Christiaan Groothoff

After moving to Amsterdam at a young age, Christiaan Groothoff became a football referee in 1898 and officiated national matches until 1947, almost 70 years of age at that time. At the 1912 Olympic Games he refereed four games including the final between Great Britain (England) and Denmark. Between 1908 and 1920, he was the referee in five additional international matches.

Groothoff was also an avid cricketeer playing for A.V.V. in Amsterdam. Beginning in 1904 he was secretary of the board of the Dutch Cricket Association and held that position for more than 10 years.

By profession, Groothoff was an accountant and also a journalist including editor-in-chief of Het Sportblad from 1905-27. He also published a number of sports books. In 1911 he married Sophia Catharina Knufman and had two sons with her. Hendrika Johanna van Mens became his second wife in 1927.