The Jan Last Tournament is a historic event with a rich tradition. To fully understand its significance, we will delve into its origins, evolution, and key moments.
The Origins of VVOR and its Early Years
The Christelijke Jongemannenvereniging Onésimus (Christian Young Men's Association Onésimus) was founded in 1866 with the aim to provide a safe and engaging environment for Protestant youth. The association's activities were centered around entertainment within its own community. However, recognizing the diverse interests of its members, Onésimus branched out into various sub-associations, including the gymnastics club Tenaco, the chess club, and the Sunday school Samuel.
Even before 1925, there was informal football activity among a group of Christian young men, some of whom possessed considerable talent. Initially, there was reluctance to form a formal club, as larger clubs in Kralingen often attracted the better players, and interest fluctuated.
The Birth of VVO
In 1925, the idea of forming a football club gained momentum. Koos Weekhout recalled a Saturday evening in the hall on the 's Gravenweg, where Onésimus met: "I remember, as if it were yesterday, how my friend Teun de Graaf and I, behind the organ that stood diagonally in the hall, looked for a place to talk quietly. We wanted to play football again.”
A week later, despite some potential players withdrawing due to parental disapproval of football, VVO (Voetbal Vereniging Onésimus) was established. This three-letter name would remain with the club until the war.
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Leo de Leeuw, another co-founder, stated, "The General Board of Onésimus readily cooperated and paid for us the rent for a field on the old Toepad, where later the Marinierskazerne would be built: O, dear little piece of land, where VVO's cradle once stood." While the field was not ideal, Martien van der Kleij noted that "the Toepad, that bumpy, knobbly and far too small field, with its endless ditch balls, has, in retrospect, taught us an underestimated ball control."
The first team of 1925 was a motley crew. According to Koos Weekhout, "Of our eleven players, some had a shirt, others had shorts. Hardly anyone had football shoes. Moreover, some players refused to change completely, kept their shirts on and pulled their football shorts over their underpants. Underneath you could see sock suspenders and a pair of old shoes.” However, VVO was "not just a football club, but above all a friends club."
Early Competition and Growth
Initially, VVO only played internal matches. But the founders soon realized that they needed to become a real club to prevent it from falling apart. They elected a board and captain, printed membership cards, set a weekly contribution of 15 cents, and mandated proper attire and shoes.
VVO joined the Christelijke Nederlandse Voetbal Bond (CNVB), the Protestant Christian Football Association. Football in those years was still segregated, with separate leagues for Protestants, Catholics, and socialist ("red") organizations. There were even separate associations for office football. VVO competed against teams such as Unicum, KDO, Olympia, Odiveo, Velocitas, and Eendracht.
One of the first home matches was against Poseidon from IJsselmonde, resulting in a 0-9 defeat. However, after two months of training and gaining experience, VVO managed to hold the same opponent to a 1-1 draw. Despite a fluctuating membership, a core group of dedicated VVO members emerged, forming a tight-knit group of friends both on and off the field.
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Field Changes and Continued Challenges
VVO's time at Toepad was short-lived. The next field was Woudestein, a significant improvement. According to the club, staying in Kralingen "perpetuated the association life. In this way a great sense of solidarity was cultivated, a circle of friends was created which is the greatest secret of all successes on the football field.” However, the stay at Woudestein was also brief, and finding suitable fields in Kralingen proved difficult.
The next complex was located at the other end of the city, on the Abraham van Stolkweg. While VVO finally had access to fields with "KNVB dimensions," the larger club Xerxes soon displaced VVO to smaller fields in the back. Furthermore, the distance from Kralingen led to a decline in member interest. Fortunately, the exile to the Abraham van Stolkweg only lasted a few years, and in 1936, VVO returned to Kralingen, relocating to the Langepad, where the club flourished once again.
Success on the Field and the Impact of War
On the field, VVO experienced varying degrees of success. Until 1928, the club only had one team. In October 1927, they played their first away match against Excelsior Maassluis, losing 3-2 in a hard-fought game. Koos Weekhout scored two goals and was hailed as "the cannon of Kralingen" in the Maassluis newspaper.
Weekhout later recalled the unique atmosphere of away matches outside Rotterdam: ".. how we were met somewhere along the Lek with a music corps and ushered out with dirt, mud and stones." VVO excelled in matches for the CJMV cup, which featured Christian sub-associations from Rotterdam and the surrounding area. A. Spek, a member from the beginning, recalled, "They were tough, but fun games. The first cup was won on the Afrikaanderplein." In 1931, the second team won the first club championship, and in 1932, VVO established its first junior team.
Leadership and Growth
The first chairman of VVO was Jan Stapelkamp, succeeded by Bas van Holst. In 1935, Thomas (Tom) Timmers became chairman. Jo Bruens, editor of the club's monthly magazine, summarized Timmers' view of Christian football as follows: "As Christian young people, we must also take our place in the field of sports, and not remain in our own little circle." Under Timmers' leadership, VVOR's membership grew from 35 to 70.
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In 1937, the first team won its first championship, shortly after returning to Kralingen. Martien van der Kleij was the club's best player at the time and was selected for the Rotterdam CNVB team to play against The Hague selection in 1938.
The Impact of World War II
By 1940, VVO was a thriving association with four senior teams and one junior team. However, the outbreak of World War II disrupted this progress and marked the end of the Christian football league in the Netherlands. The German authorities believed that sports organization should not be left to private initiative and sought to unify Dutch sports under the NSLO (Nationale Stichting ter bevordering van de Lichamelijke Opvoeding).
On July 31, 1940, the "old" KNVB, the Catholic RKF, the "red" NASB, the Protestant CNVB, the office football association, and the neutral associations merged into the Nederlandse Voetbal Bond (NVB). The CNVB board accepted the situation, and its members joined the NVB, if they did not cease to exist. This had far-reaching consequences, as they now had to compete against clubs with different backgrounds, mentalities, and customs. Furthermore, another club named VVO already existed in Gelderland, so VVO had to change its name, adding the R for Rotterdam, becoming VVOR.
Chairman Thomas Timmers died in May 1940 during the firefighting efforts following the bombing of Rotterdam. The club's 15th-anniversary celebration was canceled. The VVOR archive survived the bombing in the homes of Bas van Holst and Jan Stapelkamp. However, Stapelkamp later admitted that the archive succumbed to the fuel shortages of the war and post-war years.
Wartime Challenges and Resilience
In 1941, another association, VVK, merged with VVOR. Another pre-war chairman, Henk de Graaff, died in 1942, and his successor went into hiding. Van Holst succeeded him, marking a difficult time for the club, which was leaderless and a victim of the circumstances.
In 1942, the German occupiers installed anti-aircraft guns on the hockey fields at Toepad, and the NSLO decided that the hockey clubs should move to Langepad, where VVOR played. VVOR was forced to move again to the Abraham van Stolkweg. Bas van Holst lamented, "Far from our beloved Kralingen" and from mother association Onésimus. With difficult public transport, VVOR dwindled.
Despite the challenges, the Easter and Pentecost tournaments of the Protestant associations continued. Cor van Krimpen recalled the tournament in Deurne in 1943: "We went to eat before the match with the players of the opponent. All farmers, so there was a terrible amount to eat. And we, city boys, were no longer used to that. We were completely stuffed on the field and lost 7-1."
Post-War Revival
Due to the war, there was no competition in the 1944-1945 season. However, the members of VVOR still met, playing informal matches in the bombed-out areas of Kralingen. Cor van Krimpen recalled, "In the last year of the war there was no competition. But we still got together. In the middle of Kralingen we played internal matches on a field. A large part of Kralingen was bombed. We called that 'playing in the rubble'."
After the liberation, Bas van Holst recalled the dire state of VVOR a few years earlier: "The club was on its deathbed. After the liberation we called our members together. Twelve showed up." However, they did not give up. They trained outdoors on the football field of Speeltuinvereniging Kralingen under the leadership of Jan Amesz, and indoors on Monday evenings in the gymnasium on the Gashouderstraat. VVOR played its home matches after the liberation on the Gordelweg.
Jan Nieuwland recalled the first post-war outing of VVOR on April 22, 1946, against the Zebra's from Hilversum, including a visit to the studios. "It was a tradition," Nieuwland wrote, "that VVO played matches on Easter Monday, Ascension Day and Whit Monday. It was customary for everyone to go, fiancées, spouses, friends etc. etc. That was always a party that everyone looked forward to. If the girlfriend was not a fan of football, then it would never be anything."
Reintegration into the KNVB
In August 1946, the council of the KNVB expressed its desire to continue the merger. Forty-nine members voted in favor, while only eleven wanted to return to the pre-war situation. The old CNVB members united after the liberation in the Verbond van Christelijke Voetbalverenigingen in Nederland (VCVN), the Association of Christian Football Associations in the Netherlands. A survey showed that sixty percent of the VCVN members wanted to continue in the KNVB, provided that "the character of the Christian football associations would not be tampered with."
VVOR continued to train, and the first season after the liberation was surprisingly successful. In 1945-1946, VVOR became champion and was promoted to the fourth class of the KNVB. However, the championship was not particularly spectacular, as only six teams participated in the competition. VVOR also played for the championship of Rotterdam but was eliminated by Zwart Wit '28, 1-0.
According to Bas van Holst, VVOR managed to "develop to a high level of play" in the fourth class, thanks in large part to Martien van der Kleij, "undoubtedly the best footballer VVO has ever had." However, their first appearance in "the KNVB" was short-lived. In 1947, VVOR was relegated back to the department. The board argued with the team committee, which put together the teams. There was also discord within the board. The junior team was dissolved due to a lack of players, and the financial situation was poor.
Revival and Continued Challenges
Fortunately, Martien van der Kleij, the embodiment of VVO's successful days, wanted to become chairman in 1949, halting the decline. In the same year, VVOR was promoted again to the KNVB as champion. The team had a "legendary vanguard" consisting of Cor van Krimpen, Andries de Vaal, and Wim van Mourik.
Andries de Vaal recalled in 1993: "Sometimes you played far away matches. Then we had to take the 'murderer train' from the Rosestraat to Oud-Beijerland or Den Briel. When the match was over, we had to run without washing to catch the last ride back. You must not forget, everyone worked on Saturday mornings at that time. It was often quite a job to get to the field on time. Outside Rotterdam they only drove the cows off the field just before the match. You were constantly slipping on the droppings and placards. And in the winters the dressing rooms were frozen."
25th Anniversary and Beyond
In 1950, VVOR celebrated its 25th anniversary with the performance of the self-written revue 'Stay Optimistic'. VVOR played on the Gordelweg but sought a field in Kralingen. Woudestein was too expensive, and VVOR could not find another suitable field.
In the 1951-1952 season, Laag-Zestienhoven became the new home base due to the renovation of the field on the Gordelweg. However, VVOR played poorly and was relegated to the RVB. They did reach the quarter-finals of the KN…
Recent Seasons and the Corona Crisis
The 2019-2020 season was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lebo 1, back in the 3rd class, was having a decent season when the football competition was suspended indefinitely in early March. In mid-April, the KNVB decided to stop the season immediately and not to appoint any champions or relegations based on the current standings. At the time of the suspension, Lebo 1 was in a commendable 9th place.
Despite the pandemic, a group of female former footballers decided to participate in a 7-a-side competition for women over 35 on Friday evenings. Under the leadership of Geerard Walhout, they trained and recruited, quickly forming two teams.
Challenges and Mergers
From 2021-2024, Lebo 1 played in the 3rd class, consistently battling against relegation. In 2024, they were relegated to the 4th class. Lebo had only two senior teams active on Saturdays, along with a men's 35+ (7x7) team and women's 7x7 teams. In June 2024, a group of enthusiastic members organized a new tournament called the Boarding Tournament.
In the 2024-2025 season, Lebo finished second in the 4th class and was able to force promotion back to the 3rd class through the promotion competition. The final of the promotion competition was against the oldest football club in Dordrecht, DFC. Unfortunately, this match was lost 1-5, resulting in Lebo's last match as an independent association.
In the 2025-2026 season, Lebo entered into an SSA (Samewerking Senioren Afdeling) with SV Nieuwdorp.
Be Quick's Championship in 1920
In the spring of 1920, the city of Groningen was captivated by the footballers of Be Quick. The team displayed an unparalleled level of play in the Northern Netherlands, dominating their opponents. However, the selection committee of the Dutch national team did not include any Be Quick players in the national squad.
Determined to prove their worth, the Be Quick players traveled to Maastricht for their first match in the championship competition against MVV. After defeating the eastern champion Go Ahead, the football fever in Groningen reached unprecedented heights. However, in the following match against VOC Rotterdam, Be Quick suffered a crushing 7-1 defeat.
Despite the setback, coach Harry Waites, an Englishman who had been interned in Groningen during World War I, rallied the team. Be Quick went on to defeat Go Ahead again and faced VOC in the decisive match. Appie Groen scored the opening goal, setting the tone for a historic day.
On June 6, 1920, Be Quick defeated VOC 4-0 to become the Dutch national champion. The victory allowed the club to purchase land on the Harense Esserberg and build a stadium. The team also embarked on a three-week tour of Sweden.
Max Tetzner, a member of the championship team, was also the reigning Dutch all-around speed skating champion, placing him alongside other famous athletes. Evert van Linge, the team captain, was also an architect who designed the new stadium.
The Jan Bralten Futsal Tournament
The Jan Bralten Futsal Tournament is an annual indoor football event held in Meppel. The tournament attracts teams from the region, including Alcides, MSC, d'Olde Veste'54, Rolder Boys, Flamingo, and VV Wacker.
The tournament has a rich history, with the 29th and 30th editions taking place in 2021. It is known for its sporty competition and friendly atmosphere. The tournament is held in the Ezinge sports hall in Meppel.
In 2021, Alcides won the tournament after a penalty shootout against d'Olde Veste'54. Ryan Luyckx (Alcides) was named the best player and scored the most beautiful goal. Xander Jager (Alcides) was the best goalkeeper, while Nick Kuiper (d'Olde Veste'54) was the most productive player with 16 goals.
VV Wacker participates in the Jan Bralten Futsal Tournament as part of its winter program. During the winter break, the team participates in indoor and outdoor training programs and other tournaments.
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