VALE - Rene Henke
It is with great sadness that we advise the passing of a great friend, life member and stalwart of Wellington United, Rene Henke, in his 94th year.
Rene immigrated from the Netherlands in 1951, eventually settling in Wellington. In 1954 he was on his way to play a game of rugby for Onslow when he met a fellow Dutchman on the train, who convinced him that he really should be playing football and Rene ended up at what was the first get together of the Zealandia Football Club.
Rene played for a couple of seasons, his last official game coming in 1959 when the Division 2 Zealandia upset Division 1 Miramar Rangers, 3-2 in the final of the Hilton Petone Cup (then an end of season competition). An injury forced him to hang up his playing boots, but still able to run he took up refereeing. He also got involved in the administration of the game, becoming Zealandia club president in 1964. In an effort to ensure the club survived he was instrumental in changing the name to Wellington United and then in 1968 organising the merger with Diamond’s to create Wellington Diamond United (WDU).
Rene was made a life member of the new club and was heavily involved in running the club. He was key in recruiting many players to the club, one of his early roles was on the docks enabling him to approach new immigrants when they arrived here to play for the club. He also traveled overseas and recruited players from the UK. On return from one of those trips in 1973 he was interviewed by the Evening Post and made the bold statement that WDU would be league champions within three years. Given that WDU had just been relegated from the National League the press was quite scathing, however in 1976 WDU won the first of their three national league titles.
Rene also supported the wider football community. When the Women’s Football Association was established in 1972, Rene, by now manager of the Royal Oak Hotel supplied them with the Royal Oak Trophy for the league winners. He also helped the new league as a referee.
As well as WDU, Rene also served as a delegate on the Wellington Football Association and the New Zealand Football Association. At the NZFA he earned the sobriquet of “that bloody Dutchman” from then chairman Charlie Dempsey. He was recognised for his over 65 years of involvement in football with a club service award from Capital Football in 2020.
Rene absolutely loved coming down to Newtown Park on a Saturday to watch Wellington United, or “his team” as he called us, something he was doing right up until last season.
It’s hard to convey the immense amount he did for our club and we have lost a great friend.
Our thoughts go out to his daughter Barbara, wife Alice and the rest of Rene’s family.
As per Rene's wishes a private service has been held
Hup Holland, RIP Rene
Rene immigrated from the Netherlands in 1951, eventually settling in Wellington. In 1954 he was on his way to play a game of rugby for Onslow when he met a fellow Dutchman on the train, who convinced him that he really should be playing football and Rene ended up at what was the first get together of the Zealandia Football Club.
Rene played for a couple of seasons, his last official game coming in 1959 when the Division 2 Zealandia upset Division 1 Miramar Rangers, 3-2 in the final of the Hilton Petone Cup (then an end of season competition). An injury forced him to hang up his playing boots, but still able to run he took up refereeing. He also got involved in the administration of the game, becoming Zealandia club president in 1964. In an effort to ensure the club survived he was instrumental in changing the name to Wellington United and then in 1968 organising the merger with Diamond’s to create Wellington Diamond United (WDU).
Rene was made a life member of the new club and was heavily involved in running the club. He was key in recruiting many players to the club, one of his early roles was on the docks enabling him to approach new immigrants when they arrived here to play for the club. He also traveled overseas and recruited players from the UK. On return from one of those trips in 1973 he was interviewed by the Evening Post and made the bold statement that WDU would be league champions within three years. Given that WDU had just been relegated from the National League the press was quite scathing, however in 1976 WDU won the first of their three national league titles.
Rene also supported the wider football community. When the Women’s Football Association was established in 1972, Rene, by now manager of the Royal Oak Hotel supplied them with the Royal Oak Trophy for the league winners. He also helped the new league as a referee.
As well as WDU, Rene also served as a delegate on the Wellington Football Association and the New Zealand Football Association. At the NZFA he earned the sobriquet of “that bloody Dutchman” from then chairman Charlie Dempsey. He was recognised for his over 65 years of involvement in football with a club service award from Capital Football in 2020.
Rene absolutely loved coming down to Newtown Park on a Saturday to watch Wellington United, or “his team” as he called us, something he was doing right up until last season.
It’s hard to convey the immense amount he did for our club and we have lost a great friend.
Our thoughts go out to his daughter Barbara, wife Alice and the rest of Rene’s family.
As per Rene's wishes a private service has been held
Hup Holland, RIP Rene