Jeroen Manschot Debuts in Groenlo
8 June 2024“I know the tournament from good stories”
Until last Wednesday, he didn’t know that he would be refereeing the kick-off of Grol – KRC Genk on Friday evening at 6:30 PM. We are talking about referee Jeroen Manschot (41) from Houten. A familiar face on Dutch fields with over 300 matches of experience at the highest level. He had never officiated at the Marveld Tournament before, but that changed this year.
Good Stories
Since fellow referee Martijn Vos unfortunately had to withdraw due to injury, chief referee and arbitration manager Karel van den Heuvel faced a small challenge. However, three hours later, everything was sorted out, and Manschot had given his consent. “I know the tournament from good stories,” Manschot begins, “But they do tell the truth! You think, ‘That’s what they always say,’ but it really is true. Everything around it and the camaraderie, it’s really great. The level of football itself is also exceptional, considering most players are around 14 years old.”
When asked if he had to think long about it when van den Heuvel called, Manschot mentioned that he did need to discuss it at home. “We had some appointments scheduled, and I had to rearrange things for Friday and Saturday evening. The decision was, however, quite clear when Karel mentioned it was for the Marveld Tournament,” Jeroen recounts the scene from last Wednesday. “There’s a good team of referees here, and they don’t come here for nothing. The tournament has a good reputation. I didn’t need to think twice,” he says, laughing.
Not a Tournament Referee?!
That Manschot referees at a (youth) tournament is almost unheard of: “My last tournament was back in 2012. I officiated at the Future Cup at Ajax, but I tore my Achilles tendon there. After that, tournaments were a ‘no-go’ for me. Especially with the breaks between matches, that’s just not for me.” Jeroen made an exception for the Marveld Tournament, and he has no regrets about his decision to come to the Achterhoek so far.
With Grol – KRC Genk, Manschot had a great match for his debut at Sportpark Den Elshof. “The beautiful thing is that Grol even took a 1-0 lead and held it for a long time. Then you see the boys starting to believe in it themselves, which is just wonderful to see.” Ultimately, Grol couldn’t hold onto the lead, and Genk managed to turn the tide by scoring twice.
A Clash of Football Cultures
On Saturday morning, Jeroen had a clash of two football cultures on the schedule with Palmeiras – Ajax. The physically strong Brazilians against the city boys who rely on their football and technique. “These are two cultures that really clash. Besides, at Palmeiras, almost no one speaks English, so as a referee, you get hardly any comments,” Jeroen explains after the match.
After Palmeiras took the lead through an own goal by Ajax, Manschot awarded a penalty to the South Americans shortly after a foul in the penalty area. The Ajax goalkeeper danced on the goal line like Jerzy Dudek in his prime, and it seemed to help as the ball crashed against the post. However, Palmeiras managed to extend their lead to 2-0 before halftime and sealed the match with a swerving long-range shot just before the end.
From the sidelines, it was clear that Manschot was visibly enjoying himself on the field. “You have to have a feel for the players. You approach one differently than the other, especially since the culture is different,” he explains and continues, “Honestly, I expected a more physical game, but Palmeiras had the advantage in the scoreline and didn’t need to rely on that.”
“Everything is Thought of”
When asked about his experiences at the tournament so far, Jeroen immediately praised the organization and how everything is arranged: “The organization is simply amazing. You can see it everywhere. Everything is perfectly arranged, and there are basically no loose ends. Everything is thought of!” Jeroen expresses his enthusiasm. “You hardly need to ask questions because there is almost always an immediate answer, or it’s just taken care of. As a referee, you’re not used to that, but here you’re really pampered. That’s a big compliment to the tournament organization and all the volunteers,” says a grateful Manschot.
Fun and Sociability
If two words characterize the Marveld Tournament, they are fun and sociability. Two words that also seamlessly fit Jeroen Manschot. For both the young and more experienced referees, the tournament is a great opportunity where the sporting and social aspects come together. Jeroen: “Besides the performances on the field, the social aspect is also important, sharing experiences with each other, having fun outside the matches. It gives you a lot of satisfaction in the hobby you practice. The fun surrounding the tournament forms the basis for good performances, and then you have to do it: gain experience. That’s the most important thing!”
Jeroen himself indicates that sociability is very important to him: “I need that to have fun, and it works out pretty well here,” he says laughing and adds, “I’m not going to sit in my room waiting for the next match to start.” This is evident when he is later seen with fellow referee Clay Ruperti doing the polonaise through the dishwashing area to the sounds of “Dancing Queen” blaring from the speakers.
Whether Jeroen Manschot will be present next year and perhaps do the polonaise through the dishwashing area again is still uncertain. “That’s not up to me. You have to ask the tournament organization that question. If it’s up to me, yes, but I’m not going to invite myself,” concludes Jeroen. However, it is clear that the Marveld Tournament has gained another ambassador who will return home with good stories!
