When the official figures were released this week, football had topped netball for the first time at a New Zealand Masters Games.
This year's football competition drew a record 57 teams and 867 players and is the most popular sport.
Netball, the most popular sport at all previous Games, had 808 competitors.
Van Gorp took up the role of football co-ordinator for the Games when they first started in Dunedin in 1992.
This year's tournament was the largest football tournament at a New Zealand Masters Games.
Van Gorp has made a huge contribution to the Games and it has been his energy, determination and hard work that has seen football numbers at Dunedin Games increase from 180 in 1992 to 867 this year.
"It is time for me to go while I can still do other things," he said. "I've found the job more and more stressful so I felt it was time to get out."
Van Gorp and athletics administrator Trevor King were instrumental in getting the Caledonian Ground shifted to its present site at Logan Park.
King has moved out of athletics administration and is now heavily involved with bowls at the Mornington club.
"I haven't a clue what I will do," Van Gorp said. "I live close to the Wakari Bowling Club. Perhaps I will join up."
Van Gorp was known as the Flying Dutchman for the work he did as the boss of Otago football for 28 years.
He lifted the sport out of the doldrums and made Otago football a strong competitive force in the country.
Van Gorp was the kingpin of Otago football from 1977 to 2005 and filled the important roles of chairman of the Soccersouth federation, CEO of Soccer Otago and director on the Otago youth development board for overseas tours.
He was an initiator of national league club Otago United and the organiser of national masters football. He was on so many committees he hardly had time to carry out his love of refereeing.
But he always grabbed the occasional game of super oldies football. He was awarded a New Zealand Masters Games life award two years ago.
