BELGIUM: KMJ FC Zichem (1916-2023)

Terrein Kwalijkstraat, Zichem (formerly KMJ FC Zichem)

Belgium, province: Flemish Brabant

6 VIII 2022 / KMJ FC Zichem - VC Bekkevoort B 1-0 / Pre-season friendly

Timeline

• 1916 / Foundation of Marié José Football Club Zichem (often abbreviated to MJ FC Zichem or simply MJ Zichem). The club is named after Marie-José of Belgium (1906-2001), daughter of Belgium's King Albert I - and later to be the last Queen of Italy. It is unclear if the club played at Kwalijkstraat from its foundation onwards, or moved into the ground at a later stage (if you can provide additional information on this matter, you are most welcome to contact me!).
• 1926 / The Belgian Football Association introduces the matricule system; MJ Zichem receives matricule 858.
• 1943-83 / In 1943, MJ Zichem accedes to Brabant's Provincial League 1 for the first time in the club's history. In total, between 1943 and 1983, the club spent 11 seasons in the highest provincial division. The national leages were never reached.
• 1991 / Unusually late - given that, before World War II, Belgian clubs could apply for the royal epithet after 25 years of existence; and after 50 years since the war -, MJ FC Zichem obtains the royal epithet in the 75th year of its existence, thus becoming KMJ FC Zichem.
• 1998 / After the demise of JS Keiberg Messelbroek in 1998, KMJ FC Zichem moves into the ground at Weg Messelbroek in Keiberg, using the premises for lower team football and training purposes. 
• 2005 / As a new club is founded in Keiberg in 2005, SNA Keiberg, MJ Zichem move all activities back to Kwalijkstraat.
• 2023 / In its last season, KMJ FC Zichem finishes in 14th place in VFV Brabant's Provincial League 3D, thus descending into P4 along with Sporting Molenbeek and SK Waanrode. Due to financial difficulties, however, the club folded, ceasing all activities.

All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author