Extreme Football Tourism: NETHERLANDS: RKSV Sarto

Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend, Tilburg (RKSV Sarto)

Netherlands, province: North Brabant = Noord-Brabant

30 XI 2025 / RKSV Sarto - vv Gilze 2-0 / Combined Sunday & Saturday League 1D (= NL level 6)

Timeline

1924 / Foundation of a new Roman Catholic parish on the western outskirts of Tilburg, with the newly built St Margaret Maria Church (Heilige Margerita Mariakerk) taking centre-stage, with a newly built monastery and a boys’ school close by. At the invitation of the bishop of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, a group of monks from Ghent in Belgium, belonging to the Brothers of Charity, move into the new monastery, while also taking over the leadership of the boys’ school, the St. Thomas School. Before long, a football team of primary school boys is formed, named after the school – Sint-Thomas. No more than a recreational team, Sint-Thomas plays its matches on Terrein Bredascheweg, the pitch of RKVV Vincent, a club founded in 1917 by a group of boys living at Huize Nazareth, a Roman Catholic child protection organisation in Tilburg.
1925 / RKVV Vincent, the main users of Terrein Bredascheweg, join the so-called Roomsch-Katholieke Voetbalbond (RKVB) Den Bosch – RKVB Den Bosch being a sub-branch of the Netherlands’ Catholic Football Federation (RKF). Also in or around 1925, a new football team is formed at the St Thomas’ Boys’ School by a group of boys being part of the Eucharistic Youth Movement – with members being referred to as Eucharistic Crusaders (Eucharistische Kruistochters, EK’ers) – founded in 1920 in Belgium, but finding membership in the Catholic part of the Netherlands as well, in response to the policy of Pope Pius X, declared in 1910, to encourage children of primary school age to celebrate the Eucharist on a weekly basis as well as do the First Holy Communion at the age of seven (rather than at twelve, as had been the custom previously). In honour of Pope Pius X, who had passed away in 1914 after an eleven-year papacy, the boys’ team took on the Holy Father’s name, (Giuseppe) Sarto.
1928 / The recreational boys’ team Sarto successfully applies for membership of the RKVB Den Bosch as Roomsch-Katholieke Sportvereeniging (RKSV) Sarto. With Sint-Thomas being absorbed into the new club, membership is soon allowed to others than boys of the Eucharistic Youth Movement, as was the case in the early days. The first team of RKSV Sarto is placed in RKVB Division 3.
1929 / Clinching the title in RKVB Division 3, RKSV Sarto wins promotion to Division 2 of the said league system.
1931 / RKSV Sarto wins promotion from RKVB Division 2 to Division 1. That same year, moving away from its groundshare with RKVV Vincent at Terrein Bredascheweg, the club settles on a newly laid-out pitch at Schaapsdijk.
1934 / As another football club from Tilburg, TAC (Tilburgsche Amateursclub), founded as Volt and later renamed to become VSC – and TAC subsequently – folds, RKVV Vincent moves away from Terrein Bredascheweg to settle at TAC’s former ground. Strikingly, given that TAC was a secular club, affiliated to the BVB (Brabantsche Voetbalbond, sub-branch of the Netherlands’ official FA or KNVB) rather than to the RKF, the bulk of the membership of the former club joins RKSV Sarto. As a result, Sarto’s first team is deemed strong enough to compete at a higher level – being promoted one division by RKF authorities, from RKVB Den Bosch Division 1 to IVCB Division 3 (IVCB = Interdiocesane Voetbalcompetitiebond, the three-tiered Roman Catholic national league system). That same year, RKSV Sarto abandons Terrein Schaapsdijk after three years, moving to Terrein Delmerweg, where it has the luxury of two pitches.
1935 / Runners-up in IVCB Division 3, RKSV Sarto gains promotion to Division 2 of the said league system, holding out at that level until the outbreak of World War II in 1940.
1940 / As the RKF, the RKVB Den Bosch as well as all other football federations other than the official Netherlands’ Football Association (renamed NVB for the duration of World War II) are wound up in the face of prospective orders to be expected from German authorities, RKSV Sarto is placed in District South’s Sunday Division 3.
1943 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 3I, 7 points behind champions vv DESK.
1945 / As a newly founded club in Kranenburg, Guelders, takes on the name RKSV Ratti – named after Pope Pius XI (PP. 1922-1939), RKSV Sarto is now one of two clubs in the Netherlands to bear the name of a pope.
1946 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 3E, 3 points behind champions RKC.
1947 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, 1 point ahead of closest rivals WVO, RKSV Sarto fails to book a ticket for Sunday League 2, falling 1 point short in the subsequent round of championship play-offs. That same year, RKVV Vincent, the original users of Terrein Bredascheweg way back in the 1920s, folds, withdrawing its membership of the Netherlands’ Football Association.
1950 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, 2 points behind champions vv Dongen.
1951 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, 1 point ahead of closest followers RKVV Roosendaal, RKSV Sarto goes on to have a successful round of championship play-offs, in which the club takes on MV&AV Middelburg, BSV, vv Baardwijk, and vv Terneuzen. As such, Sarto wins promotion to Sunday League 2 for the first time.
1952 / Having to abandon Terrein Delmerweg after eighteen years, RKSV Sarto has to spend one season as groundsharers at Terrein Industriestraat with TSV NOAD.
1953 / After one year of groundsharing with TSV NOAD at Terrein Industriestraat, RKSV Sarto concludes an agreement with another club, KS Broekhoven, spending the 1953-54 season at that club’s ground at Matterhornhoek.
1954 / After two years of groundsharing, RKSV Sarto moves into its newly laid-out Sportpark Het Westend, laid out on a plot of land owned by the Mutsaers family at Bredaseweg, in September 1954. The new park consists of three pitches as well as one training pitch, with the main pitch being modern-day Pitch (veld) 5, the middle of the three easternmost pitches of the park in its current form - with the entrance meanwhile having been moved to Gilzerbaan.
1956 / As Tilburg’s municipal authorities take over the ownership of RKSV Sarto’s new park at Bredaseweg, the ground officially takes on the name Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend.
1957 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 2A, 6 points behind champions RKSV Boxtel.
1958 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, 3 points behind champions vv TSC.
1959 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 2A, 2 points behind champions TOP.
1965 / Finishing in second-last place in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, RKSV Sarto drops back into Sunday League 3 along with bottom club SV MOC 1917. That same year, the club inaugurates its first small clubhouse in situ at Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend, with the facilities having been built into a small farmstead situated next to the training pitch.
1971 / Finishing bottom of the table in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, RKSV Sarto descends into Sunday League 4 for the first time, along with the club in second-last place, RKVV Uno Animo.
1974 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 4E, 2 points behind champions DVG.
1975 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 4B, 6 points ahead of closest followers vv Haarsteeg, RKSV Sarto manages a return to Sunday League 3 after an absence of four years at that level.
1976 / RKSV Sarto finishes as joint runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 3C along with WVO, 2 points behind champions RKVV Berkdijk.
1977 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, 2 points ahead of closest rivals WVO, RKSV Sarto wins promotion to Sunday League 2 after an absence of twelve years at that level.
1978 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, 3 points behind champions vv TSC.
1979 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, 1 point ahead of closest rivals RKSV Rood-Wit (W.), RKSV Sarto accedes to Sunday League 1 for the first time in club history.
1980 / Finishing bottom of the table in Sunday League 1E, RKSV Sarto drops back into Sunday League 2 after just one season, along with the club in second-last place, vv Baronie.
1981 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, 1 point ahead of runners-up vv Internos, RKSV Sarto manages an immediate return to Sunday League 1.
1984 / A new clubhouse and main pitch are inaugurated at Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend; the new main pitch - in use in that capacity until the present day - is the southwesternmost of the six pitches of the park.
1987 / Finishing in second-last place in Sunday League 1E, RKSV Sarto suffers relegation to Sunday League 2 after six years, along with bottom side RKVV Bergeijk.
1990 / Finishing in second-last place in District South I’s Sunday League 2B, RKSV Sarto descends into Sunday League 3 along with bottom club vv Zierikzee.
1993 / Suffering its third relegation in six years, RKSV Sarto finishes in second-last place in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, being retrograded into Sunday League 4 along with bottom club Concordia SVD.
1996 / New dressing rooms are inaugurated at Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend.
2002 / RKSV Sarto finishes as joint runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 4F along with RKVV DIA, 8 points behind champions vv Haarsteeg.
2004 / RKSV Sarto finishes as runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 4F, 6 points behind derby rivals vv Zigo.
2005 / Champions in District South I’s Sunday League 4F, 7 points ahead of closest followers SVSSS, RKSV Sarto wins promotion to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Frank de Brouwer.
2006 / Still coached by Frank de Brouwer, RKSV Sarto finishes in ninth place in District South I’s Sunday League 3D, going on to suffer defeat in the relegation play-offs. As such, the club drops back into Sunday League 4 after just one season, along with SV Valkenswaard and bottom finishers RKVV Bergeijk.
2008 / Runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 4F, 2 points behind champions RKVV Wilhelmina, RKSV Sarto goes on to enjoy success in the promotion play-offs. As such, the club accedes to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Marc Stoelinga.
2009 / RKSV Sarto signs former professional league winger Bud Brocken as its head coach. Having spent his youth academy years at TSV LONGA and RKTVV, Brocken had enjoyed a successful career as a player at Willem II, Birmingham City FC, FC Groningen, and BVV Den Bosch (1975-92), moreover winning three caps for the Netherlands in 1983 (1 goal). Brocken would only stay at Sportpark Het Westend for one season. Sadly, Bud Brocken passed away in the summer of 2025 at the age of 67.
2011 / Having spent only a short spell of his youth academy years at RKSV Sarto in 2009 before moving to Willem II’s academy, striker Jürgen Locadia makes his professional league debut with PSV at the age of 17. Locadia went on to have spells at Brighton & Hove Albion FC, 1899 Hoffenheim, FC Cincinnati, VfL Bochum, Persepolis FC, Guangzhou Mighty Lions FC, SD Amorebieta, and CF Intercity. Locadia also made his debut for Curaçao’s national team in 2023, going on to help his country qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
2012 / Runners-up in District South I’s Sunday League 3C, 8 points behind champions RKVV Zwaluw VFC, RKSV Sarto qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out SBC in R1 (3-2 aggr.), going on to crush SV Valkenswaard in the final (6-2 aggr.). As a result, Sarto manages a return to Sunday League 2 after an absence of nineteen years at that level. The successful coach is Marco de Jong.
2015 / In spite of finishing in third place in Sunday League 2E, 5 points behind the two clubs tying for first place – vv Zeelandia Middelburg and vv Uno Animo – RKSV Sarto misses out on qualification for the promotion play-offs.
2016 / Finishing in fifth place in Sunday League 2E, RKSV Sarto qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by SV Someren (4-1 aggr.).
2018 / Runners-up in Sunday League 2E, 8 points behind champions vv Moerse Boys, RKSV Sarto qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out SV Someren in R1 (3-2), only to be eliminated in R2 by derby rivals FC Tilburg (5-0).
2019 / Former RKSV Sarto youth academy defender Pieter Bogaers, who had moved to Willem II’s academy at some point, makes his professional league debut with FC Eindhoven. Bogaers goes on to wear the blue-and-white for four years before hanging up his boots in the summer of 2023.
2020 / In the 2019-20 season, cut short by the first COVID lockdown in March 2020, RKSV Sarto finds itself tying for first place in Sunday League 2E with RKSV Cluzona, but with a slightly better goal difference than the club from Wouw (+17 vs. +12). On that basis, the club is admitted to Sunday League 1 for the new season, thus managing a return to that level after an absence of 33 years. The successful coach is Max Raeven. Also in 2020, the main pitch of Gemeentelijk Sportpark Het Westend is adorned with an uncovered terrace running the length of the touchline at the western side of the pitch (cp. picture 5 below).
2022 / Finishing in sixth place in Sunday League 1B, RKSV Sarto qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club eliminates derby rivals SC ‘t Zand in R1 (3-0), only to be knocked out in R2 by vv Heino (2-0).
2024 / In the best season in club history so far, RKSV Sarto finishes in fifth place in Sunday League 1E, narrowly missing out on the promotion play-offs. Meanwhile, SV Ratti - the former RKSV Ratti, the other club from the Netherlands also named after a pope - concludes a merger with SV Sociï, becoming SBC '24, with RKSV Sarto thus remaining the only club in the country to bear a pope's name.

Note 1 – Thanks to Sarto board member Edwin van Gorp for providing essential additional documentation about the club’s history. Many details about the early history of RKSV Sarto have been derived from a newspaper article published on the occasion of the club’s thirtieth anniversary: “RKSV Sarto gaat zesde lustrum vieren”, in: Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, May 8th, 1958.

Note 2 – Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-4 & 20-21 = non-matchday visit, May 2019 / pictures 5-19 = match visit, November 2025.