Sunday 30 April 2023

ITALY: AC SAICI Torviscosa (1951-1969) / Torvis SNIA (1969-1973) / AS Torviscosa (1973-1998) / ASD Torviscosa (1998-)

Stadio Comunale "Beppino Tonello", Torviscosa (ASD Torviscosa, formerly AC SAICI Torviscosa / Torvis SNIA / AS Torviscosa)

Italy, region: Friuli

30 IV 2023 / ASD Torviscosa - AC Virtus Bolzano 0-1 / Serie D Girone C (= ITA level 4)

Timeline
  • 1927 / Halfway between San Giorgio di Nogaro and Cervignano del Friuli, works are undertaken to drain a large swampy area. The locality, known for centuries as Torre di Zuino, has its own church, but could rather be described as a hamlet than as a village.
  • 1937 / Italy wins the Second Abyssinian War, but finds itself diplomatically largely isolated as a result - with the country being subjected to economic sanctions imposed by the League of Nations. As a reaction, "Duce" Benito Mussolini, following the example of Nazi-Germany, proclaims self-sufficiency as one of the main goals of his politics, with new factories being built across the country. One of the main building sites is the drained swamp at Torre di Zuino, where a chemical plant is constructed specialising in producing polyester ('viscosa' in Italian). At the instigation of Fascist authorities, factory owner SNIA Viscosa (founded as a shipping firm in Turin, 'Società di Navigazione Italo-Americana', but specialising in rayon production from the early 1920s onwards) merges with SA Bonifiche Torre di Zuino and Società Bonifiche del Friuli to form a large company, 'Società Anonima Agricola Industriale per la Produzione di Cellulosa Italiana' - abbreviatedly referred to as SAICI.
  • 1938 / On September 21st, 1938, Mussolini personally inaugurates the factory settlement Torre di Zuino as well as SAICI's cellulosis factory, which is given the name SNIA Viscosa.
  • 1940 / On October 26th, 1940, Torre di Zuino is officially renamed Torviscosa - an artificial combination of the old name of the locality and the name of the factory.
  • 1942 / Foundation of a football team in Torviscosa, which, firmly tied to the chemical plant, is given the name Associazione Calcio (AC) SAICI Torviscosa. The club's first pitch was situated near the village's modern-day swimming pool, at what is now called Viale Villa.
  • 1943 / AC SAICI Torviscosa joins the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and starts its life as a competitive football team in Prima Divisione Girone Veneto-Friulano, finishing 4th in the 1943-44 season.
  • 1945 / Having ceased its activities for the chaotic last year of World War II, AC SAICI Torviscosa is placed at the third tier of Italy's football pyramid, more specifically in Serie C Alta Italia.
  • 1947 / AC SAICI Torviscosa has its best season ever, tying for 4th place in Serie C Girone I with AS Libertas Trieste - and preceded only by AS Edera (Trieste), UC Pro Cervignano, and local rivals AC Palmanova.
  • 1948 / In a reorganisation of the Italian football pyramid, AC SAICI Torviscosa is retrograded to Promozione, a new 4th tier created below Serie C.
  • 1951 / Winning the title in Promozione Interregionale Nord Girone A with an advantage of 3 points over closest follower AC Pordenone, AC SAICI Torviscosa regains its place in Serie C. Works are undertaken to build the club a new stadium at the crossroads of Viale Villa and Via Ex Platani, several hundreds of metres west of the club's initial pitch. The new municipal ground is adorned with a main stand with small terraces added on each side, faced by a lower covered terrace. Although works are not finished by the end of 1951, the club moves into the new stadium in the second half of the year. Still in 1951, the club is joined by goalkeeper Ranieri Galuzzo (1925-2009), previously playing at Udinese Calcio. After two seasons at Torviscosa, Galuzzo signs a professional contract with AC Milan, latern moving on to USC Palermo.
  • 1952 / In spite of finishing in a respectable 5th place in Serie C Girone B, AC SAICI Torviscosa is retrograded for the second time in four years due to a reorganisation of the football pyramid, being placed in the so-called IV Serie, the new fourth level of Italian football.
  • 1953 / Although having been in use since 1951, the new Stadio Comunale in Torviscosa is not inaugurated officially until February 1953 with a match against AS Pro Gorizia. Upon completion of the building works, the stadium, the most modern in Lower Friuli at that time, has a maximum capacity of 3,000. 
  • 1955 / Finishing 16th in a field of 18 teams in IV Serie Girone D, AC SAICI Torviscosa suffers relegation to Promozione (level 5) along with Olimpia Citadella, SS San Giovanni Trieste, and Vincenzo Lancia (Bolzano).
  • 1957 / Clinching the title in Promozione Friulana Girone A with a comfortable advantage of 6 points over runners-up US Spilimbergo, AC SAICI Torviscosa manages a return to IV Serie. Moreover, the club crowns itself Campione Regionale by winning a play-off against the winning team in Girone B, US Fortitudo (Muggia).
  • 1958 / IV Serie meanwhile having been renamed Campionate Interregionale, AC SAICI Torviscosa finishes in 13th place of that level's Girone C, thus dropping into Campionato Dilettanti (level 5). Also in 1958, Mario Abatematteo takes over the role of head coach at the club, destined to stay on in that function for 14 consecutive years.
  • 1961 / Winning the title in Prima Categoria Friulana Girone B with a three-point advantage over closest rivals SS Sangiorgina, AC SAICI Torviscosa accedes to Serie D, the newly created 4th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
  • 1966 / After having had several good years in Serie D - finishing 4th in Serie D Girone C in 1964 - AC SAICI Torviscosa now ends up in 16th place, one point below US Vittorio Veneto, which saves its skin; Torviscosa is retrograded to Prima Categoria (level 5).
  • 1967 / In spite of missing out on the title in Prima Categoria Friulana Girone A, falling one point short of CS Ponziana, AC SAICI Torviscosa is readmitted to Serie D due to extra promotion places being available.
  • 1969 / As the chemical plant in Torviscosa changes its name from SAICI to the pre-war denomination SNIA, the football club is renamed as well, taking on the name Torvis SNIA.
  • 1970 / Finishing 17th in Serie D Girone C, 2 points short of safety, Torvis SNIA suffers relegation to Promozione (level 5) along with PC Montebelluno and AS Calcio Maniago.
  • 1971 / Clinching the title in Promozione Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) with a 3-point advantage over AS Calcio Maniago, Torvis SNIA manages an immediate return to Serie D.
  • 1973 / Having had two seasons at the fourth national level, Torvis SNIA now finishes 16th in Serie D Girone C, resulting in relegation back into Promozione along with AC San Donà and US Alense. Also in 1973, a formal separation is brought about between the SNIA chemical plant and the football club, which changes its name yet again - becoming Associazione Sportiva (AS) Torviscosa. Due to the absence of sponsorship money coming from the factory, the club has to make to do with a much tighter budget from now on.
  • 1976 / Finishing last in Promozione FVG, AS Torviscosa is relegated into Prima Categoria (level 6) along with US Fortitudo (Muggia) and AC Spilimbergo.
  • 1977 / Winning the title in Prima Categoria Girone B, AS Torviscosa finds its way back to Promozione.
  • 1978 / Finishing 15th in Promozione FVG, AS Torviscosa drops back into Prima Categoria along with US Brugnera and AS Medea.
  • 1979 / Managing no more than a 14th place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa drops into Seconda Categoria on goal difference (with CS Ponziana, AS Aquileia Calcio, and AC Lucinico all finishing with an equal number of points, but a better goal difference). It is the first time in club history that AS Torviscosa finds itself at the 7th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
  • 1981 / Clinching the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa finds its way back to Prima Categoria.
  • 1987 / Having narrowly saved its skin in Prima Categoria the previous season by winning a relegation play-off against US Bressanone (2-0), AS Torviscosa now finishes 16th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, thus dropping back into the dreaded Seconda Categoria once more.
  • 1988 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa returns to Prima Categoria at the first opportunity.
  • ± 1989 / The so-called 'Tribuna Distinti', the covered terrace opposite the main stand at Torviscosa's Stadio Comunale, is knocked down, reducing total ground capacity to 1,500.
  • 1990 / AS Torviscosa makes an involuntary return to Seconda Categoria after finishing 14th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B.
  • 1992 / Finishing 3rd in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E - with Seconda Categoria meanwhile having become the 8th level of Italy's football pyramid -, AS Torviscosa loses the subsequent promotion play-off against Polisportiva Opicina.
  • 1993 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa is admitted to Prima Categoria (level 7).
  • 1994 / Clinching its second title in a row, this time in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa wins promotion to Promozione (level 6). Moreover, the club also wins a piece of tangible silverware, laying its hand on the so-called Coppa Regione with a 2-1 win over Doria.
  • 1995 / After climbing two levels in as many seasons, AS Torviscosa has an excellent season once more, finishing 3rd in Promozione FVG Girone B, but losing the subsequent promotion play-off against SS Sangiorgina (1-1 A.E.T. / Sangiorgina win penalty shoot-out). Also in 1995, the Stadio Comunale in Torviscosa is renamed Stadio Beppino Tonello in honour of Giuseppe 'Beppino' Tonello (1916-1985), who, following a professional career at Udinese Calcio and AS Pro Gorizia, joined Torviscosa, playing for the Friuli side for many years.
  • 1996 / Finishing 15th in Promozione FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa drops back into Prima Categoria (level 7).
  • 1997 / As fast as AS Torviscosa climbed up the league ladder in the early 1990s, the club now tumbles down again; a 16th place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C results in a second relegation in a row, with the club finding in Seconda Categoria (level 8) once more.
  • 1998 / Following a change in non-league football regulations, AS Torviscosa changes its name to become Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica (ASD) Torviscosa.
  • 2001 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa returns to Prima Categoria after a 4-year absence.
  • 2002 / Finishing 4th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it is eliminated in a group with ASD Calcio Bannia, US Anconitana, and US Trivignano.
  • 2004 / With a 3rd place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa is given the opportunity once again to win promotion, but the club fails to qualify for Promozione in a series of matches against ASD Sarone Caneva and USD Valnatisone.
  • 2005 / Clinching the title in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa qualifies directly for Promozione (level 6).
  • 2007 / Having played two years in Promozione, ASD Torviscosa now manages to win the title in Promozione FVG Girone B after winning a single play-off against ASD Unione Fincantieri Monfalcone (2-1) - resulting in a promotion to Eccellenza, the 5th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
  • 2010 / ASD Torviscosa wins a historic title, finishing in 1st place in Eccellenza FVG, resulting in a return to Serie D and national league football after an absence of 37 years. Furthermore, the club reaches the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG, played at Campo Sportivo Gonars, where it is defeated by ASD Unione Fincantieri Monfalcone (1-0 A.E.T.).
  • 2011 / Torviscosa's adventure at national league level does not last longer than one season, with the club finishing 18th and last in Serie D Girone C, resulting in relegation to Eccellenza.
  • 2012 / Reaching the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG for a second time in three seasons, ASD Torviscosa suffers a defeat at the hands of ASD Manzanese Calcio (2-1 A.E.T.) at Mortegliano's Stadio Comunale Franco Beltrame.
  • 2013 / Falling two points short of ISM Gradisca and safety, ASD Torviscosa finishes 14th in Eccellenza FVG, thus dropping back into Promozione (level 6).
  • 2014 / Runners-up in Promozione FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is defeated by ASD Ol3 Faedis and Unione Triestina 2012. Also in 2014, plastic seats are added to the central part of the main stand at Stadio Beppino Tonello.
  • 2015 / Winning the title in Promozione FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa accedes to Eccellenza (level 5). Additionally, the club wins the final of the Coppa di Promozione, defeating ASD San Luigi Calcio 3-2 in the final played at Trieste's Stadio Nereo Rocco.
  • 2016 / Nearly managing a second promotion in a row, ASD Torviscosa finishes in 2nd place in Eccellenza FVG - suffering defeat at the hands of AC Legnano (4-1 on aggregate) in R1 of the promotion play-offs.
  • 2017 / Runners-up in Eccellenza FVG for the second year running, ASD Torviscosa is eliminated in R1 of the promotion play-offs against Union San Giorgio Sedico. 
  • 2018 / In the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG, played at Stadio Comunale Diego Simonetti in Gemona del Friuli, ASD Torviscosa suffers defeat at the hands of ASD San Luigi Calcio (2-2 A.E.T., with San Luigi winning the penalty shoot-out).
  • 2019 / Managing a 3rd place in Eccellenza FVG, ASD Torviscosa loses in the promotion play-off's semifinal against AS Pro Gorizia.
  • 2020 / In its own Stadio Beppino Tonello, ASD Torviscosa is defeated in the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG (1-0 against ASD Manzanese Calcio).
  • 2022 / Winning the title in Eccellenza FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, successively defeating SPAL Cordovado and AS Pro Gorizia to return to Serie D after an absence of 11 years.
  • 2023 / ASD Torviscosa finishes 14th in Serie D Girone C, avoiding direct relegation, but having to play relegation play-offs (or "play-outs", as the Italians put it). Managing a goalless draw (A.E.T.) against Portogruaro Calcio, Torviscosa stays up by virtue of its having finished 1 place above the side from Portogruaro; according to Italian FA regulations, no penalty shoot-out was required.





















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

Sunday 23 April 2023

NETHERLANDS: SV Ratti (±1976-2018) / SSA Ratti-Sociï (A & B) (2018-)

Sportpark De Eik, Kranenburg (SSA Ratti-Sociï, formerly SV Ratti)

Netherlands, province: Guelders = Gelderland

23 IV 2023 / SSA Ratti-Sociï - MEC 1-1 / District East, Sunday League 5B (= NL level 10)

Timeline

  • 1929 / A football club from the village of Kranenburg, named 'Volharding', takes part in a tournament organised by V&AV Pax in Hengelo (Gld.). It is unclear when Volharding, who probably competed in the Roman-Catholic football leagues of ICVB, organised by Utrecht's diocesan authorities.
  • ±1935 / Sometime in the mid-1930s, Volharding must have folded, ceasing all activities.
  • 1945 / In the wake of World War II and German oppression, a new football club is founded in Kranenburg. The adopted name is Rooms-Katholieke Sportvereniging (RKSV) Avanti. Co-founder and first chairman is Bernhard Schoenaker. The club's pitch is a makeshift affair, a meadow situated at Ruurloseweg without facilities; bereft of dressing rooms, the players have to change clothes at Café Schoenaker before heading for the pitch on the fringes of the village. When applying for membership of the official Netherlands' FA, the club is refused due to a club in Twello already having taken the name Avanti. Subsequently, the club files a list of three alternatives: RKSV Semper-Avanti, RKSV Kranenburg, and RKSV Ratti. Rejecting the first two names, Dutch FA authorities send the club a letter stating that their membership is accepted under the name of RKSV Ratti - Achille Ratti being the civilian name of sport-minded Pope Pius XI, who passed away in 1939 after a seventeen-year pontificate. The idea for the name came from Olivier Joosten, chaplain of the local monastery who doubled as the new football club's spiritual advisor - an obligatory feature any Roman-Catholic club at the time. RKSV Ratti is one of two clubs in the Netherlands named after a pope - the other being RKSV Sarto in Tilburg (named after Giuseppe Sarto, Pope St Pius X). RKSV Ratti is placed the third division of GVB or Gelderse Voetbalbond, the local league system in Guelders (Gelderland) below Sunday League 4.
  • 1955 / After a decade of alternating spells in GVB's second and third divisions, RKSV Ratti wins promotion to GVB Division 1 for the first time. In its first season at this level, the club finishes in a respectable third place.
  • 1967 / Abandoning its original premises, RKSV Ratti moves into a ground at Eikenlaan consisting of one pitch, put at the club's disposal by Kranenburg's local Roman-Catholic church. As a sign of the times, that same year, Ratti forms a Saturday league branch and officially changes its statutes to become a neutral - rather than a Roman-Catholic - club; shedding the 'RK' part of its name, the club is henceforth called SV Ratti.
  • ± 1976 / RKSV Ratti moves to the northern side of Eikenlaan, inaugurating its current park.
  • 1985 / At SV Ratti's 40th anniversary, a gala match against De Graafschap is played in Kranenburg. Ratti sensationally takes the lead after twenty seconds of play, but loses the match 1-16.
  • 1986 / A school is built on Ratti's pitch. Around this same time, the current clubhouse "De Eik" is inaugurated.
  • 1990 / Inauguration of the current clubhouse, replacing its wooden predecessor.
  • 1991 / The club leaves the Sunday pyramid, instead fielding a first team in the Saturday leagues.
  • 1992 / SV Ratti's first team wins promotion to GVB's Saturday Division 1.
  • 1995 / Abandoning Saturday league football, the club's first team returns to the Sunday leagues.
  • 1996 / As Gelderse Voetbalbond's two divisions are reorganised as Sunday Leagues 5 and 6 - until that time, teams relegated from Sunday League 4 dropped into GVB's League 1 -, SV Ratti's first team is placed in District East's Sunday League 6.
  • 2013 / With Sunday League 6 being abolished due to the dwindling number of football clubs in the region, SV Ratti accedes to Sunday League 5 without winning promotion on the pitch.
  • 2014 / Having finished dead-last in Sunday League 5 with just 9 points and a goal difference of -78, SV Ratti withdraws from first team football, sticking to fielding just reserves' and youth teams.
  • 2018 / The decision is taken to merge the teams of SV Ratti and SV Sociï from nearby Wichmond. The combined clubs fielded a first team in Sunday League 5 under the name SSA (Samenwerking Seniorenafdeling) Ratti-Sociï. Home matches are alternately played at Sociï's Sportpark Lankhorst and Sportpark De Eik in Kranenburg.
Note - Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: picture 1 = non-matchday visit, October 2022 / pictures 2-18 = match visit, April 2023.

















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

NETHERLANDS: RKVV HRC '27 (1966-2023) / SJO SSA MSH Maasduinen (B) (2023-)

Sportpark De Alverman, Afferden Limburg (RKVV HRC '27)

Netherlands, province: Limburg

23 IV 2023 / HRC '27 - SV DSV (8) 5-2 / District South II, Sunday Reserves' Division 6-28 

Timeline
  • 1918 / Although football had been played on makeshift pitches in the fields around Afferden for years, no football club had existed in the village until 1918, when AVC (Afferdensche Voetbalclub) saw the daylight. Instead of joining the official Netherlands' FA (NVB), AVC joined the so-called Roomsch-Katholieke Limburgsche Voetbalbond (RKLVB), organised by the diocese in Roermond itself - with AVC being placed in Division Maasbuurt, in which it takes on teams from Northern Limburg and the northeastern parts of Noord-Brabant. The club's pitch is situated at Afferdsche Heide, in fact not that far east from the future Sportpark De Alverman. 
  • 1922 / AVC has its best season, finishing 2nd in Division Maasbuurt C - in a league consisting of just 5 teams with each club playing 8 matches only.
  • 1923 / Without formally folding, AVC ceases its activities, withdrawing its team from RKLVB. The pitch at Afferdsche Heide is abandoned.
  • 1927 / AVC applies for re-admission to RKLVB, but the application is turned down due to debts to the association which were never solved - while, moreover, the club never officially withdrew, making re-admission impossible. The decision is taken to found a new club, which takes on the name vv Herleving (literally translated in English: 'Revival'). The new club's first chairman is M.C. Kepser, while Mr De Bot, the local chaplain, takes on the role of spiritual advisor - an obligatory feature in any Roman-Catholic sports club at the time. Wim Janssen, the owner of the local café, allows the club the use of a plot of his land situated at Rijksweg Venlo-Nijmegen - with the entrance to the pitch being situated at the tram stop. Placed in RKLVB's branch in 's-Hertogenbosch (Afdeeling Den Bosch), the club makes its debut in Maasbuurt Division 2, with the first match, away at RKVV Volharding in Boxmeer, turning into a comprehensive defeat (7-1); nonetheless, no fewer than 240 tickets are sold for the ensuing first home match in Afferden. 
  • 1928 / Having played its football in RKLVB's 's-Hertogenbosch branch in the first year of its existence, vv Herleving is now moved to Afdeeling Limburg.
  • 1929 / In the hamlet of Rimpelt, slightly east of Afferden, a new football club sees the daylight, which is given the name Rimpeltsche Boys. Joining RKLVB, Rimpeltsche Boys plays its home matches at Terrein Achter de Molen, a meadow situated at the back of a corn mill in Rimpelt. Staggeringly, apart from Rimpeltsche Boys and AVC, there is a third football club in Afferden at the time, RVV (Rimpeltsche Voetbalvereeniging). Although hardly any information about this club has survived (e.g. the location of its home matches), it is clear that RVV was an RKLVB member as well - and probably only took part in the 1929-30 season before ceasing its activities.
  • 1932 / vv Herleving and Rimpeltsche Boys conclude a merger, resulting in the foundation of RKVV HRC (Roomsch-Katholieke Voetbalvereeniging 'Herleving Rimpeltsche Combinatie'). With the pitch at the corn mill in Rimpelt being abandoned, all activities move to Herleving's ground at Rijksweg Venlo-Nijmegen. That same year, the pitch is moved several dozens of yards eastwards, in the direction of Elskampweg, to avoid interested spectators being able to watch the games from the street without having to enter the ground - and thus without having to pay the entrance fee.
  • 1933 / RKVV HRC is placed in RKLVB's Afdeeling Gennep.
  • 1938 / Yet again being moved from one branch to the other, RKVV HRC is placed in RKLVB's Afdeeling Den Bosch.
  • 1939 / Winning the title in RKLVB Division 1 as well as the ensuing play-off competition, RKVV HRC accedes to Division 3 of the so-called Interdiocesane Voetbal-Competitiebond Limburg.
  • 1940 / With the German occupation of the Netherlands, all football leagues apart from the official Netherlands' FA (NVB) are dissolved. Given the option between folding or making the leap to NVB, RKVV HRC chooses the latter, thus making its debut in regular Sunday league football.
  • 1941 / In 1941 or 1942, at the behest of the football association's authorities, RKVV HRC adapts its name to become RKVV HRC '27 to avoid confusion with several other NVB member clubs bearing the acronym HRC as its name - most notably Helderse Racing Club from Den Helder (which, in 2001, disappeared into a merger with HFC Helder to form FC Den Helder).
  • 1944 / In the chaotic period of the liberation of the southern parts of the Netherlands as well as the ensuing months (1944-45), RKVV HRC '27 ceases activities for one season.
  • 1945 / Restarting its activities, RKVV HRC '27 temporarily plays its football on a makeshift pitch, still at Terrein Wim Janssen at Rijksweg, but slightly to the north (in the direction of Zandweg), while the pitch inaugurated in 1932 is given a thorough refurbishment.
  • 1946 / Winning the title in KNVB District South II's Sunday League 4G, RKVV HRC '27 wins promotion to Sunday League 3 under the guidance of coach Rinus Egberts.
  • 1947 / RKVV HRC '27 has its best season ever, managing a 9th place in Sunday League 3E. Also in 1947, after playing on its emergency pitch for two seasons, the club returns to the pitch at Rijksweg also used the 1932-44 era.
  • 1949 / Finishing 12th (and last) in Sunday League 3E, RKVV HRC '27 drops back into Sunday League 4.
  • 1952 / For unknown reasons, the club is constrained to abandon Terrein Wim (Clem) Janssen at Rijksweg, moving to another temporary pitch, Terrein Cloazenzand, for the time being. This pitch is situated at an artificial lake north of Terrein Wim (Clem) Janssen.
  • 1953 / RKVV HRC '27 moves to a new pitch, Terrein Thei Raymakers at Julianastraat (this new pitch was situated roughly at modern-day Molenkampweg).
  • 1954 / Finishing 11th in Sunday League 4H, RKVV HRC '27 drops back into the so-called Limburgse Voetbalbond (LVB), the association of clubs in Limburg playing their football below Sunday League 4 level.
  • 1958 / Bergen's municipal authorities make known their plans to build a municipal sports park in Afferden.
  • 1961 / Having suffered relegation to LVB Division 2 the previous year, RKVV HRC '27 now wins the title at that level, picking up the decisive two points with a win over SV Milsbeek II on Whitsunday, 1961, thus returning to LVB Division 1.
  • 1965 / Finishing joint-first in LVB Division 1J, RKVV HRC '27 plays a tie-break match against fellow-leaders vv Helden II, but loses the encounter - and, as a result of which, the title as well.
  • 1966 / Although the new municipal sports facilities are not entirely ready yet, RKVV HRC '27 moves into the new park at Melkweg (modern-day Afferdse Heide) in September 1966.
  • 1967 / Official inauguration of the new park at Melkweg in June 1967 with a gala match between a squad of players from various clubs in Bergen and vv RIOS '31 from Pey, who won the national Sunday non-league title in 1965). Initially, the sports park consist of three pitches (one of which is only suitable for training purposes), with a fourth being added later on. 
  • 1970 / The decisive goal being scored by Jos van der Venn in an away match at RKDSO in Lomm, RKVV HRC '27 clinches the title in LVB Division 1, thus managing a return to Sunday League 4 after an absence of 16 years. The successful coach is Teun Verberkt. In its first season in Sunday League 4H, the club manages a respectable 5th place. 
  • 1974 / Having played in Sunday League 4 for four years, RKVV HRC '27 now finishes dead-last in L4H with coach Theo Janssen, resulting in relegation back into the ranks of LVB.
  • 1977 / The club's 50th anniversary is celebrated with a gala match in Afferden against professional league side FC VVV.
  • 1982 / Under the guidance of player-coach Harrie van Mil, RKVV HRC '27 finishes in 2nd place in LVB Division 1, with an equal number of points as AVV America. With one extra spot in Sunday League 4 being available, a play-off is organised between the runners-up of all LVB Division 1 series. Having won a tie-break match against AVV America played at RK BVV '27's Sportpark 't Hoogveld in Blitterswijck (1-0), HRC qualifies for this play-off round. The other participants are: SV Polaris (Maastricht), SV Victoria (Roermond), RKSVB (Ubachsberg), DVV (Dieteren), and SV Abdissenbosch. With HRC finishing in 2nd place behind the last-mentioned club, it just misses out on the coveted return to League 4. Also in 1982, the club has to cede one of its pitches to netball club Akospo, founded in 1979. 
  • 1983 / Winning the title in LVB Division 1 with coach Frans Derix, RKVV HRC '27 accedes to Sunday League 4 after an absence of 9 seasons. The decisive points were picked up in a 1-3 away win at RKVV Brughusia in Broekhuizen.
  • 1984 / RKVV HRC's new stay in League 4 does not last longer than one season, with the club finishing in joint-last place with SV Lottum - and losing the subsequent relegation play-off against that club (2-1) at SV Wanssum's ground. Also in 1984, the municipal sports park in Afferden is renamed Sportpark De Alverman, named after the midgets who, according to local folklore, live in the moorlands around Afferden. The name was an idea by a local schoolgirl, Miriam van der Heijden.
  • 1985 / Having dropped into LVB Division 1 the previous season, RKVV HRC '27, coached by Dirk Krouwel, narrowly avoids a second relegation in a row by drawing 1-1 away at SV Meerlo in the last match of the season. That same year, netball club Akospo folds, as a result of which the pitch taken by this club now returns to HRC.
  • 1986 / Having staved off relegation to LVB Division 2 in 1985, RKVV HRC '27 now fails to avoid the drop into that level. At some point in the following seven years, the club must have managed a return to LVB Division 1, but it is unclear when exactly this promotion was attained.
  • 1994 / RKVV HRC '27 manages a promotion from LVB Division 1, thus returning to District South II's Sunday League 4 after a 10-year absence.
  • 1998 / Finishing 12th and last in Sunday League 4H, RKVV HRC '27 drops into Sunday League 5, which replaced LVB Division 1 following the dissolution of LVB in 1996.
  • 2000 / Winning the title in Sunday League 5D, RKVV HRC '27 returns to Sunday League 4. The new stay at this level lasts three seasons, with relegation following in 2003.
  • 2009 / Inauguration of a completely renovated Sportpark De Alverman, with a new clubhouse and a main pitch which is moved slightly southwards - the old main pitch is given up to a local horse school. The entrance is moved from Afferdse Heide to Hengeland at the other end of the park. That same season, HRC finishes 12th in Sunday League 5G, resulting in a relegation to Sunday League 6.
  • 2011 / Runners-up in Sunday League 6E, RKVV HRC '27 wins the subsequent promotion play-offs, thus managing a return to Sunday League 5. That same year, the club's youth academy merges with their counterparts of RKSV Stormvogels '28 from Siebengewald.
  • 2012 / RKVV HRC '27 drops back into Sunday League 6 after just one year following an 11th place in League 5G.
  • 2014 / Clinching the title in Sunday League 6C, RKVV HRC '27 wins promotion to Sunday League 5.
  • 2020 / The 2019-20 season, broken off due to the Covid pandemic in March 2020, is the last year in which RKVV HRC '27 enters a first team in the regular leagues. In the following three years, the club only takes part in KNVB competitions with reserves' teams.
  • 2023 / A partnership deal is concluded between RKVV Montagnards, RKSV Stormvogels '28, and RKVV HRC '27, resulting in the foundation of SJO SSA MSH Maasduinen (MSH = Montagnards-Stormvogels-HRC). With first team football moving to RKVV Montagnards' Sportpark Venhorst, the grounds in Afferden and Siebengewald remain in use for lower team football and training sessions.
Note 1 - Although no official name change was ever filed, HRC '27 hardly ever added the prefix RKVV (Rooms-Katholieke Voetbalvereniging) to its name after the 1970s.

Note 2 - The main source of information for the article above was a booklet released on HRC '27's 60th anniversary in 1987: “Het Roemrijke Clubverleden 1927-1987. Jubileumboek ter gelegenheid van het 60-jarig bestaan”, by Theo Janssen / Rob Arts / Jan Janssen / Mat Custers.












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