Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: FC Heindonk (1956-1974) / VK Heindonk (1974-)

Terrein Kleine Bergen "Jean Staldeurstadion", Heindonk (VK Heindonk, formerly FC Heindonk)

Belgium, province: Antwerp

8 IV 2023 / VK Heindonk - K Rumstse SK 10-0 / Antwerp, Provincial League 4A (= BE level 9)

Timeline

± 1935 / Foundation of Holda Heindonck, a recreational football team in the village of Heindonk. The club joins the so-called Vlaamsche Voetbalbond, a league association existing in parallel to the official Belgian Football Association. Although further details are not available, it is clear that Edmond Verheyden, also involved in the foundation of FC Heindonk in the 1950s, had a hand in this first football team in Heindonk. It is unclear where the club's home ground was situated.
1940 / In the run-up to World War II, with many Belgian youths being called up for military service, Holda Heindonck collapses due to a lack of available players.
1943 / Refoundation of Holda Heindonck under the slightly adapted name FC Holda Heindonck. This time, the club joins the official Belgian FA, receiving matricule 3867 upon being accepted as new members. For the 1943-44 season, the club is placed in Antwerp's Provincial League 3, in which it finishes dead-last with just 1 win and 17 defeats in 18 matches.
1945 / Having remained inactive for one year, FC Holda Heindonck folds - its matricule 3867 being erased from the Belgian FA's official membership list. In the following years, occasional recreational matches are organised on the club's ground.
1955 / Foundation of a new football club in Heindonk, which is given the provisional name FC Holda Heindonk by its two spiritual fathers, Alfons Christiaens and Achiel Vergauwen. From the foundation date of October 2nd, 1955, onwards, some friendly matches are organised on a makeshift pitch laid out at a local chateau, Kasteel van Cluydts (possibly Kasteel De Bocht?), with De Meirstraat being the first opponent.
1956 / At the request of Vergauwen and Christiaens, Edmond Verheyden, meanwhile elected mayor of Heindonk, joins the football club with the specific task of preparing a set of procedural rules to be taken into account when joining the Belgian Football Association. After consulting Heffen SK's chairman Gaspar Hermans, Verheyden finally applies for FA membership on behalf of the club, which is accepted under matricule 5906, taking on the simplified name FC Heindonk. As the pitch laid out near the chateau does not meet FA rules, the club has to look for a different location - finally finding it at a dead-end street to the east of the village centre, Terrein Kleine Bergen, which is rented from a local nobleman, Mr De Meester de Heyndonck. A wooden clubhouse is erected, with the building material being provided by the Moortgat beer brewery in nearby Breendonk.
1957 / Starting its life as a candidate club in the reserves' leagues, FC Heindonk's first team, coached by Rik Van Rompaey, finishes in second place in a division of local clubs, behind a Mechlin team with the ominous name Half-Galg.
1958 / Having played in the reserves' divisions for two years, FC Heindonk's first team joins Antwerp's provincial league pyramid, finishing the 1958-59 season in 12th place in Provincial League 3A with 6 wins and 1 draw from 26 matches. In the following years, the club remains a modest force in P3, usually finishing near the bottom of the table.
1967 / For the 1967-68 season, FC Heindonk withdraws its first team due to a lack of players. Several squad members are called up to perform their military service. The club returns in Provincial League 3 in 1968.
1972 / As a Provincial League 4 is added as the bottom division in Antwerp's provincial league system, FC Heindonk is placed in this new division due to a 14th place finish in P3C in the 1971-72 season.
1973 / Chairman Edmond Verheyden passes away at the age of 71. As Verheyden had been omnipresent in the past 17 years as an inspirer, fixer, and occasionally even sponsor, a dissolution of the club is seriously considered - but in the end, the club is given a lifeline as the presidency passes on to 23-year-old first team player Jean Staldeur.
1974 / For unknown reasons, the club changes its name, becoming Voetbalklub (VK) Heindonk - following the progressive orthography which was in vogue in those years.
1975 / Due to a knee injury, Jean Staldeur is forced to put and end to his playing career, henceforth focusing exclusively on the chairmanship of the club. Under his aegis, a reconstruction programme is undertaken, seeing the replacement of the original wooden clubhouse with a stone successor, as well as the addition of fencing as well as floodlighting around the park's sole pitch.
1977 / A second pitch is added to Terrein Kleine Bergen, including the floodlights required to use the pitch for training sessions.
1978 / New dressing rooms are constructed on the plot of land situated between the two pitches.
1981 / Coached by player-trainer Alfons De Vleeschouwer, VK Heindonk clinches the first title in club history, winning Provincial League 4B after defeating VVH Lippelo in an away match (0-1) to obtain the much-needed last points. Top scorer is Jan Peeters with 33 goals. The club's 25th anniversary as an FA member is enhanced with a return to Provincial League 3. In the following three seasons, the club manages safe mid-table finishes to extend its stay at that level.
1982 / A small covered stand is constructed on the northern end of the clubhouse.
1985 / Finishing in 14th place in P3B, VK Heindonk is one of four teams in a pan-provincial relegation play-off, with Achterbroek VV, BOFC Beerzel, and SK Branddonk being the other participants. With all clubs having to play three matches at neutral venues, VK Heindonk saves its skin by finishing with the first two - the decisive points being obtained with a 2-0 win over SK Branddonk at K Zandhovense SK. Along with Heindonk, Branddonk also stays up, while Achterbroek and Beerzel are relegated to P4.
1987 / Finishing third-last in P3B yet again, like two years previously, VK Heindonk has to go through the motions of a relegation play-off, in which it manages to stay up along with KFC Tielen. KVK Waaslandia Burcht and K Berg & Dal VV finish with an equal number of points as Heindonk, but go down on goal difference.
1988 / Having played seven years in Provincial League 3 - and after narrow escapes in 1985 and 1987 -, VK Heindonk, coached by Marc Van de Vondel, finishes last in Provincial League 3B, thus dropping back into P4.
1998 / The owner of the land on which Terrein Kleine Bergen is situated, Mr De Meester De Heyndonck, passes away, as a result of which all of his belongings go up for sale, including the football pitches. As a result, the club is directly threatened in its existence, but Willebroek's municipal authorities lend a helping hand by purchasing the ground, allowing the club to continue using it.
2000 / Having been at the helm of the club for 27 years, Jean Staldeur relinquishes the chairmanship. Later on, the ground is renamed in his honour - understandably so, given how much effort was put into improving it during his presidency.
2006 / In spite of being FA members for 50 years, VK Heindonk disdains applying for the royal epithet, testimony to the low-key nature which has been kept by club authorities throughout.
2011 / Having been a regular feature in Antwerp's Provincial League 4 for the past 23 seasons, VK Heindonk wins the title in P4B - only the second league title in club history -, the decisive match against its last remaining competitors (and derby rivals) Heffen SK resulting in a 3-0 win. In the end, Heffen SK finishes in second place at a distance of 12 (!) points behind Heindonk.
2013 / Joining forces with Sporting Tisselt and Willebroekse SV, VK Heindonk creates a combined youth academy under the name Jeugdopleiding Vaartland. FC Blaasveld, also a club within the borders of the municipality of Willebroek, disdains taking part in the venture.
2014 / VK Heindonk has its best season in club history (so far) with an 8th place in the final ranking in Antwerp's Provincial League 3B, with an equal number of points as no. 7 KVV Belgica Edegem Sport.
2015 / Finishing 15th in P3B, VK Heindonk is relegated to P4 after four years, with K Schelle Sport and KFC Volharding Wintam-Eikevliet being the other drop-outs.
2016 / Having finished in 3rd place in P4C behind champions VVH Lippelo and Leest United, VK Heindonk qualifies for the promotion play-offs. In R1, the club defeats former national league side KFC Heultje away (2-4), only to lose the home leg 2-6, resulting in elimination.
2020 / During the COVID lockdown, with a lack of revenues and the presidency remaining vacant for some time, the club is threatened in its existence, but as a new set of board members is found, a relaunch is undertaken.