Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: KACV Brasschaat (±1959-1977) / KFC Brasschaat (1977-2015, 2020-2023)

Louis De Winterstadion, Brasschaat (KFC Brasschaat)

Belgium, province: Antwerp

16 III 2013 / KFC Brasschaat - KSV Schriek 1-1 / Antwerp, Provincial League 2A (= BE level 6)

24 IX 2022 / KFC Brasschaat - K Wuustwezel FC 3-2 / Antwerp, Provincial League 2A (= BE level 7)

Timeline

1911 / Foundation of a first football club in Brasschaat, Sint-Mariaburg Athletic Club (AC). The club joins the Belgian Football Association that same year.
1913 / Sint-Mariaburg AC takes part in the second edition of the Belgian Cup.
1926 / Upon the introduction of the matricule register, Sint-Mariaburg AC receives matricule 228.
1929 / Sint-Mariaburg AC merges with village rivals Amical Athletic Club (AC) - also founded shortly before World War I - becoming Athletic Club Amical Club (ACAC) Sint-Mariaburg.
1937 / Becoming a Société Royale, ACAC Sint-Mariaburg adapts its name to become Koninklijke Athletic Club Amical Club (KACAC) Sint-Mariaburg.
1941 / KACAC Sint-Mariaburg changes its name to become Koninklijke Ahtletic Klub Verbroedering (KAKV) Sinte-Mariaburg.
1945 / KAKV Sinte-Mariaburg changes its name to become Koninklijke Amical Club en Verbroedering (KACV) Brasschaat.
1950 / For the first time in the history of the club and its two predecessors, KACV Brasschaat accedes to Antwerp's Provincial League 2, the highest provincial level at the time.
±1951 / KACV Brasschaat moves away from its Terrein Torenhof (at Bredabaan), settling down in Brasschaat's Gemeentepark at a pitch commonly known as 'Boshuisje'.
1952 / Upon the introduction of Provincial League 1, KACV Brasschaat is placed at this level - in the following four years, the club descends to Provincial League 2 twice (1953, 1955) only to return to P1 the following season (1954, 1956).
1957 / Winning the title in Provincial League 1, KACV Brasschaat manages its second promotion in as many seasons - and acceding to National Division 4 for the first time in its history. In the first two seasons of the club at national level, it narrowly misses out on promotion, finishing third on both occasions.
±1959 / KACV Brasschaat moves its first team football to the newly built Louis De Winterstadion, a multifunctional ground with a gravel track surrounding the pitch. The stadium, named after Brasschaat's town clerk and driving force behind the building project, is situated in the same communal park as 't Boshuisje, with just several dozens of yards separating both grounds. Terrein 't Boshuisje remains in use for lower team football and training sessions.
±1963 / The wooden main stand is replaced by a much larger construction in stone, with terracing being added on both sides of this grandstand as well as the opposite side of the pitch.
1965 / After finishing second in 1963 and 1964, KACV Brasschaat finally lays its hands on the title in National Division 4, thus acceding to National Division 3.
1967 / Following a win over National Division 4 side R Uccle Sport (2-3 in an away game), KACV Brasschaat draws RSC Anderlecht in the last 32 of the Belgian Cup. In a match played at Louis De Winterstadion, the locals hold the Belgian champions to a stalemate (0-0), upon which Anderlecht wins the penalty shoot-out (11-13).
1970 / Without managing a single win the entire season, KACV Brasschaat finishes dead-last in National Division 3B, thus dropping to the fourth and lowest national level.
1971 / Suffering a second relegation in a row, KACV Brasschaat returns to Antwerp's Provincial League 1 after six seasons of national league football.
1975 / KACV Brasschaat accedes to National Division 4 after four seasons in P1.
1977 / The club changes its name to become Koninklijke Football Club (KFC) Brasschaat. In the 1970s, the club regularly hosts R Antwerp FC at Louis De Winterstadion for a pre-season friendly, attended by crowds of some 7,000 spectators.
1978 / KFC Brasschaat is relegated from National Division 4. The club has not managed a return to the national level ever since.
1980 / For the first time in 24 years, KFC Brasschaat finds itself in Provincial League 2. In the following two decades, the club alternates spells in Provincial Leagues 1 and 2.
2002 / A lowpoint in club history as KFC Brasschaat descends into Antwerp's Provincial League 3. In the following 14 seasons, the club alternates spells in Provincial Leagues 3 and 2.
2015 / Following a conflict with Brasschaat's municipal authorities, KFC Brasschaat refrains from further use of the stadium, henceforth playing its first team football as well as lower team matches at Gemeentepark 't Boshuisje.
2016 / Winning the title in Provincial League 2A, KFC Brasschaat manages a return to Antwerp's Provincial League 1 for the first time in 25 years; however, the stay at that level does not last longer than one unsuccessful season.
2017 / Reviving an old tradition, KFC Brasschaat plays a pre-season friendly against R Antwerp FC at Louis De Winterstadion, attended by 5,000 spectators, part of whom are placed on temporary stands. Due to safety regulations, the official maximum capacity of the ground has been reduced to 1,850.
2020 / KFC Brasschaat moves its first team football back to Louis De Winterstadion, although the flagship team regularly switches to 't Boshuisje (meanwhile renamed Stadion Frans Van Bergen) - especially for cup matches.
2023 / With renovation works getting underway at the Louis De Winterstadion in the spring of 2023, KFC Brasschaat moves all its activities, including first team football, to Stadion Frans Van Bergen.

Note 1: Thanks to KFC Brasschaat's club icon Frans Van Bergen (born in 1932, club member since 1946) for providing me with part of the information given above.

Note 2: Below, a compilation of photos of three different visits: picture 1 = non-matchday visit, July 2022 / pictures 2-19, 21-25 & 27-28 = match visit, September 2022 / pictures 20 & 26 = match visit, March 2013.