Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: SK Westrozebeke

Sunday, 6 August 2023

BELGIUM: SK Westrozebeke

Terrein Ommegang-Noord, Westrozebeke (SK Westrozebeke)

Belgium, province: West Flanders = West-Vlaanderen

6 VIII 2023 / SK Westrozebeke - KVK Avelgem 2-2 / West Flanders, Provincial Cup - group stage, group 6

Timeline

± 1985 / Foundation of a recreational football club in Westrozebeke, which takes on the name Sportkring (SK) Westrozebeke. It is the successor of D’n Orbit, another recreational club in Westrozebeke. SK Westrozebeke settles at D’n Orbit’s former ground at Ommegang-Noord (cp. pictures 1-7 below). SK Westrozebeke joins the so-called Westhoekcompetitie, a recreational football league, later to change its allegiance to Roeselaars Liefhebbersverbond (RLV).
1991 / Abandoning its membership of RLV, SK Westrozebeke – chaired at the time by Patrick Thevelein – takes the leap to the official Belgian Football Association, being accepted as new members under matricule 9244.
1992 / SK Westrozebeke enters a regular first team in West Flanders’ Provincial League 4A for the first time.
1997 / Winning the title in Provincial League 4D, SK Westrozebeke accedes to Provincial League 3. In the following years, the club alternates short spells in P3 (1997-99, 2000-01, 2002-03) and P4 (1999-2000 & 2001-02).
2003 / Having won the title in Provincial League 4D the year before, SK Westrozebeke now finishes in first place in P3A, thus managing back-to-back promotions – and finding itself in Provincial League 2 for the first time.
2010 / Having managed a respectable 6th place the year before, SK Westrozebeke now finishes 14th in Provincial League 2B, thus dropping back into P3 after 7 years. Also in 2010, a second pitch is added to Terrein Ommegang-Noord, situated to the eastern side of the original pitch. Ever since, this new pitch, which is slightly longer than its neighbour, has hosted SK Westrozebeke’s first team’s home matches (cp. pictures 8-26 below).
2012 / Finishing in 3rd place in Provincial League 3A, SK Westrozebeke qualifies for the promotion play-offs. In it, the club successively edges past SVD Kortemark and TSC Proven (two 2-1 aggregate wins) to open the door to P2 for the second time in club history.
2013 / SK Westrozebeke finishes 14th in Provincial League 2B, thus having to fight for its survival at this level in a tie-breaker against P2A’s no. 14, KSV Veurne. Losing 2-1 on aggregate, the club drops back into P3.
2014 / Managing a 2nd place in P3B behind champions KSK Geluwe, SK Westrozebeke qualifies for the promotion play-offs, successively defeating SV Moorslede (5-4 on aggregate) and KEVC Beselare (4-3 aggr.) to win a ticket for Provincial League 2.
2016 / SK Westrozebeke finishes 13th in P2B, resulting in relegation to Provincial League 3 along with R Jespo Comines-Warneton, KSC Zonnebeke, and FC Helkijn.
2018 / Inauguration of a new clubhouse at Terrein Ommegang-Noord, situated to the southern side of the ‘new’ main pitch.
2020 / Although missing out on the P3A title to KSV Veurne on goal difference (+53 / +44), SK Westrozebeke wins promotion to P2 due to two extra promotion places for this level being available.
2023 / SK Westrozebeke finishes 4th in Provincial League 2A behind R Dottignies Sports, KSC Zonnebeke, and KFC Poperinge. In the ensuing round of play-offs, the club defeats KSC Zonnebeke in R1 (2-1) and VV Koekelare in R2 (0-2) – and although the final against KVC Ardooie is lost (4-2), SK Westrozebeke wins promotion to West Flanders’ Provincial League 1 for the first time due to an extra promotion spot being available following the decision of the board of P1 side KVC Deerlijk Sport to make a new start in Provincial League 4.
2024 / In spite of holding its own in Provincial League 1 - finishing in twelfth place and thereby staying up - SK Westrozebeke chooses voluntary retrogradation to Provincial League 4.