BELGIUM: FC Flénu-Sport (1983-1990) / R Union Jemappes-Flénu (B) (1990-1998) / RAEC Mons (C) (1998-2003) / FC Flénu (2001-)

Stade de la Rue des Produits, Flénu (FC Flénu, formerly FC Flénu-Sport / B ground of R Union Jemappes-Flénu & C ground of RAEC Mons)

Belgium, province: Hainaut = Henegouwen

18 IX 2022 / FC Flénu - RFC Gilly 2-2 / Hainaut, Provincial League 1 (= BE level 6)

Timeline

• 1944 / Foundation of FC Flénu Sport. Upon joining Belgium's Football Association, the club obtains matricule 4094. Probably, the club played at Rue des Produits from its foundation onwards, but on a playing field which, from 1983 onwards, is the first (and only) side-pitch of the park.
• 1971 / After long years in Provincial League 2, FC Flénu-Sport wins the title in P2A, thus acceding to Hainaut's Provincial League 1 for the first time in club history.
• 1972 / Sensationally, FC Flénu-Sport finishes first in P1, winning promotion to National Division 4. In its first two seasons at the national level, the club manages to hold its own admirably with a sixth and a seventh position in the final rankings.
• 1975 / FC Flénu Sport's third season in the national leagues is markedly less successful than the two previous years. Finishing fourteenth, the club drops back to Hainaut's Provincial League 1.
• 1976 / After a comet-like rise, FC Flénu-Sport now sinks back to lower league anonymity as the club finishes last in Provincial League 1 and drops back to P2.
• 1982 / FC Flénu-Sport wins the title in Provincial League 2B and is back in Provincial League 1 after an absence of six years. The stay at that level does not last longer than one season, though.
• 1983 / FC Flénu-Sport inaugurates its new main pitch (with clubhouse and covered stand), situated directly to the south of the original one. 
• 1988 / Suffering relegation from Provincial League 2, FC Flénu-Sports spends its two last seasons as an independent club in P3.
• 1989 / Part of FC Flénu-Sport's membership, disaffected by the club's board, decides to form a club of its own. Entente Flénusienne (matricule 9162), not allowed the use of one of the pitches at Rue des Produits, concludes a groundsharing agreement with FCQ Wasmuël, settling down at that club's ground (Rue Madame, Wasmuël). After one unsuccessful year in P4D, in which the club finishes last, Entente Flénusienne folds, ceasing all activities.
• 1990 / FC Flénu-Sport concludes a merger with R Union Jemappienne, forming Royale Union (RU) Jemappes-Flénu (sometimes abbreviated to simply RUJF) - retaining Jemappienne's matricule 136. First team football is played at Jemappienne's ground, Parc Communal de Jemappes 'La Roseraie', while Flénu's two pitches remain in use for lower team football and training sessions. The new club starts its life in Provincial League 2.
• 1992 / Winning the title in Provincial League 2B, RU Jemappes-Flénu accedes to Hainaut's Provincial League 1.
• 1995 / After finishing second in Provincial League 1, RU Jemappes-Flénu accedes to National Division 4 by winning the promotion play-offs. Unfortunately, the stay lasts just one season, with relegation following in 1996.
• 1998 / After two more years in Provincial League 1, R Union Jemappes-Flénu is absorbed by RAEC Mons (matricule 44). This club takes over the grounds in Jemappes as well as in Flénu, moving part of its youth academy there. The site in Jemappes is abandoned after a couple of years only, most probably already in 2000. 
• 2001 / A new club is founded in Flénu; FC Flénu, matricule 9386, groundshares with RAEC Mons' youth academy at the Stade de la Rue des Produits. 
• 2003 / In its second season, FC Flénu wins the title in Provincial League 4B, thus gaining promotion to P3. That same year, RAEC Mons leaves the ground in Flénu, preferring to concentrate its entire youth academy on the side pitches of its own Stade Charles Tondreau in Mons. 
• 2007 / Winning the promotion play-offs in Provincial League 3, FC Flénu accedes to P2. That same year, the club wins Hainaut's Provincial Cup.
• 2022 / After 15 consecutive seasons in Provincial League 2, FC Flénu has a memorable season, winning the title in P2B with 78 points from 30 matches and a goal difference of +52; the second in the race, RLC Mesvin, finishes 12 points behind; FC Flénu is placed Provincial League 1 for the first time in its history.
• 2023 / Having an excellent first season in P1, FC Flénu finishes in 3rd place, thus qualifying for the promotion play-offs. First seeing off Pont-à-Celles Buzet (5-1) and RFC Molenbaix (0-3) in the Hainaut play-offs, the club qualifies for the interprovincial play-offs, in which it beats ESFC du Geer (0-3) to accede to National Division 3 for the first time in club history. Subsequently, an interprovincial play-off final is played against RUS Gouvy (won by Flénu, 2-5), but due to an extra promotion spot being available, this match was actually superfluous.

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