V is for Van Dullemen
After growing up in the Netherlands province of South Holland, Raymond van Dullemen started his football career as a youth player in Japan in the 1989/90 season.
He went on to play professionally with ADO Den Haag – his hometown team – and featured for other Dutch clubs such as VIOS Vaassen and Maasdijk.
In 1997, Van Dullemen came to England to try his luck with Northampton Town. His time in claret and white started brightly when he scored four goals with his head as a trialist in the Cobblers’ 4-0 win over Bideford during pre-season.
As well as a place in Cobblers’ folklore, the Dutchman’s remarkable performance helped to earn him a short-term contract with the club as they prepared for a season in the third tier following promotion.
After running out on the opening day against Bournemouth and then in the League Cup, he was loaned to Northamptonshire outfit Kettering Town in the top level of non-league football to gain more experience, netting against the division’s eventual champions, Halifax Town.
The tall forward is one of five Dutchmen to represent the Cobblers since they moved to Sixfields – a list that also includes Laurens ten Heuvel, Kevin Luckassen, Nabil Abidallah and current Scunthorpe United player Kevin van Veen.
Since leaving Northampton and returning to the Netherlands, Van Dullemen has had a fulfilling career away from the football field in project management, working for organisations that specialise in beverages, water management, transport operations, digital technology, justice and security, business economy, and climate policies.
