Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: R Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies

Tuesday 26 July 2022

BELGIUM: R Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies

Parc d'Oleye - Rue Nationale, Oleye = Liek (R Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies)

Belgium, province: Liège = Luik

26 VII 2022 / R JOR Oleye - RFC Huy B 3-3 / Coupe Hesbaye-Condroz

Timeline

1969 / Foundation of Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies at the instigation of Guy Schroyen and Yves Wauters, two local young men not affiliated to any other youth movement - and this following a one-off football match held in Oleye on the occasion of the annual village fair. The unusual club name was chosen because the local (Roman Catholic) youth scouts jumped on the bandwagon, claiming the original idea to found a football club was theirs - and thus, the newly created football club's membership consisted of a combination of confessional and non-confessional young men (literally translated in English, 'Jeunesses Réunies' means 'Combined Youths'). In fact, Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies was not the first football club in Oleye; its predecessor, founded in World War II, must have folded shortly after the liberation of Belgium. Upon joining Belgium's Football Association, Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies obtains matricule 7501. The new club, usually referred to locally as 'JOR Oleye' or simply 'JOR', played at their current ground from the foundation onwards. In the course of its history, the club never climbed to a level higher than Liège's Provincial League 3.
± 1986 / Construction of a wonderful covered stand, largely constructed in wood. The official inauguration ceremony is performed by Waremme's mayor - and former Prime Minister of Belgium - Edmond Leburton (who, incidentally, also gave his name to Waremme's stadium, constructed in the early 1970s). The stand was named after one of the volunteers who built it, Antoine Lejeune.
2019 / Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Jeunesses Oléyennes Réunies acquires the royal epithet, thus becoming Royale Jeunesse Oléyennes Réunies.
2022 / After many years in Provincial League 4, R JOR Oleye wins the title in P4B with a 5-point advantage over USH Limontoise, thus acceding to Provincial League 3.
2023 / In an excellent season in P3A, R JOR Oleye finishes 4th in Provincial League 3A. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, the club is eliminated in the first preliminary round by R Couthuin Sports (3-1).

Note: Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-6 = non-matchday visit, November 2021 / pictures 7-20 = match visit, July 2022.