Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: Charleroi SC (± 1910-1914) / CS Marcinelle (1915-1920) / CS Marcinelle matr. 301 (1931-1937, 1944-1957) / FC Marcinelle matr. 3524 (1944) / Marcinelle Cazier Club (1958-1961) / RC Charleroi-Marcinelle (1959-1961) / Marcinelle FC matr. 6133 (1961-2001) / RSC du Pays de Charleroi (B) (2001-2022) / RSC du Pays de Charleroi (C) (2022-)

Plaine Communale Marius Meurée "Zebra Academy" terrain 1 (formerly known as Terrain de la Bruyère & Terrain de la Ferme Bal), Charleroi Marcinelle (C ground of RSC du Pays de Charleroi, formerly Charleroi SC / CS Marcinelle / CS Marcinelle matr. 301 / FC Marcinelle matr. 3524 / Marcinelle Cazier Club / RC Charleroi-Marcinelle / Marcinelle FC matr. 6133 / B ground of RSC du Pays de Charleroi)

Belgium, province: Hainaut = Henegouwen

23 VIII 2025 / RSC du Pays de Charleroi U15 - RFC Liège U15 2-2 / Pre-season friendly

Timeline

1905 / Foundation of a first football club in Marcinelle, a mining town on the southern outskirts of Greater Charleroi. The new club is given the name Marcinelle Sporting Association (SA). Starting its life on a pitch referred to locally as the Terrain de la Vilette, Marcinelle SA moved twice in the following five years, first to the Prairie Thomas (not far from the Vieille Place) and to the Ferme du Bois du Mont, owned by M. Davignon, subsequently. This last-mentioned ground was situated not far from the Bois Madame.
1907 / A Comité Régional Hainaut-Namur is formed, which organises first tentative league championships, but Marcinelle SA does not join this new association.
1910 / After an existence of five years, Marcinelle SA folds, ceasing all activities. That same year, a new club sees the daylight in Marcinelle, Cercle Catholique de Marcinelle, founded at the behest of the local parish priest.
1911 / Foundation of another club in Marcinelle, which is given the name Cercle Sportif (CS) Marcinelle. This club, which joins the so-called Fédération Wallonne des Sports Athlétiques, settles on a pitch at Route de Philippeville, on the border between the municipalities of Marcinelle and Couillet, referred to locally as the Terrain des Hauchies. For the 1912-13 season, CS Marcinelle is placed in Fédération Wallonne Division 1.
1912 / A merger is concluded between Cercle Catholique de Marcinelle and CS Marcinelle, resulting in the foundation of FC Marcinelle. With CS Marcinelle ceasing its membership of the Fédération Wallonne, the new club joins the official Belgian Football Association (UBSFA), being placed in a competition of new member clubs from the provinces of Hainaut and Namur.
1913 / One year after the merger between Cercle Catholique Marcinelle and CS Marcinelle, the decision is taken to change the name of FC Marcinelle to reinstate the old CS Marcinelle. The club has another season in Division 1 of the debutant competition of clubs from Hainaut and Namur.
1914 / A new club sees the daylight in Marcinelle, which is given the name Marcinelle Elite W. – with the meaning of the letter W being unclear. It is equally unclear where this club played and when it folded, but – also given the outbreak of World War I and all of its terrible consequences on daily life in Belgium – its existence was probably little more than ephemeral. This is also true of another club founded that same year, Marcinelle Sports, about which equally little information is available. With regular league football being put on hold during the war years, CS Marcinelle takes part in a Regional Championship with teams from the Greater Charleroi region.
1915 / Foundation of yet another club in Marcinelle, which takes on the striking name Albert Club (AC) Marcinelle – striking, given that Hainaut as well as 95% of Belgium was living under German occupation at the time, with King Albert and his army having been pushed back to the western bank of the River Yser in West Flanders. AC Marcinelle settles on Terrain Cayat Masson in the Chenevière neighbourhood. Also in 1915, moving away from the Terrain des Hauchies, where the club had spent the past five years, CS Marcinelle settles at the Terrain de la Bruyère, situated at Chemin de Jamioulx (modern-day Avenue Eugène Mascaux) – alternatively referred to locally as the Terrain de la Ferme Bal, on the southwestern outskirts of Marcinelle, close to the Bois du Cazier. This is not a new pitch, as it had previously been used for a short time by Charleroi SC, which led a roaming existence, playing at many different locations until settling at the Stade de la Rue Spinois in 1923.
1916 / CS Marcinelle clinches the title in the Championnat Régionale de Charleroi.
1917 / Due to the hardships of World War I and its aftermath, Belgian league football, including the Championnat Régional de Charleroi, comes to a complete standstill from 1917 until 1919.
1918 / After an existence of barely three years, of which at least the last must have been spent in inactivity, Albert Club (AC) Marcinelle folds, ceasing all activities.
1919 / After two years of inactivity, CS Marcinelle is placed in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2A.
1920 / A malevolent club secretary at CS Marcinelle rescinds the membership cards of the club’s best players, allowing them to move to Charleroi SC – and going on to send the Belgian FA a letter explaining that CS Marcinelle intends to fold, thus ending its membership of the league association. In spite of efforts by the remainder of the club’s board, this move heralds the end of CS Marcinelle.
1921 / CS Marcinelle is refounded under the name Marcinelle Sporting Association (SA), i.e. the name of the oldest club in Marcinelle, which had existed between 1905 and 1910. Joining the Belgian Football Association, the new club does not settle at the Terrain de la Bruyère, but at Terrain Amand Anciaux at Rue des Haies instead. For the 1921-22 season, the club is placed in a division of debutant clubs.
1922 / In its first season, Marcinelle SA finishes as runners-up in Hainaut’s Division of Debutants, 2 points behind champions Techniciens FC Charleroi. That same year, no fewer than four new clubs see the daylight in Marcinelle: Etoile Sportive (ES) Marcinelle, with Raoul Bouillon becoming its first chairman; it is unclear where the pitch of ES Marcinelle was situated. Moreover, Marcinelle Sports, which had become inactive during the war years, is re-established, with that club settling at Terrain aux Haies, at the back of the cemetery of Bois du Cazier. Thirdly, 1922 sees the foundation of Sport et Agrément (SA) Villettois Marcinelle, which settles at the Terrain au Tir – the old shooting range of the Belgian Army in Greater Charleroi, officially called Plaine des Manoeuvres des Artilleurs. Lastly, a new club sees the daylight, which is given the name Union Sportive (US) Marcinelle, settling at the so-called Terrain du XII (at Route de Beaumont) – given that name due to its proximity to Coalmine Number XII. All of the four mentioned clubs join the Belgian Football Association.
1923 / Whereas ES Marcinelle folds after just one year of activity, US Marcinelle finishes in first place in the Hainaut-Namur Debutant Division, 2 points ahead of runners-up US Couillet and ES Châtelineau. Following this, the club is placed in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2 along with Marcinelle SA.
1925 / Finishing as runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2, 4 points behind champions US Centre, US Marcinelle qualifies for the promotion play-offs for a place in National Division 3 (confusingly being referred to as ‘Promotion’ at the time). However, finishing in last place in a group with US Centre, US Tournaisienne, and eventual winners AEC Mons, the club does not reach national league football. Instead, US Marcinelle concludes a merger with Marcinelle SA, resulting in the foundation of Cercle Sportif (CS) Marcinelle – thus reinstating the name of the club which had existed between 1911 and 1920. With Terrain Amand Anciaux being abandoned, all activities now move to the Terrain du XII, home ground of US Marcinelle at Route de Beaumont. Also in 1925, SA Villettois Marcinelle is admitted to Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2 after three seasons in as a debutant club.
1926 / After an existence of three years, Marcinelle Sports folds ceasing all activities. Later that year, in December 1926, as the Belgian Football Association introduces its list of registration numbers, SA Villettois Marcinelle receives number 251, whereas CS Marcinelle is accorded number 301.
1927 / Finishing in joint first place in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2B with US Gilly, CS Marcinelle qualifies for the promotion play-offs along with the aforementioned club as well as Union Jemappienne and FC Binchois. In the end, with CS Marcinelle finishing in third place, the club from Jemappes walks away with the ticket for National Division 3. Meanwhile, finishing bottom of the table in Provincial Division 2B, SA Villettois Marcinelle descends into Provincial Division 3 – but the club folds at the end of the 1926-27 season after an existence of five years.
1928 / Foundation of a new club in Marcinelle, which is given the name Standard Club (SC) Marcinelle, joining Belgium’s Football Association with registration number 1217. It is unclear on which pitch this club played its home matches.
1929 / Runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2B, 3 points behind champions US Gilly, CS Marcinelle qualifies for the promotion play-offs along with the aforementioned club as well as US Centre and US Jemappienne. However, yet again, the club does not reach national divisions, finishing in last place, with the promotion ticket going to US Jemappienne.
1930 / Moving away from Terrain du XII, CS Marcinelle settles on a pitch laid out in the Parc de la Villette at Rue du Vélodrome (modern-day Rue Vital Françoisse).
1931 / Moving away from the Parc de la Villette after just one year, CS Marcinelle settles at the Terrain de la Bruyère, alternatively referred to as Terrain de la Ferme Bal, at Route de Beaumont (modern-day Avenue Eugène Mascaux). This is the same pitch which had been used by the old CS Marcinelle in the 1910s. It is unclear if the ground was in use by another football club in the years between 1920 and 1931.
1932 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial Division 2, 3 points ahead of closest rivals Union Farciennoise, CS Marcinelle wins promotion to Promotion, i.e. National Division 3, for the first time. The club’s debut match in Promotion C is a 1-1 away draw at CS Marchienne-Monceau, with Marcinelle’s star player Jef Oeyen scoring the club’s first goal at this level.
1933 / In the best season in club history, CS Marcinelle manages a ninth place in Promotion C.
1934 / In spite of ending the season on a high, with a win in its last home match, against CS Andennais (2-0), CS Marcinelle finishes in second-last place in Promotion C, thus dropping back into what is meanwhile called Provincial League 2, along with FC JS Athusienne and bottom club R Entente Tamines. Meanwhile, Standard Club (SC) Marcinelle takes on the new name Association Sportive (AS) Marcinelle.
1936 / Finishing in eleventh place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2, CS Marcinelle descends into Regional League 2 along with Union Farciennoise, US Baudour, and bottom club Borina Club Quaregnon. Meanwhile, AS Marcinelle, the former Standard Club Marcinelle, folds after an existence of eight years.
1937 / Moving away from the Terrain de la Bruyère (Terrain de la Ferme Bal), CS Marcinelle moves into the old ground of Marcinelle SA between 1921 and 1925, Terrain Amand Anciaux at Rue des Haies.
1941 / One year into the occupation of Belgium by the German army in World War II, CS Marcinelle temporarily ceases its activities. Terrain Amand Anciaux is ploughed, with potatoes being sown. After the war, trees are planted on the site.
1942 / Following the temporary suspension of activities of CS Marcinelle, a small club is founded in Marcinelle to allow local youths to practice their sports. The new club is given the name FC Marcinelle, acquiring registration number 3524 upon joining Belgium’s FA. With no pitch being available in Marcinelle proper, FC Marcinelle, which is placed in Hainaut’s Regional League 3, concludes a groundsharing agreement with RC Montigny from nearby Montigny-le-Tilleul, settling at that club’s Terrain au Petit Lac.
1944 / Moving away from its groundshare with RC Montigny at Terrain au Petit Lac, FC Marcinelle moves into the severely damaged, but hastily repaired Terrain de la Bruyere a.k.a. Terrain de la Ferme Bal, in January 1944. Following the 1943-44 season, FC Marcinelle allows itself to be absorbed into CS Marcinelle, which resumes its activities in Regional Division 2 of the so-called Entente Caroloregienne, a makeshift league organised in the Charleroi region to bridge the period until the prospective resumption of regular league football. CS Marcinelle takes the place of FC Marcinelle at the Terrain de la Bruyère / Terrain de la Ferme Bal, which, in the post-war years (either in the late 1940s or, more probably, in the course of the 1950s), is taken over by Marcinelle’s town council and turned into a municipal sports facility, officially called the Plaine Communale de Jeux et de Sports, although universally being continued to be referred to with the two old names.
1945 / At the resumption of regular league football, CS Marcinelle is placed in Hainaut’s Regional League 2.
1947 / CS Marcinelle finishes as runners-up in Hainaut’s Regional League 2C, 2 points behind champions ACS Couillet.
1948 / Runaway champions in Hainaut’s Regional League 2D, 16 points ahead of runners-up Châtelet SC – and without suffering a single defeat all season – CS Marcinelle qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it takes on FC Ath, US Quiévrain, and FC Ecaussinnois. With three promotion places being at stake, CS Marcinelle finishes in third place – just ahead of FC Ath and thus gaining promotion to Provincial League 2.
1950 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2, CS Marcinelle drops back into Regional League 2 (renamed Provincial League 2 in 1952 as the ‘old’ Provincial League 2 is renamed Provincial League 1) along with Borina Club Quaregnon and US Ransartoise.
1952 / Acquiring the royal epithet, CS Marcinelle officially changes its name to become Royal Cercle Sportif (RCS) Marcinelle.
1954 / Foundation of a new football club in Charleroi, which takes on the name Racing Club (RC) Charleroi, acquiring registration number 5766 upon joining the Belgian Football Association. It is unclear where the ground of this Provincial League 3 club was situated.
1957 / Moving away from the Plaine Communale once and for all, RCS Marcinelle settles at the re-established Terrain Amand Anciaux at Rue des Haies, also referred to as Terrain aux Haies occasionally. This leaves the Plaine Communale without a regular first team user.
1958 / Foundation of a new club in Marcinelle, which takes on the name Marcinelle Cazier Club, acquiring registration number 6133 and settling at the Plaine Communale at Avenue Eugène Mascaux. The new club starts its life in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3. This coincides with Marius Meurée relinquishing his post as mayor of Marcinelle after a tenure of 24 years. At some point – perhaps upon Meurée’s stepping down in 1958 – the refurbished Plaine Communale, formerly referred to as Terrain de la Bruyère or Terrain de la Ferme Bal, was officially renamed Plaine Communale Marius Meurée in his honour, although it is fair to say the new name never really stuck in the hearts and minds of locals.
1959 / RC Charleroi changes its name to become Racing Club (RC) Charleroi-Marcinelle. This name change most probably coincided with the club becoming groundsharers of Marcinelle Cazier Club at the Plaine Communale a.k.a. Stade Marius Meurée.
1961 / A merger is concluded between Marcinelle Cazier Club and RC Charleroi-Marcinelle, resulting in the foundation of Marcinelle FC, which retains Cazier Club’s registration number 6133. For the following forty years, Marcinelle FC is the regular user of the Plaine Communale. There is one extra pitch at the back of the ground, which is used as the training ground of R Charleroi SC.
1973 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, 8 points ahead of FC Labuissière, Marcinelle FC wins promotion to Provincial League 2.
1977 / In the best season in club history, Marcinelle FC finishes in fourth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2C.
1981 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2C, Marcinelle FC drops back into Provincial League 3 after eight years, along with bottom club CS Monceau-Hameau.
1984 / Runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3D, 2 points behind champions CS Monceau-Hameau, Marcinelle FC goes on to win the promotion play-offs, thus acceding to Provincial League 2.
1989 / Finishing bottom of the table in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2C, Marcinelle FC drops back into Provincial League 3 along with the club in second-last place, derby rivals RCS Marcinelle.
1991 / Marcinelle FC finishes as runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3D, 2 points behind champions Entente Presloise.
1996 / Marcinelle FC finishes as runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3E, 3 points behind champions REC Beaumont.
1997 / Marcinelle FC finishes as runners-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3E, 1 point behind champions RFC Gozéen.
1998 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3D, 4 points ahead of closest followers Jeunesse Turque, Marcinelle FC accedes to Provincial League 2.
2001 / In its last season as an independent club, Marcinelle FC manages a sixth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2C. Following the 2000-01 season, the club concludes a merger with RCS Marcinelle, languishing away in Provincial League 3, resulting in the foundation of RFC Sportif Marcinelle, which retains RCS Marcinelle’s registration number 301; Marcinelle FC’s number 6133 is erased from the Belgian FA’s official lists. All activities of the new club move to the Stade de la Grande Chenevière, home to RCS Marcinelle since 1978. Taking the place of Marcinelle FC, RFC Sportif (RFCS) Marcinelle starts its life at that level in the 2001-02 season. Meanwhile, Stade Marius Meurée is taken over by the youth academy of Sporting du Pays de Charleroi, with the ground being renamed Zebra Academy. The main pitch is laid out anew with a synthetic surface, with a new clubhouse and more facilities being added in subsequent years.
± 2021 / In an extension of the Zebra Academy, an extra synthetic surface is laid out at the far south of the complex, on a pitch previously occupied by rugby club Black Star and recreational football club RC Pays Noir. This new pitch is added to the academy as Terrain 3.

Note 1 – A pivotal source for this article is an excellent book by Hector Mahau about the history of RCS Marcinelle: “Livre d’Or Jubilaire du RCS Marcinelle 1911-1964”, ed. Excelsior: Marcinelle 1964. Infinite thanks to Racing Club Marcinelle (and former RCS Marcinelle) clubman Donato D’Alimonte for putting a free copy of this priceless piece of source material at my disposal.

Note 2 – Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-2 & 6-21 = match visit, August 23, 2025 / pictures 3-5 & 22 = non-matchday visit, August 8, 2025.