Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: RSC Tontelange

Saturday, 30 March 2024

BELGIUM: RSC Tontelange

Terrain Beim Kreutz, Tontelange (RSC Tontelange)

Belgium, province: Luxembourg = Luxemburg

30 III 2024 / RSC Tontelange - RJS Habaysienne 1-1 / Belgian Luxembourg, Provincial League 2A (= BE level 7)

Timeline

1941 / Foundation of a first football club in Tontelange, which takes on the name Étoile Sportive (ES) Tontelange. The club joins Belgium’s Football Association, obtaining registration number 2956. It is unclear where this club’s ground was situated – but it certainly was a different ground than the pitch used by the future (R)SC Tontelange from its foundation onwards.
1943 / After just one season of activity (1941-42), ES Tontelange folds, ceasing all activities – and the club is erased from the Belgian FA’s official list in early 1943.
1959 / Foundation of a new club in Tontelange, which takes on the name Sporting Club (SC) Tontelange.
1960 / Having applied for membership of Belgium’s FA in a letter in late December 1959, SC Tontelange is admitted as new member club in January 1960, with the club obtaining registration number 6310. SC Tontelange’s founder-president is Joseph Thill. The club, which starts its life in Belgian Luxembourg’s Provincial League 3A, finds a home ground at Lieu-dit-Beim Kreutz – still the club’s ground today, at modern-day Le Brûlis, to the south of the village centre.
1983 / SC Tontelange, meanwhile locally often being referred to with the nickname ‘Les Spurs’, manages its best result in Provincial League 3 so far, finishing in third place in P3B, 4 points behind champions ES Witry-Menufontaine and 1 point behind runners-up SC Habay-la-Neuve.
1985 / A new clubhouse, which includes a set of dressing rooms, is inaugurated at Terrain Beim Kreutz.
1994 / Clinching the title in P3A, 3 points clear of runners-up and derby rivals US Martelangeoise, SC Tontelange accedes to Provincial League 2 for the first time in club history. The first experience in P2 lasts just one season, though, with relegation following immediately in 1995.
1999 / SC Tontelange finishes in second place in P3C, 11 points behind runaway champions US Mellier.
2001 / Finishing in fourth place in P3A, 12 points behind champions RAC Saint-Mard, SC Tontelange qualifies for the play-offs. Successively defeating RFC Saint-Hubert and US Waha, the club gains promotion to Provincial League 2 for a second time in club history. Yet again, though, the stay at this level remains constricted to just one season, with relegation following in 2002.
2010 / Upon the club’s fiftieth anniversary, SC Tontelange acquires the royal epithet, thus becoming Royal Sporting Club (RSC) Tontelange.
2014 / RSC Tontelange finishes in second place in P3A, 7 points behind champions R Excelsior Fouches, but no promotion play-offs are organised that season, with the club thus being deprived of the opportunity to earn its place in Provincial League 2.
2015 / Coached by Fabrice Close, RSC Tontelange clinches the title in P3B, no fewer than 13 points ahead of closest followers RUS Léglise. The decisive points are obtained in a 2-0 away win over RUS Assenois, with the goals scored by Girs and Depraetere.
2018 / In the club’s best season ever, RSC Tontelange, coached by Francis Angonèse, finishes in fourth place in Provincial League 2A. Qualifying for the promotion play-offs, the club is eliminated in R1 by RUS Gouvy (1-0).