Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: SC Ramevinnes (1974-2002) / ES des Carrières (2002-2005) / JS Ramecroix (2005-2011)

Terrain de la Chaussée de Bruxelles, Gaurain-Ramecroix (formerly SC Ramevinnes / ES des Carrières / JS Ramecroix)

Belgium, province: Hainaut = Henegouwen

May 2019 / no match visited

Timeline

1971 / Foundation of a football club in the hamlet of Gaurain-Ramecroix, situated to the east of Tournay (Tournai, Doornik). The new club takes on the name FC Gaurain-Ramecroix, acquiring registration number 7677 upon joining Belgium’s Football Association (URBSFA / KBVB) – and starting its existence as a competitive club in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4. Most probably, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix settled on its pitch at Rue Joncquerelle in Gaurain right at the start of its existence.
1974 / Foundation of a second football club in Gaurain-Ramecroix, Sporting Club (SC) Ramevinnes, founded by a group of enthusiasts from Ramecroix and Havinnes – hence the name Rame/vinnes – dedicated to the principles of socialism. SC Ramevinnes joins the Belgian Football Association with registration number 8110, starting its existence as a competitive club in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4. Most probably, SC Ramevinnes settled on it pitch at Chaussée de Bruxelles in Ramecroix right at the start of its existence.
1975 / Finishing in fourth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix wins promotion to Provincial League 3 via a set of play-offs, organised due to extra promotion places being available following the introduction of one extra Provincial League 3 division in the following season, alongside champions FC Frasnois and runner-up FC Ollignies.
1977 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, 5 points behind champions FC Lignette, SC Ramevinnes wins promotion to Provincial League 3 for the first time, probably following a successful round of play-offs.
1978 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix drops back into Provincial League 4 after three years, along with the club in second-last place, FC Frasnois.
1982 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, SC Ramevinnes descends into Provincial League 4 after five years, alongside bottom club SC Hollain.
1985 / SC Ramevinnes finishes as runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, 6 points behind champions DR Rongy.
1988 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, 1 point behind champions RUS Flobecquoise, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix wins promotion to Provincial League 3 via the play-offs.
1989 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix drops back into Provincial League 4 after just one season, alongside bottom club OC Warcoing.
1990 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, 1 point behind champions FC Esplechin, SC Ramevinnes wins promotion to Provincial League 3 following a successful round of play-offs.
1993 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, SC Ramevinnes descends into Provincial League 4 after three seasons, along with bottom club FC Ramegnies-Lamain.
1994 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4B, 1 point behind champions JS Isièroise, SC Ramevinnes manages an immediate return to Provincial League 3 via the promotion play-offs.
1998 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, 2 points ahead of closest rivals JUS Maubray, SC Ramevinnes achieves an unprecedented promotion to Provincial League 2. In this season, no doubt the highlight in its history, the club also reaches the semifinal of Hainaut’s Provincial Cup, in which it is knocked out by R Soignies Sports.
2000 / In the best season in club history, SC Ramevinnes finishes in eighth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2A – an achievement repeated in 2000. Meanwhile, down in Provincial League 4A, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix finishes in third place, going on to break down the door to Provincial League 3 in the ensuing round of play-offs, thus accompanying champions RUS Flobecquoise and runner-up FC Esplechin at this higher level.
2001 / In the best season in club history, FC Gaurain-Ramecroix finishes in eighth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3B. In the summer of 2001, the club changes its name to become Jeunesse Sportive (JS) Gaurain.
2002 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3B, JS Gaurain descends into Provincial League 4 alongside FC Basècles, RUS Belstam, and SC Elouges. However, following the 2001-02 season, a merger is concluded between JS Gaurain and SC Ramevinnes, resulting in the foundation of Entente Sportive (ES) des Carrières, which retains the registration number of Ramevinnes, 8110. With all activities probably moving to Chaussée de Bruxelles straightaway, the ground at Rue Joncquerelle in Gaurain is abandoned. ES des Carrières takes over the place of SC Ramevinnes in Provincial League 2.
2003 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2A, ES des Carrières is retrograded into Provincial League 3 alongside the club in second-last place, JS Isièroise.
2004 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, ES des Carrières suffers its second relegation in a row, descending into Provincial League 4, along with the club in second-last place, FC Brunehaut.
2005 / Finishing in last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4A in its last season, ES des Carrières ceases its activities, winding up merely three years after the conclusion of the merger between JS Gaurain and SC Ramevinnes. Straightaway, a successor club is created, Jeunesse Sportive (JS) Ramecroix, which joins the Belgian FA with registration number 9481. The new club takes over the pitch of ES des Carrières at Chaussée de Bruxelles.
2006 / One year after its creation, JS Ramecroix starts its life as a competitive club in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4.
2009 / JS Ramecroix finishes as runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4A, 4 points behind champions RAS Risquons-Tout.
2010 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4A, 9 points ahead of closest rivals RRC Estaimpuis B, JS Ramecroix accedes to Provincial League 3.
2011 / Finishing in fourteenth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, JS Ramecroix goes on to suffer defeat in a relegation play-off against AC Le Rœulx B (0-4). As such, the club descends into Provincial League 4 after just one season, alongside FC Ostiches B and bottom club RA Leuze-Lignette. However, following the 2010-11 season, after an existence of six years, JS Ramecroix winds up, ceasing all activities. The ground at Chaussée de Bruxelles is abandoned.
2017 / The clubhouse of the former FC Gaurain-Ramecroix at Rue Joncquerelle is devastated in a fire; meanwhile, the last traces of this ground have been removed.