Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: KM Eendracht Machelen

Terrein Petegemstraat, Machelen-aan-de-Leie (KME Machelen)

Belgium, province: East Flanders = Oost-Vlaanderen

6 VIII 2023 / K Olsene Sportief - KSK Zingem 2-6 (aggregate score 9-4) / East Flanders, Provincial Cup R1 (neutral venue)

Timeline

1916 / It is unclear in which year Machelen-aan-de-Leie saw its first footballing activity; it is clear, however, that there was a team by 1916, probably already playing under the name De Leiekrekels, with a makeshift pitch on a pasture rented from a local farmer, Maurice Van Cauwenberghe.
1935 / De Leiekrekels changes its name to become Eendracht Machelen, joining the so-called Vlaamse Voetbalbond that same year – a Flemish association organising its own league football outside the scope of the official Belgian FA. In 1935, the ground was situated at the back of Café De Prins, although the club moved several times in the following 15 years, playing its football – amongst other locations – at Terrein De Korenbloem.
± 1945 / Due to the collaborationist stance of Vlaamse Voetbalbond authorities, many clubs leave the organisation. Eendracht Machelen is one, changing its allegiance to join the so-called Katholiek Vlaams Sportverbond (KVS).
1950 / Leaving KVS, Eendracht Machelen takes the leap and files an application at the official Belgian Football Association, being accepted as new members under the official name Eendracht Machelen-aan-Leie under matricule 5359. That same year, the club also settles at its current ground, Terrein Petegemstraat – at the time consisting of just one pitch, i.e. the current main pitch. The club’s first team starts its life in East Flanders’ Regional League 3 (3e Gewestelijke), renamed Provincial League 3 in 1952.
1969 / In a reorganisation of East Flanders’ football pyramid, a Provincial League 4 is added as the new bottom division, with all clubs in Provincial League 3 in places 6 to 16 in the 1968-69 season facing retrogradation to this level. With Eendracht Machelen and VV Balegem finishing in joint-5th place, the two clubs battle it out in a tie-break match, won by Balegem (2-1). As a result, Eendracht Machelen is relegated to P4.
1970 / Winning the title in Provincial League 4C, Eendracht Machelen returns to P3 at the first opportunity. In the following 27 years, the club alternates spells in P3 (1970-73, 1982-83, 1990-97) and P4 (1973-82, 1983-90).
1974 / The current clubhouse and dressing rooms at the western end of the main pitch are erected. In subsequent years, a second pitch and a covered stand are added to the set-up.
1987 / A new set of dressing rooms is added between the main two pitches of Terrein Petegemstraat.
1989 / Eendracht Machelen-aan-Leie acquires the royal epithet, changing its name to become Koninklijke Maatschappij (KM) Eendracht Machelen-aan-Leie, usually abbreviated to KME Machelen.
1997 / Clinching the title in Provincial League 3C following a 2-0 away win at KVV Vlaamse Ardennen, KME Machelen finds its way up to Provincial League 2 for the first time.
1998 / Going from strength to strength, KME Machelen finishes runners-up in Provincial League 2A, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. Successively defeating SK Beervelde and KSK Cercle Melle in those play-offs, the club suddenly finds itself in East Flanders’ Provincial League 1.
1999 / With back-to-back promotions proving a little bit too much of a good thing, KME Machelen finishes second-last in Provincial League 1, thus dropping back into P2.
2006 / Coached by Tony De Bel, KME Machelen wins the title in Provincial League 2A, 3 points ahead of LS Merendree, thus finding its way back to Provincial League 1.
2007 / Yet again, KME Machelen proves unable to extend its stay in P1 for longer than just one season, dropping back into P2 along with FC Kerksken and KVV Klauwaerts Kemzeke.
2011 / Finishing 14th in Provincial League 2B, KME Machelen is retrograded to P3.
2013 / Finishing 3 points ahead of Kluisbergen Sportief, KME Machelen – guided by trainer Alain De Wulf – wins the title in Provincial League 3C, thus managing a return to P2.
2014 / A second-last place in Provincial League 2B results in KME Machelen being relegated to P3.
2017 / Having to leave the P3C title to Voorwaarts Gijzel-Oosterzele, which obtains 1 point more, KME Machelen has to try in the promotion play-offs. Successively defeating VK Nederhasselt, FC Verbroedering Hofstade, and VK White-Boys Sint-Niklaas, the club finds itself in the final, in which it is defeated by SV Zaffelare after a penalty shoot-out (2-2 A.E.T.) – but, due to extra promotion places turning out to be available, the club is placed in Provincial League 2 for the 2017-18 season nevertheless.
2022 / A last place in Provincial League 2B results in relegation back into P3.
2023 / Finishing in 5th place in Provincial League 3A, KME Machelen qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it is eliminated by KFC Sint-Kruis-Winkel (0-1). In the summer of 2023, the B pitch at Terrein Petegemstraat is equipped with a synthetic surface.
2024 / Finishing in third place in P3A, KME Machelen qualifies for the promotion play-offs, drawing a bye in R1, but being eliminated by VV Sint-Maria-Horebeke in R2 (1-0).

Note - K Olsene Sportief played the home tie in the Provincial Cup against KSK Zingem at their neighbour club KME Machelen due to the main pitch of its own ground at Grote Steenweg in Olsene being equipped with a synthetic surface at that time.