Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: RFC Natoye

Sunday, 10 August 2025

BELGIUM: RFC Natoye

Stade au Codjot, Natoye (RFC Natoye)

Belgium, province: Namur = Namen

10 VIII 2025 / RFC Natoye - RFC Grand-Leez B 1-3 / Namur, Provincial Cup R2

Timeline

1935 / Foundation of a football club in Natoye, a village in the eastern half of the Province of Namur. The new club, which takes on the name FC Natoye, acquires registration number 2247 upon joining the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA / KBVB). The club’s first ground is situated at the back of a local pub, Café des Sports, in Natoye proper.
± 1950 / Moving away from the Café des Sports, FC Natoye settles on a newly laid-out ground at Rue de la Gozée, which is known locally as the Stade au Codjot. Also in the 1950s, the club had the best spell in its history, spending several seasons in Namur’s Provincial League 1.
1985 / Upon the club’s fiftieth anniversary, FC Natoye obtains the royal epithet, thus officially becoming Royal Football Club (RFC) Natoye.
2006 / Clinching the title in Namur’s Provincial League 3, RFC Natoye wins promotion to Provincial League 2.
2010 / Finishing bottom of the table in Namur’s Provincial League 2A, RFC Natoye drops back into Provincial League 3 along with RWA Sauvenière and RFC Temploux-Suarlée.
2011 / Champions in Namur’s Provincial League 3C, 6 points ahead of R Anhée FC, RFC Natoye manages an immediate return to Provincial League 2.
2012 / Finishing in third-last place in Namur’s Provincial League 2B, RFC Natoye goes on to suffer defeat in a relegation play-off in the club which had finished in the same position in P2A, US Gelbressée (7-2 aggr.). This would have entailed relegation, were it not for the fact that one extra spot in Provincial League 2 turns out to be available, meaning that the club avoids the descent into P3 after all.
2013 / Finishing bottom of the table in Namur’s Provincial League 2B, RFC Natoye drops back into Provincial League 3 after two seasons, along with US Walcourt and RFC Yvoir.
2015 / Finishing bottom of the table in Namur’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Natoye descends into Provincial League 4 along with Rienne Sports, RUSG Sinsin-Waillet, and CSE Han-sur-Lesse.
2023 / Champions in Namur’s Provincial League 4A, 5 points ahead of closest followers RSC Petit-Waret B, RFC Natoye wins promotion to Provincial League 3.
2024 / Finishing in thirteenth place in Namur’s Provincial League 3B, RFC Natoye has to stave off relegation in a set of relegation play-offs against RFC Rhisnois B and RCS Florennois, with one place in P3 being at stake. However, the ticket goes to RCS Florennois, which manages a comprehensive win in Natoye (1-6), while holding Rhisnes B to a stalemate (0-0). Given that Rhisnes B had defeated Natoye with a smaller difference (2-0), RFC Rhisnois B and RFC Natoye are condemned to a descent into Provincial League 4, along with RCS Faulx-les-Tombes, RUSG Sinsin-Waillet, and bottom club Rienne Sports.

Note - Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-5 = non-matchday visit, July 2025 / pictures 6-22 = match visit, August 2025.