Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: FC Kleit

Hogebranddreef, Kleit (FC Kleit)

Belgium, province: East Flanders

5 II 2023 / FC Kleit - KVC De Toekomst Borsbeke 0-4 / East Flanders, Provincial League 1 (= BE level 6)

Timeline

± 1935 / Foundation of several recreational football clubs in Kleit, one of which is given the name FC Kleit. These clubs compete in a regional league called 't Getrouwe Maldegem.
± 1945 / After World War II, in which footballing activity in the village eventually came to a standstill, a new FC Kleit sees the daylight under the aegis of deputy priest Vercruysse. A new pitch is laid out on the meadows of Juul Lamotte at Nieuwhofdreef. In the following 25 years, the club moves several times - the makeshift grounds essentially being little more than plots of farmland in the immediate vicinity of Kleit. In those post-war years, the club alternates spells in various local recreational leagues.
1960 / FC Kleit wins the title in its division - and later also crowns itself champions of East Flanders; probably in a Roman Catholic football league, but accurate information is missing.
1971 / After decades of playing recreational football, FC Kleit finally takes the leap to the official Belgian Football Association, being accepted as new members in April 1971 under matricule 7589. The 'new' club's first president is Frans Taeldeman, who doubles as the main sponsor. FC Kleit starts its life as a Provincial League club in East Flanders' Provincial League 4A. Probably in that same year, a new ground is inaugurated at Kleitkalseide. This is to remain the club's home ground until the early 1990s - with the pitch being given a quarter turn some time during that 20-year spell.
1976 / Led by coach Georges Heirman, FC Kleit wins the title in Provincial League 4A, thus acceding to Provincial League 3 for the first time. Part of the team line-up that season are three brothers; goalkeeper Eddy De Pauw, and wingers Daniël & Freddy De Pauw.
1991 / After 15 consecutive seasons in Provincial League 3, FC Kleit returns to the bottom division of East Flanders' Provincial League pyramid.
1992 / Moving away from Kleitkalseide, the club settles at a new ground situated at Hogebranddreef, not far from the previous location. Due to the drainage system of the main pitch posing problems, the club is constrained to groundshare at SK Maldegem's (former) ground (Sint-Annapark), eventually managing a return to Kleit in mid-1993.
1996 / Due to extra promotion spots being available that season, a third place in Provincial League 4A is enough for FC Kleit to find its way back to P3. The successful coach is Nik Braekman.
2000 / Former FC Kleit player Carlos Van Hulle takes over the chairmanship from Julien Vandenbussche, who in his turn had succeeded club founder Frans Taeldeman in c. 1990.
2009 / Finishing third in P3A under head coach Danny Wille, FC Kleit defeats Eendracht Elene and SC Dikkelvenne (home tie played at KSK Maldegem's Maurice De Waelestadion) to reach the final, in which FC Juventus Schoonaarde proves too strong. Subsequently, however, with an extra promotion place turning out to be available, FC Kleit defeats VSV Gent in a lucky loser competition to accede to East Flanders' Provincial League 2 for the first time in club history.
2010 / Having a difficult debut season in Provincial League 2, FC Kleit eventually suffers relegation to P3 due to a 4-1 away defeat against FC Sint-Martens Latem in the final match of the season.
2012 / Defeating VV Zomergem in the final match of the season, FC Kleit, coached by Inias Smit, clinches the P3A title to return to Provincial League 2 after a two-year absence.
2013 / Finishing third in P2A in an unexpectedly successful return season in P2A, FC Kleit qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Reaching the final, the club is emphatically defeated by KWIK Eine (6-0). In the following seasons, the club reached the play-offs several more times, thereby proving its mettle as a stable P2 contender.
2017 / Doing a deal with KAA Gent, FC Kleit purchases the covered stand which used to give shelter to spectators at the professional league side's youth academy ground at Wolfputstraat (to the north of KRC Gent's ground at Eikstraat). The construction is put to good use rightaway, as Kleit receives local rivals KSK Maldegem at Hogebranddreef for the first match of the season - incidentally the first time the two clubs meet at the same level since 1989-90. Thanks to a Dylan Eeckhoute goal, the home side wins the match which is attended by over 1,000 spectators.
2019 / Reaching the final of East Flanders' Provincial Cup, FC Kleit is defeated after a penalty shoot-out by local rivals FC Lembeke. Thus qualifying for the nationwide (Belgian) Cup for the first time, FC Kleit is eliminated by West Flemish national league side Torhout 1992 KM in the first preliminary round. Also in 2019, the club signs former professional league player Geoffrey Claeys as its new coach; Claeys remains at the helm for two seasons.
2021 / Although celebrating its fiftieth anniversary as a Provincial League club, FC Kleit disdains filing a request at the Royal Palace to earn the royal epithet.
2022 / In a historic season, FC Kleit eventually wins the title in East Flanders' Provincial League 2A - having the better of FC Destelbergen, but only on goal difference (+45 versus +42). On the final day, Destelbergen gave their rivals a good run for their money by defeating KSK De Jeugd Lovendegem 9-0, but Kleit more than cancelled out that result with an 8-0 home win against FCG Sint-Laureins. Thus, the club accedes to Provincial League 1 for the first time. To cap it off, FC Kleit also bags its first-ever Provincial Cup win, defeating KSV Geraardsbergen (1-0) in the final played at RFC Wetteren's Marcel De Kerpelstadion.