Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: SL Wurfeld (1966-2009)

Saturday 18 February 2023

BELGIUM: SL Wurfeld (1966-2009)

"Kasteelterrein" Kapelweg, Wurfeld (formerly SL Wurfeld)

Belgium, province: Limburg

February 2023 / no match visited

Timeline

1963 / Foundation of a recreational football club in Wurfeld near Maaseik, given the name Voetbalclub (VC) Wurfeld Sint-Laurentius (SL). It joins a newly founded recreational league, the so-called Belgische Liefhebbersbond (later to become Koninklijke Belgische Liefhebbersbond). The club's first president is Jaak Krawinkel. VC Wurfeld SL's first ground is situated near Zagerij Ost.
1965 / Abandoning the pitch behind Zagerij Ost, VC Wurfeld SL settles at the newly laid-out Terrein Jan Bosmans.
1966 / VC Wurfeld SL joins the official Belgian FA, changing its name slightly to become Sint-Laurentius (SL) Wurfeld. Upon being accepted as members, the club obtains matricule 6888. SL Wurfeld also moves to a new ground, the so-called Kasteelterrein, situated behind the local church (Sint-Laurentiuskerk) at Kapelweg. The club rents the field from its owner, chatelaine de Fraipont-Nagels. On August 15th, 1966, the premises are inaugurated with a gala match between Patro Eisden and K Sint-Truidense VV with 511 spectators buying a ticket. SL Wurfeld starts its life in Limburg's Provincial League 3.
1976 / A new clubhouse is inaugurated at the southern end of SL Wurfeld's Kasteelterrein in a ceremony led by club president A. Schaefer and chatelaine de Fraipont.
1977 / Winning the title in Provincial League 3C, SL Wurfeld manages to accede to Provincial League 2 for the first time in club history.
1981 / Following back-to-back relegations, SL Wurfeld finds itself in Provincial League 4 for the first time.
1982 / Finishing second in Provincial League 4E, SL Wurfeld manages an immediate return to P3 via the play-offs.
1983 / After a last place finish in P3A, SL Wurfeld returns to Provincial League 4 once again. Although coming close to promotion on several occasions - most notably with a second place in P4B in 1991 -, the club stays put in P4 until 2002.
2002 / Clinching the title in P4D, SL Wurfeld finds its way back to Provincial League 3 after an absence at that level of 19 years.
2005 / In nearby Maaseik, former professional league side K Maaseik FC goes bankrupt after last having fielded a first team in the 2003-04 season. Although SL Wurfeld is interested in a takeover of Maaseik's Stedelijk Sportstadion, Maaseik's town council allows the premises to be used as a youth academy ground by K Neeroeteren FC (matricule 2426), which takes on the new name K Eendracht Neeroeteren-Maaseik to mark its link to Maaseik proper.
2006 / K Eendracht Neeroeteren-Maaseik changes its name to become K Real Neeroeteren-Maaseik.
2007 / Following a five-year spell in P3, SL Wurfeld is relegated back into Limbug's Provincial League 4 after a disastrous season (8 points from 30 games, goal difference -85).
2009 / Having made known its dissatisfaction at the state of its pitches in Wurfeld, SL Wurfeld once again demands a solution from Maaseik's town council. Finally, the decision is taken to allow the club to settle at Maaseik's Stedelijk Sportstadion, which means that K Real Neeroeteren-Maaseik has to vacate the premises forthwith. Wurfeld's Kasteelterrein is abandoned.
2010 / Rugbyclub Maasland, which had hitherto played its home matches at Neeroeteren's Stadion De Borg, is allowed to move to Wurfeld's Kasteelterrein.
2017 / Having played at Kasteelterrein for seven years, Rugbyclub Maasland abandons the ground to settle at Resedastraat in Nieuwe Kempen, home of the former SK Nieuwe Kempen. In the process, the club also takes on a new name, Rugbyclub Oudbergen. While the clubhouse and stand in Wurfeld are left unscathed, the main pitch in Wurfeld is laid out anew as a playing facility for local youths.