While players and managers dominate the headlines, the matchday programme also serves as a meticulous record of the men in black. Page 22 of the May 2013 edition against Ajax dedicates a specific section to the “Arbitraal Kwartet” (Refereeing Quartet), officially documenting that the match was overseen by referee Reinold Wiedemeijer, assisted by Dave Goossens and Rob Meenhuis, with Rogier Honig acting as the fourth official.
For Reinold Wiedemeijer, this specific afternoon was a minor milestone: it marked his tenth time officiating an official match at the Euroborg. The programme editors took this opportunity to take a trip down memory lane, listing his previous appearances and inadvertently creating a perfect web of historical connections for any football archivist. The text recalls his stadium debut on November 19, 2006, a resounding 4-1 victory over Willem II. It also highlights a frustrating 0-1 loss to Sparta later that year, before moving on to more successful outings, including victories over Heracles Almelo (2-0 and 4-1), NEC (3-1), and a memorable 3-0 thrashing of PSV in the 2010/2011 season.
By listing these specific fixtures, the programme acknowledges that a referee is not just an impartial enforcer, but a recurring character in the ongoing drama of the club’s history. Fans often associate specific officials with good or bad luck, and detailing Wiedemeijer’s track record—which included a recent 3-2 win against Roda JC but also a 0-3 cup defeat to Ajax—set the psychological stage for the afternoon.
A Look into the Future
By 2026, the landscape of football officiating has been completely transformed by the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Reinold Wiedemeijer eventually retired from active on-pitch refereeing and transitioned into roles within the KNVB, including working as a VAR official. The meticulous recording of the entire refereeing quartet in printed programmes remains a vital historical resource, especially in an era where the focus has shifted heavily towards the screens in Zeist rather than the men running on the grass of the Euroborg.