Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: US Leersoise (1994-2007) / AC Estaimbourg (B) (2007-)

Stade Daniel Senesael, Leers-Nord = Leers-Noord (training pitch of AC Estaimbourg, formerly US Leers-Nord)

Belgium, province: Hainaut = Henegouwen

August 2024 / no match visited

Timeline

1930 / Foundation of a first football club in Leers-Nord, a village in Belgium on the border with France – and forming one agglomeration with the French town of Leers – is founded: Union Sportive (US) Leersoise, with the club receiving registration number 1628 upon being accepted as new member of Belgium’s Football Association (URBSFA / KBVB). It is unclear where this club’s ground was situated.
1931 / Taking part in the provincial divisions for the first time, US Leersoise is placed in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A.
1936 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3A, 19 (!) points ahead of closest rivals FC Flobecquois, US Leersoise wins promotion to Provincial League 2.
1949 / After thirteen years in Provincial League 2, US Leersoise now finishes in thirteenth place in P2A, descending into Provincial League 3 along with DC Bernissart, Excelsior Biévène, and bottom club CS Escanaffles.
1955 / Upon the club’s twenty-fifth anniversary, US Leersoise obtains the royal epithet, thus officially becoming Royale Union Sportive (RUS) Leersoise.
1961 / After twelve consecutive seasons in Provincial League 3, RUS Leersoise withdraws from first team football – probably ceasing activities altogether.
1962 / RUS Leersoise’s registration number 1628 is erased from the Belgian FA’s official membership list.
1976 / Refoundation of Union Sportive (US) Leersoise, with the club obtaining registration number 8460 upon being accepted as a new members of Belgium’s FA. It is unclear where this club’s ground was situated. For the 1976-77 season, US Leersoise is placed in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4A.
1985 / Champions in P4A, 13 points ahead of runners-up FC Allain, US Leersoise accedes to Hainaut’s Provincial League 3 for the first time.
1993 / Runners-up in P3A, 7 points behind champions FC Allain, US Leersoise accedes to Provincial League 2 for the first time – and without having to go through the motions of promotion play-offs, as extra promotion places are available.
1994 / US Leersoise moves into the newly built Stade Daniel Senesael, with the ground being inaugurated on August 26th, 1994, in the presence of André Baudson, a minister of the Walloon government. Daniel Senesael was the then president of the club. One year after the inauguration of his own stadium, Senesael, a socialist politician, also successfully stood for the mayorship of Estaimpuis (Steenput) – a function he has fulfilled until the present day.
1995 / In the best season in club history, US Leersoise (8460) finishes in tenth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2A.
1996 / Finishing bottom of the table in P2A, US Leersoise drops back into Provincial League 3 along with the club which finished in second-last position, AS Pommerœul-Ville.
2006 / Champions in P3A, 13 points ahead of closest followers – and local rivals – RRC Estaimpuis, US Leersoise manages a return to Provincial League 2 after an absence of ten seasons.
2007 / US Leersoise finishes in tenth place in P2A, a repeat of the best season in club history – yet, due to reasons unclear, the club ceases activities following the 2006-07 season. The Stade Daniel Senesael is taken over by neighbour club AC Estaimbourg, which starts making use of the facilities for training sessions – a practice which has continued until the present day.