Willemijn Vorderman-Jansen

Flamingo since 2018

The cricket virus

If you have a father who played cricket (HCC, Green-Yellow, SGS) and also have a brother who practiced this noble sport (Concordia), it is almost impossible that you too will be not be affected by the cricket virus. Willemijn: "I went to the field at an early age and participated when there was batting and bowling behind our house. But initially hockey became my first sport. I was a lazy, some will say efficient, striker at Alecto from Leiderdorp and played in the transition class."

Unfortunately, Willemijn's hockey career was nipped in the bud by a nasty knee injury around her 20th birthday. It was immediately clear to her that she would never return to her old level, but luckily cricket came back on to her path again. During a thé dance at Groen-Geel she got into conversation with a cricketer who rekindled her interest in the sport of her father and brother. "Come and join our ladies’ team," he said, and she did. Willemijn: "I was immediately captivated, turned out to have a good throwing arm and was able to adapt my 'hockey stroke' as a batsman quite well. During my first season I made it to 52 runs once, an achievement of which I was particularly proud. It would not remain my highest score, as against Kampong I once made it to 66 runs. I still remember hitting a six once, the first of my cricket career, and quite a few fours."

Dutch team in England

There is a nice story attached to Willemijn's only appearance in a representative team. In 2013, the Dutch women's team was allowed to participate in the English second division and so travelled once every fourteen days to the other side of the North Sea. It was a coincidence that such an overseas performance coincided with an important qualifying match. Good advice was expensive. Willemijn: "The team that played in the English league had to be "manned" of course. Not showing up was not an option. That meant immediate demotion. When I called around in search of substitutes, I was immediately enthusiastic and so it happened that I travelled to England with the team. Our performance left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, of course, I thought it was great that I could perform for Orange, but on the other hand, there was a certain amount of embarrassment because of the ultra-low total we produced. For me it was my first encounter with a grass wicket, and it took some getting used to. "

Willemijn still plays for Green-Yellow. The flush in the women's league is thin. It's a bit of a scraping. Willemijn: "My own team is quite “old", although some would prefer to use that adjective more softly. For example, we have a 75-year-old bowler in our ranks who bravely blows her game even further."

Women at The Flamingo's

When the Flamingos opened in 2018, for ladies to become members, it was of course time for a women's department to be established. After Wulf had approached Helmien Rambaldo and he turned out not to have enough time, it was Willemijn's turn. Willemijn: "Helmien called me and asked me if I felt like it and that request did not fall on dry soil. I am someone who likes to set up something and after talking to Wulf a few times my initial enthusiasm only increased. A deluge of e-mails was sent out and we soon had 20 members. I soon received help from Denise van Deventer-Hannema and Babette de Leede in setting up the women's department. Our first major event at Groen Geel in September 2020 was a great success. The members flocked in, so we are now at about fifty. In the year of our centenary, we aim for a tour to England that should be partly in sync with the men's tour. An initial poll certainly showed interest in such a team, but we must of course wait and see whether this will succeed."

Willemijn looks forward to the development of women's cricket at De Flamingos with confidence. There is now a stable base that can be expanded. Willemijn: "I hope that The Flamingos can contribute to the ladies playing longer. Nowadays it is often still the case that people drop out early and that is a shame. Fortunately, the youth is very promising. Via the Flamingo Academy, Annemijn van Beuge (VCC), Jolien van Vliet (Kampong) and Robine Rijke (Quick Hg) went to Australia to hone their talents, a fantastic experience for them."

The fact that Willemijn has joined the board of De Flamingos as secretary shows her involvement with the club. Willemijn: "Obviously, in my position I want to make a dynamic contribution to the flourishing of De Flamingos, especially the women's branch of the club. It must be firmly integrated. I will do my very best for that."