournaments.
Stockport, Hull and Herfølge
He moved to Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on a free transfer in September 2001, but stayed just two months before a move to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. That move also didn't work out and he left the latter club in May 2002. A further year was spent with Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
club Herfølge BK
Herfølge Boldklub
Herfølge Boldklub is a Danish football club founded in 1921. It is based in Herfølge, a southern suburb of Køge in the eastern part of Zealand. In 2009, the club shared it's licence, and merged it's professional football with Køge BK to form HB Køge....
, before retiring from the professional game at the age of 34.
Hinckley United
Sneekes was convinced to come out of retirement following a chance meeting with Hinckley UnitedHinckley United F.C.
Hinckley United Football Club are an English football club, from Hinckley, Leicestershire currently playing in the Conference North. Formed only in 1997, the club has risen from the Southern League Midland/West Division to the Conference North in those 14 years...
manager Dean Thomas, at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in July 2007. Sneekes initially trained with the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
club, but then decided to sign for them. However his debut was put on hold as his International Clearance was sought after last playing in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He eventually made his debut in Hinckley's 4-2 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
win over Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
in September 2007. However, a disastrous start for Hinckley United in the league meant that Sneekes was released, after playing only three games for the club, in October 2007. Sneekes immediately went back into retirement, saying "The fact that I was not really enjoying it meant that it became too much of a chore to do it".
In October 2007 Sneekes' daughter Melissa
Melissa Sneekes
Melissa Sneekes, is a beauty pageant contestant who represented the Netherlands in Miss World 2007 in China.Her father Richard Sneekes is a former footballer, who played as a midfielder most notably in England for West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers....
won Miss Netherlands, thus qualifying for Miss World 2007
Miss World 2007
Miss World 2007, the 57th Miss World pageant was held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya, People's Republic of China on December 1, 2007. It was hosted by Fernando Allende and Angela Chow. Zhang Zilin of the People's Republic of China won the crown and succeeded Miss World 2006, Taťána Kuchařová...
.
Dudley Town
On Monday 27 September 2010, it was revealed in local newspapers that Richard Sneekes had signed for Dudley TownDudley Town F.C.
Dudley Town F.C. are a football club based in Dudley, West Midlands, England. The club is one of the oldest non-league teams in the Midlands region, having been established in 1888...
, who play in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division. Richard Sneekes' son, Giorgio also signed for the club in the 2010/2011 season. Richard made his debut in Dudley's 2-2 draw at Shifnal Town on 5 October 2010.
Tamworth
On 29 May 2010, Sneekes was announced as an assistant Academy Coach to Dale BelfordDale Belford
Dale Belford is a professional footballer, currently player coach at Tamworth.-Aston Villa and Sutton Coldfield Town:...
where he will be developing Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
youth talent.