LUXEMBOURG: FC 72 Erpeldange

Stade An der Trell, Erpeldange (FC 72 Erpeldange)

Luxembourg, canton: Diekirch

29 V 2025 / US Reisdorf 47 - FC Claravallis Clervaux 0-1 / Division 2 & 3 - promotion-relegation play-off (neutral venue) (= LUX levels 4 & 5)

Timeline

• 1946 / Foundation of a football club in Erpeldange, a village near Ettelbruck in the heart of Luxembourg. The new club, of which Nicolas Lux becomes the first chairman, is given the name Blue Boys Erpeldange-Ettelbruck. The club is placed in Division 3, the fifth and lowest tier of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, for the 1946-47 season. There is no information available about the situation of the pitch of Blue Boys Erpeldange-Ettelbruck.
• 1949 / Finishing in third place in Division 3 Group 2, Blue Boys Erpeldange-Ettelbruck wins promotion to Division 2 (level 4) along with champions FC Arantia Berdorf.
• 1950 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 2 Group 1, Blue Boys Erpeldange-Ettelbruck drops back into Division 3 (level 5) after just one season.
• 1951 / Having managed an eighth place in Division 3 Group 2 in the 1950-51 season, Blue Boys Erpeldange-Ettelbruck folds, ceasing all activities.
• 1971 / On October 8, 1971, a new football club sees the daylight in Erpeldange. The club, which, given that it was too late to take part in the 1971-72 season, is given the name FC 72 Erpeldange, chooses Henri Kartheiser as its first chairman.
• 1972 / On August 20, 1972, FC 72 Erpeldange’s ground, Stade Gross-Wiss, is inaugurated with a pre-season friendly against FC Jeunesse Gilsdorf (2-1). The pitch is situated on the southern outskirts of the village, at Porte des Ardennes, on the banks of the River Sûre. Some weeks later, FC 72 Erpeldange also manages to win its first official home match in Division 4, the sixth and lowest level of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, in the most emphatic of ways, sending home FC Jeunesse Useldange with a 6-1 battering. 
• 1975 / Champions in Division 4 Group 1, 2 points ahead of closest rivals FC Jeunesse Gilsdorf, FC 72 Erpeldange wins promotion to Division 3 (level 5). The successful coach is Théo Weber.
• 1976 / In spite of only managing a tenth place in Division 3 Group 1, FC 72 Erpeldange is placed in Division 2 (level 4) for the new season due to all reserves’ teams being eliminated from the league pyramid.
• 1977 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 1, 9 points behind runaway champions US Feulen, FC 72 Erpeldange qualifies for the promotion-relegation play-offs, a three-way competition against D1 team FC Brouch and FC Victoria Rosport. In the end, Erpeldange has to leave first place to FC Brouch, which thus staves off relegation.
• 1982 / As the church council terminates the rental agreement with FC 72 Erpeldange for the lease of the grounds of Stade Gross-Wiss, the club has to leave the ground in November 1982. For the time being, the club concludes a groundsharing agreement with FC Etzella Ettelbruck, settling on one of the side-pitches of Stade am Deich.
• 1984 / Coached by Gilbert Feller, FC 72 Erpeldange finishes in second-last place in Division 2 Group 1, thus dropping back into Division 3 (level 5) along with bottom club CS Bourscheid. On April 5th, 1984, after having groundshared with FC Etzella Ettelbruck at Stade am Deich for more than a year, FC 72 Erpeldange moves into its newly laid-out ground in the centre of Erpeldange, Stade An der Trell, consisting of two pitches. The ground and its clubhouse are inaugurated with a gala match against FC Etzella Ettelbruck (0-2) in the presence of Luxembourg’s Minister of Sports Affairs, Marc Fischbach.
• 1987 / Finishing as runners-up in Division 3 Group 2, 1 point behind champions US Boevange-sur-Attert, FC 72 Erpeldange qualifies for the promotion-relegation play-offs, with four teams taking on each other for two promotion places. In the end, FC 72 Erpeldange draws the short straw, finishing in third place, ahead of CS Bourscheid, but having to leave the promotion tickets to FC Red Boys Aspelt and FC Blo-Wäiss Izeg.
• 1988 / Champions in Division 3 Group 2, 1 point ahead of closest rivals US Reisdorf 47, FC 72 Erpeldange wins promotion to Division 2 (level 4). The successful player-coach is Abbes Reeff, who would go on to take over the club’s presidency in 1994.
• 1990 / FC 72 Erpeldange hosts one of the powerhouses of Luxembourg’s football at the time, FC Avenir Beggen, in the Luxembourg Cup, suffering a 3-0 defeat in front of an attendance of 600 spectators.
• 1999 / Champions in Division 2 Group 1, 2 points ahead of closest followers AS Wincrange, FC 72 Erpeldange wins promotion to Division 1 (level 3). The successful coach is Claude Osweiler. Also in 1999, works get underway on the construction of an extended clubhouse at Stade An der Trell.
• 2001 / Coached by Nino Nettis, who had replaced Sylvère Raths in the course of the season, FC 72 Erpeldange finishes bottom of the table in Division 1 Group 1, thus dropping back into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Brouch and US Rambrouch. Also in 2001, the club commences a partnership with neighbour club FC Etzella Ettelbruck, involving the formation of combined youth teams. In the following years, Etzella also sends young reserves’ team players on loan spells to FC 72 Erpeldange, allowing them to gain experience.
• 2002 / Runaway champions in Division 2 Group 1, 10 points ahead of closest followers AS Hosingen, FC 72 Erpeldange wins promotion to Division 1 (level 3). Gene Posing crowns himself top scorer of the league with eighteen goals. The successful coach is Nino Nettis. Also in 2002, after more than two years of construction works, the new, enlarged clubhouse is inaugurated at Stade An der Trell.
• 2003 / 19-year-old defender Gilles Engeldinger, who had broken into FC 72 Erpeldange’s first team the previous year, is signed by FC Etzella Ettelbruck. Moreover, in September 2003, Engeldinger is called up by national trainer Allan Simonsen for his first cap, a 1-0 home defeat at Stade Josy Barthel at the hands of Bosnia & Herzegovina. It was to remain Engeldinger’s only international game.  
• 2004  / Runners-up in Division 1 Group 2, with an equal number of points as champions Union Mertert-Wasserbillig as well as with an equal goal difference, but with five fewer goals scored, FC 72 Erpeldange wins promotion to Promotion d’Honneur, the second level of Luxembourg’s league pyramid, for the first time in club history. The successful coach is Mike Ney.
• 2007 / New floodlights are inaugurated at Stade An der Trell.
• 2009 / Coached by Patrick Grettnich, FC 72 Erpeldange manages the best result in its history, finishing in third place in Promotion d’Honneur and only missing out on promotion to the National Division due to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of US Rumelange in a promotion-relegation play-off, played at FC Avenir Beggen’s Stade de la Rue Henri Dunant (att. 1,800). Also in 2009, the second pitch of Stade An der Trell is laid out anew as a 3G.
• 2014 / Former Luxembourg international midfielder Charles Leweck joins FC 72 Erpeldange as player-coach from AS La Jeunesse d’Esch, taking with him a host of former Luxembourg international colleagues, most notably his older brother Alphonse Leweck (also from AS La Jeunesse d’Esch). Others include Gilles Engeldinger (who returns to Erpeldange after eleven seasons with FC Etzella Ettelbruck), Jacques Plein (from FC Progrès Niederkorn), and Dan Collette (from AS La Jeunesse d’Esch). In spite of the high-profile arrivals, FC 72 Erpeldange does not come close to the promotion places, finishing the 2014-15 season in Promotion d’Honneur in a disappointing ninth place. 
• 2015 / A small, second clubhouse alongside the second pitch of Stade An der Trell is erected.
• 2016 / Finishing in twelfth place in Promotion d’Honneur with coach Charles Leweck, FC 72 Erpeldange goes on to suffer defeat in a promotion-relegation play-off against Union Mertert-Wasserbillig (0-0 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out). As a result, the club descends into Division 1 (level 3) after twelve seasons, along with Union 05 Kayl-Tétange and bottom club Union Remich-Bous. In the early months of 2016, coach Leweck allows a 16-year-old youth academy midfielder, Leandro Barreiro, to make his debut in the first team. In the summer of 2016, the highly talented player makes the step to the youth academy of 1. FSV Mainz 05, breaking into that club’s first team in 2019 and eventually earning a transfer to Portuguese powerhouse SL Benfica in 2024. Barreiro won his first cap for Luxembourg in 2018.
• 2017 / Clinching the title in Division 1 Group 1, 1 point ahead of closest rivals FC Minerva Lintgen, FC 72 Erpeldange manages an immediate return to Promotion d’Honneur. The decisive points were obtained in an away win against FC Blö-Weiss Medernach on the last day of the season. The successful coach is Charles Leweck.
• 2018 / Former Luxembourg international goalkeeper Marc Oberweis, previously under contract with F91 Dudelange, CS Grevenmacher, and AS La Jeunesse d’Esch, comes back from retirement to help out FC 72 Erpeldange as replacement goalkeeper in the second half of the 2017-18 season.
• 2019 / Finishing in eleventh place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC 72 Erpeldange goes on to suffer defeat in a promotion-relegation play-off against FC Blö-Weiss Medernach (3-1 A.E.T.) at Bissen’s Stade Klengbousbierg (att. 1,900). As a result, the club drops back into Division 1 (level 3). After the 2018-19 season, coach Charles Leweck leaves the club after a tenure of five years.
• 2022 / Finishing in thirteenth place in Division 1 Group 1, FC 72 Erpeldange avoids relegation by edging past Division 2 team FC Koerich in a play-off (0-0 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out). Also in 2022, the club celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with a gala match at Stade An der Trell against a team of former Luxembourg international players, coached by John Van Rijswijck and Théo Scholten.
• 2025 /  Finishing in thirteenth place in Division 1 Group 1, FC 72 Erpeldange goes on to suffer defeat in a promotion-relegation play-off against Union Mertert-Wasserbillig (2-1) at Stade Kuerzwénkel in Consdorf. As a result, the club drops back into Division 2 (level 4), 23 years after last having played at that level, along with FC Stengefort and bottom club FC Orania Vianden.

Note 1 – Important parts of the information above were derived from a book detailing FC 72 Erpeldange’s history, published on the occasion of the club’s fiftieth anniversary in 2022, “FC 72 50 1972-2022”. Thanks to FC 72 Erpeldange board member David Tessaro for allowing me to use this important source.

Note 2 – Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-2 & 6-22 = match visit, May 2025 / pictures 3-5 = non-matchday visit, July 2010.

All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author

LUXEMBOURG: FC Red Black Pfaffenthal (1934-1940, 1944-2007) / FK Rot-Schwarz Pfaffenthal (1940-1944) / FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch (2007-2025) / AS Red Black Luxembourg (2025-)

Stade Gaston Diderich, Luxembourg = Luxemburg Pfaffenthal (AS Red Black Luxembourg, formerly FC Red Black Pfaffenthal / FK Rot-Schwarz Pfaffenthal / FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch)

Luxembourg, canton: Luxembourg

25 V 2025 / FC Red Black Egalité Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch - Daring Club Echternach 2-2 / Division 1 Série 2 (= LUX level 3)

Timeline

• 1909 / Foundation of a football club in Pfaffenthal, a northern suburb of Luxembourg, which is given the name FC Pfaffenthal. For the 1909-10 season, the first-ever Luxembourgian football season, the club is placed in Klasse B, i.e. the second division.
• 1911 / FC Pfaffenthal finishes as runners-up in Klasse B, 3 points behind champions Daring Club Eich. Following the 1910-11 season, FC Pfaffenthal folds, ceasing all activities.
• 1919 / Following the years of hardship of World War I and the German occupation, football clubs are founded across Luxembourg, one of those being FC Red Black Pfaffenthal. The foundation meeting is held at Café Schumacher, Rue Laurent Menager, where Jos Reuter is elected as the new club’s first chairman. A local brewer, Michel Brauer, puts a plot of land at the club’s disposal, where a pitch is laid out – the so-called Terrain Descherwé.
• 1920 / As FC Red Black Pfaffenthal joins the Luxembourgian league, the club is placed in Division 3, the fourth and lowest level of the country’s football pyramid.
• 1921 / Champions in Division 3 Region Luxembourg, 2 points ahead of runners-up AS Luxembourg, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal goes on to defeat FC Éclair Bettembourg (3-0) and FC Obercorn (3-1) in the promotion play-offs. As a result, the club wins promotion to Division 2 (level 3).
• 1922 / Clinching its second title in a row, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finishes in first place in Division 2, 6 points ahead of FC Éclair Bettembourg, winning promotion to Promotion (level 2) along with the aforementioned club.
• 1923 / Clinching its third title in a row, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finishes in first place in Promotion, 5 points ahead of FC Éclair Bettembourg, winning promotion to Division 1, the top flight of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, along with the aforementioned club.
• 1924 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Promotion (level 2) after just one season, along with bottom club FC Éclair Bettembourg.
• 1925 / Champions in Promotion, 2 points ahead of runners-up US Esch, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 1) along with the aforementioned club.
• 1926 / FC Red Black Pfaffenthal has the best cup run in its history, reaching the semis of the Coupe du Luxembourg, in which the club bows out against FA Red Boys Differdange (1-9).
• 1928 / In the best season in club history, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finishes in fourth place in the top tier of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, only preceded by CA Spora Luxembourg, CS Stade Dudelange, and FA Red Boys Differdange.
• 1931 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Promotion (level 2) along with the club finishing in second-last place, CS Stade Dudelange.
• 1932 / Finishing as runners-up in Promotion, with an equal number of points as champions CS Stade Dudelange, but with a slightly inferior goal difference (+17 vs. +16), FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages a return to the top division of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, which has meanwhile been renamed Division of Honour. Also in 1932, the club has to leave Terrain Descherwé, which has to make way for housing. Although no exact information is available on the matter, the club must have led a wandering life of groundsharing with other clubs in the two following years.
• 1933 / Finishing bottom of the table in the Division of Honour, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal descends into Division 1 (level 2) along with the club in second-last place, CS Stade Dudelange.
• 1934 / Champions in Division 1, with an equal number of points as runners-up FC Aris Bonnevoie, but with a better goal difference (+32 vs. +18), FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to the Division of Honour (level 1). Also in 1934, the club moves into a newly laid-out ground, Terrain Siechenhof, situated at Rue Laurent Menager. The ground was put at the disposal of the club in large part thanks to the engagement of Luxembourg’s mayor, Gaston Diderich.
• 1937 / Finishing in second-last place in the Division of Honour, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 1 (level 2) along with bottom club FC Aris Bonnevoie.
• 1940 / During the German occupation of Luxembourg in the spring of 1940, Terrain Siechenhof suffers badly, being rendered unusable for the duration of the war. In the rigorous Germanisation campaign developed in Luxembourg by the Germans, all football clubs have to drop their references to the French and English languages, with FC Red Black Pfaffenthal being renamed FK (Fussballklub) Rot-Schwarz Pfaffenthal as a result. However, mainly due to the horrendous state of its playing field, the club hardly develops any activities in the following years.
• 1944 / As the Germans are driven out of the southern half of Luxembourg in the Allied onslaught, FK Rot-Schwarz Pfaffenthal takes on its original name FC Red Black Pfaffenthal.
• 1945 / Returning to its ground, Terrain Siechenhof, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal resumes its activities as a league club in Division 1, the second tier of the Luxembourgian football pyramid.
• 1946 / Champions in Division 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal wins promotion to the Division of Honour (level 1) along with the clubs in second and third place, SC Bettembourg and SC Tétange. Also in 1946, Gaston Diderich, the mayor of Luxembourg Ville who had helped FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finding a new ground in the 1930s, passes away at the age of 61. Subsequently – the exact year is unknown – Terrain Siechenhof is officially renamed Stade Gaston Diderich in honour of the progressive liberal politician.
• 1948 / Finishing bottom of the table in the Division of Honour, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 1 (level 2) along with AS La Jeunesse d’Esch and SC Bettembourg. 
• 1951 / In spite of finishing bottom of the table in Division 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal avoids relegation thanks to the fact that the club in second-last place, derby rivals FC Egalité Weimerskirch, are punished with relegation to Division 3, the bottom level of the Luxembourgian football pyramid, due to unsportsmanlike behaviour.
• 1957 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1 Group 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal descends into the third level of Luxembourg’s football pyramid, renamed Division 1 in mid-1957, along with FC Blue Boys Muhlenbach and bottom club FC Orania Vianden.
• 1958 / Runners-up in Division 1, 1 point behind champions FC Claravallis Clervaux, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal wins promotion to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2).
• 1959 / Finishing bottom of the table in Promotion d’Honneur, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 1 along with the club in second-last place, FC Claravallis Clervaux.
• 1966 / Floodlights are added to the set-up at Stade Gaston Diderich.
• 1967 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal is retrograded into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Marisca Mersch, FC Sporting Steinfort, and bottom club FC Jeunesse 07 Kayl.
• 1968 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, 2 points ahead of closest rivals FC Swift Hesperange, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3) along with the aforementioned club.
• 1969 / Managing its second title in a row, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal clinches the title in Division 1, thus winning promotion to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) along with runners-up FC Red Star Merl-Belair.
• 1970 / Finishing in second-last place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 1 (level 3) after just one season, along with bottom club CS Oberkorn. Also in 1970, the club celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with a four-way tournament at Stade Gaston Diderich, with derby rivals Union Luxembourg, CA Spora Luxembourg, and FC Aris Bonnevoie being the invited clubs. In the end, Union Luxembourg walks away with the trophy.
• 1973 / Champions in Division 1 Group 1, 1 point ahead of closest rivals CS Pétange, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal wins promotion to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) along with the aforementioned club.
• 1976 / Runners-up in Promotion d’Honneur, 3 points behind champions CS Grevenmacher, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages a return to the top flight of Luxembourgian football, meanwhile called the National Division, for the first time since the 1930s.
• 1977 / Unable to cope with the higher level in the National Division, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finishes bottom of the table, thus dropping back into Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) after just one season, along with the club in second-last place, FC Aris Bonnevoie.
• 1978 / Finishing in second-last place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal suffers its second relegation in a row, dropping back into Division 1 (level 3) along with bottom club FC Orania Vianden.
• 1979 / Finishing in tenth place in Division 1 Group 2, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal staves off relegation by winning a three-way promotion-relegation play-off against US Esch and US Mertert.
• 1980 / Finishing in tenth place in Division 1 Group 2, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal staves off relegation for the second year running by winning a three-way promotion-relegation play-off against US Esch and FC Jeunesse Biwer.
• 1981 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal proves unable to save its skin in the promotion-relegation play-off against FC Rapid Neudorf and FC Sporting Steinfort, having to cede its D1 place to the former club. As such, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 2 (level 4), only four years after the club found itself in the top division of the Luxembourgian football pyramid.
• 1984 / Champions in Division 2 Group 3, 2 points ahead of closest followers AS Remich, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages a return to Division 1 (level 3) after an absence of three years.
• 1986 / Finishing in last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal drops back into Division 2 (level 4) along with SC Bettembourg and CS Sanem.
• 1987 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, with an equal number of points as runners-up FC Résidence Walferdange, but with a slightly better goal difference (+41 vs. +35), FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3).
• 1989 / Runners-up in Division 1 Group 1, with an equal number of points as champions US Mertert, but with a marginally worse goal difference (+22 vs. +20), FC Red Black Pfaffenthal joins the aforementioned club in acceding to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2).
• 1991 / Finishing in eighth place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal proves unable to avoid the drop in the relegation round, descending into Division 1 (level 3) along with FCM Young Boys Diekirch, FC Olympique Eischen, and RM 86 Luxembourg.
• 1992 / Runners-up in Division 1 Group 2, 3 points behind The National Schifflange, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2).
• 1993 / Finishing in tenth place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal proves unable to avoid the drop in the relegation round, descending into Division 1 (level 3) along with FC Jeunesse Hautcharage, FC The Belval Belvaux, and FC Olympique Eischen.
• 1994 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1 Group 1, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal descends into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Sporting Steinfort and bottom club FC Atert Bissen.
• 2001 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 2 Group 2, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal suffers relegation into Division 3, the fifth and lowest tier of Luxembourg’s league system, for the first time, along with the club in second-last place, AS Rupensia Lusitanos Larochette.
• 2002 / Champions in Division 3 Group 2, 3 points ahead of runners-up FC Cebra 01, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal manages an immediate return to Division 2 (level 4) along with the aforementioned club as well as FC Syra Mensdorf.
• 2007 / In its last season as an independent club, FC Red Black Pfaffenthal finishes in sixth place in Division 2 Group 2. Following the 2006-07 season, the club concludes a merger with FC Egalité Weimerskirch, resulting in the foundation of FC Red Black Egalité (RBE) 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch. Taking the place of FC Red Black Pfaffenthal in Division 2, the new club’s first team plays its home matches at Pfaffenthal’s Stade Gaston Diderich, with Stade Michel Wagner “Terrain Riedgen” in Weimerskirch being retained for lower team football and training sessions.
• 2008 / Finishing in tenth place in Division 2 Group 2, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch suffers relegation in its first season, descending into Division 3 (level 5) along with FC Jeunesse Biwer, US Moutfort-Medingen, FC Vinesca Ehnen, and bottom club FC Red Boys Aspelt.
• 2009 / Runners-up in Division 3 Group 2, 2 points behind champions FC Résidence Walferdange, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch manages an immediate return to Division 2 (level 4).
• 2011 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 2 Group 2, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch drops back into Division 3 (level 5) along with bottom club FC Vinesca Ehnen.
• ± 2012 / In or around 2012, the pitch of Stade Gaston Diderich is laid out anew as a 3G. Around that same time, the club must have abandoned its training ground, the Stade Michel Wagner in Weimerskirch, which is renamed Stade Gust Jacquemart and taken over by rugby club CSCE Rugby Luxembourg and Gaelic sports club GAA Luxembourg.
• 2014 / Champions in Division 3 Group 2, with an equal number of points as runners-up FC Red Star Merl-Belair, but with a marginally better goal difference (+42 vs. +41), FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch wins promotion to Division 2 (level 4) along with the aforementioned club.
• 2015 / Finishing in fourth place in Division 2 Group 2, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch qualifies for the promotion-relegation play-offs, in which the club suffers a 1-0 defeat at the hands of FC Berdenia Berbourg.
• 2016 / Finishing in third place in Division 2 Group 2, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch goes on to win a promotion-relegation play-off against SC Bettembourg (3-2), resulting in the club winning promotion to Division 1 (level 3) along with champions CS Sanem and runners-up FC Blo-Wäiss Izeg.
• 2018 / In the best season in the history of FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch, the club manages a seventh place in Division 1 Group 2.
• 2025 / Finishing in thirteenth place in Division 1 Group 2, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch goes on to suffer defeat in a promotion-relegation play-off against FC Sporting Bertrange (4-2), playing at Stade Jean Wirtz in Strassen. As a result, the club drops back into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Ehlerange, Union 05 Kayl-Tétange, and bottom club US Berdorf-Consdorf. Following the 2024-25 season, FC Red Black Egalité 07 Pfaffenthal-Weimerskirch concludes a merger with AS Luxembourg-Feschmaart, resulting in the foundation of AS Red Black Luxembourg. Activities are to be subdivided between the grounds of the two clubs, Stade Gaston Diderich in Luxembourg-Pfaffenthal and Stade Boy Konen in Cessange.

Note – Part of the information above has been derived from an article published in Revue on the occasion of FC Red Black Pfaffenthal’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations in 1970: “Red Black Pfaffenthal: 50 Jahre am Ball” (Revue: 1970, no. 37).

All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author

BELGIUM: Werchter FC (1935-1942) / KFC Werchter (1942-1946, 1948-)

Terreinen Benny De Rijck, Werchter (KFC Werchter, formerly Werchter FC)

Belgium, province: Flemish Brabant = Vlaams Brabant

18 V 2025 / KFC Werchter - KVC Kessel-Lo 2000 B 1-1 A.E.T. (Werchter wins penalty shoot-out: 4-2) / Brabant, VFV Provincial League 4 - promotion play-off final (= BE level 9)

Timeline

• 1934 / Foundation of a football club in Werchter, a village just to the north of Rotselaar in the Flemish-speaking part of Brabant. The new club is given the name Werchter FC, with a pitch being laid out at Groote Straat (later spelled Grotestraat).
• 1935 / One year after its foundation, Werchter FC joins the so-called Vlaamsche Voetbalbond (VVB), a league association of Flemish clubs, which was attempting to emulate the official Belgian FA (URBSFA / KBVB), which was perceived by many in Flanders as being dominated by the French-speaking community in Belgium. Having obtained membership with registration number 203, Werchter FC could usually be found in the higher echelons of VVB Division 2 in the following years.
• 1942 / The VVB having thoroughly discredited itself from the early stages of the German occupation of Belgium onwards due to its pro-nazi stance, many clubs decide to leave the association – and Werchter FC is no exception. In 1942, the club makes the leap to the official Belgian Football Association under the slightly adapted name FC Werchter, obtaining registration number 3557. For the 1942-43 season, the club is placed in Brabant’s Provincial League 3, the bottom level of that province’s provincial league pyramid.
• 1946 / Due to the pitch at Grotestraat having been deemed unfit for league football by Belgian FA authorities, FC Werchter remains inactive for two years.
• 1948 / After two years of inactivity, with the pitch at Grotestraat having been upgraded to meet with Belgian FA standards, FC Werchter rejoins Brabant’s Provincial League 3.
• 1962 / The club’s first tangible success, FC Werchter clinches the title in Brabant’s Provincial League 3G, 4 points ahead of closest rivals RC Nieuwrode. As such, the club wins promotion to Provincial League 2 for the first time.
• 1969 / Finishing in second-last place in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, FC Werchter drops back into Provincial League 3 after seven seasons.
• 1970 / Runners-up in Brabant’s Provincial League 3D behind champions FC Eclair Kessel-Loo, FC Werchter qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club reaches the final, in which it suffers defeat at the hands of US Quenastoise.
• 1971 / Champions in Brabant’s Provincial League 3D, 2 points ahead of closest followers FC Rapid Bertem, FC Werchter manages a return to Provincial League 2 after an absence of two years.
• 1972 / FC Werchter finishes as runners-up in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, 6 points behind champions FC Eclair Kessel-Loo.
• 1973 / Runaway champions in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, 9 points ahead of its closest rival, FC Werchter wins promotion to Provincial League 1 for the first time in club history.
• 1977 / Having played four seasons in Provincial League 1 – with an eighth place in 1975 as the best result in those years – FC Werchter now finishes bottom of the table in that division, thus descending into Provincial League 2.
• 1980 / FC Werchter finishes as runners-up in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, 4 points behind champions MJ FC Zichem.
• 1983 / Champions in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, FC Werchter manages a return to Provincial League 1 after an absence of six years.
• 1984 / In the most successful season in club history, FC Werchter finishes in fifth place in Brabant’s Provincial League 1.
• 1986 / Two years after the club’s fiftieth anniversary, FC Werchter obtains the royal epithet, thus officially becoming Koninklijke Football Club (KFC) Werchter.
• 1988 / Finishing second from bottom in Brabant’s Provincial League 1, KFC Werchter drops back into Provincial League 2 after five seasons.
• 1996 / Finishing bottom of the table in Brabant’s Provincial League 2B, KFC Werchter drops back into Provincial League 3, 25 years after last having found itself at that level.
• 1998 / Benny De Rijck, one of the best players in KFC Werchter’s history, succumbs to a neglected pneumonia at the age of 40. De Rijck had spent his entire playing career at KFC Werchter, having experienced the club’s heyday in Provincial League 1 and steadfastly having turned down tentative offers from professional league clubs. In fact, so big was his dedication to KFC Werchter, that he was still playing first team football at the time of his death. In honour of this ultimate club man, Terrein Grotestraat was renamed Terrein(en) Benny De Rijck about a year after his passing.
• 2000 / KFC Werchter finishes as runners-up in Brabant’s Provincial League 3D, 1 point behind champions KVV Scherpenheuvel Sport.
• 2006 / Finishing bottom of the table in Brabant’s Provincial League 3D, KFC Werchter descends into Provincial League 4 for the first time in club history.
• 2014 / The nadir in club history, KFC Werchter finishes bottom of the table in Brabant’s Provincial League 4G with just 3 points (from three draws) in the entire season, suffering double-digit defeats on five occasions and ending the season with the abysmal goal difference of -155 (14-169).
• 2023 / Runners-up in Brabant’s Provincial League 4E, 13 points behind runaway champions KOSC Wijgmaal B, KFC Werchter qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Knocking out VC Den Boskant Peizegem in R1 (1-0), the club bows out in R2 against KFC Eppegem B (4-0).
• 2024 / Finishing in fifth place in Brabant’s Provincial League 4E, KFC Werchter qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Edging past Boutersem United B in R1 (1-1 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out), the club is eliminated in R2 by derby rivals KVC Haacht (4-1).
• 2025 / Finishing in sixth place in Brabant’s Provincial League 4E, KFC Werchter qualifies for the promotion play-offs for the third year running. Eliminating K Stormvogels Haasrode B in R1 (2-0) and EMI Essene in R2 (0-2), the club ultimately manages to edge past KVC Kessel-Lo 2000 B in the final (1-1 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out), played at Terrein Benny De Rijck. As such, acceding to Provincial League 3, KFC Werchter manages to climb out of Provincial League 4 after nineteen years.

Note – Thanks to KFC Werchter board member Peter Storms for essential parts of information for the article above.

All photos: (c) W.B. Tukker / www.extremefootballtourism.blogspot.com. Publication of any of these images only after permission of author