Extreme Football Tourism: BELGIUM: FC Ronquièrois (±1963-1971, 1982-1986) / RFC Ronquières HY 86 (1986-2026, 2027-)

Stade Communal Fernand Higuet, Ronquières (RFC Ronquières HY 86, formerly FC Ronquièrois)

Belgium, province: Hainaut = Henegouwen

July 2025 / no match visited

Timeline

1930 / Foundation of a football club in Fauquez, a hamlet just to the north of the village of Ronquières, situated in the northeast of the Province of Hainaut, halfway between Nivelles and Soignies; as Fauquez is situated just across the provincial border in Brabant, the newly formed Fauquez Sport joins the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA / KBVB) with registration number 1620. One source claims that the ground of Fauquez Sport was situated alongside the Brussels-Charleroi Canal, but no certainty is to be had on the matter.
1931 / Fauquez Sport is placed in Brabant’s Regional League 3 (3e Gewestelijke).
1932 / Having managed a ninth place in Brabant’s Regional League 3C in the 1931-32 season, Fauquez Sport withdraws from competitive football, possibly due to a suspension following a Fauquez player biting an adversary on the ear.
1933 / Following one year of inactivity, registration number 1620 of Fauquez Sport is struck from the Belgian FA’s membership list.
1953 / Foundation of a football club in Ronquières proper, with the new club taking on the name FC Ronquièrois. A ground is laid out for the club at Chemin du Boulou (modern-day Mont de l’Escaille).
1954 / In the year following its foundation, FC Ronquièrois is admitted into the Belgian FA with registration number 5704. That same year, the club’s founding chairman Léon Plisnier is replaced by Oscar Reygaert, who is destined to stay at the helm of the club for almost thirty years. In the 1954-55 season, FC Ronquièrois is placed in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3, with its debut match ending in a 1-0 home defeat against SC Naastois.
± 1963 / Moving away from the Terrain du Boulou, FC Ronquièrois settles on a newly laid-out pitch at Rue de Nivelles – the exact location of the ground still in use today. The plot is situated at the back of Café-Restaurant Belle Vue, owned by Fernand Higuet, from whom the club rents the pitch. With no facilities being available on the site, the club purchases an old public bus to serve as dressing room for the players.
1965 / FC Ronquièrois suffers the heaviest defeat in club history, a 21-1 battering away at UA Manageoise – with highlights being sparse in the early years of club history, as Ronquières usually finds itself near the bottom places of Provincial League 3.
1970 / In spite of managing a 14-0 win over FC Vaudignien, FC Ronquièrois only manages a ninth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, thus being retrograded into the newly created bottom division of Hainaut’s provincial league system, Provincial League 4, along with FC Vacresse, FC Petit-Enghien, CR Harvengt, AS Quévy-le-Grand, the aforementioned FC Vaudignien, and bottom club UA Montignies-lez-Lens. The 1970-71 season proves particularly difficult, with FC Ronquièrois having to withdraw its team from Provincial League 4C before the end of the season.
1971 / Having to move away from the Rue de Nivelles at short notice, FC Ronquièrois settles on a temporary pitch at Chemin du Boulou – not coinciding with the location used between 1953 and 1963, but on the other side of the same road. In a much better 1971-72 season, FC Ronquièrois equals the largest win in club history by battering FC Fontaine-Valmont (0-14).
1973 / Moving away from its temporary pitch at Chemin du Boulou, FC Ronquièrois moves to a newly laid-out pitch at Rue de Pied’Eau, alongside the Sennette Rivulet, with the debut match on the new location ending in a 2-2 draw against US Sars.
1978 / In Hennuyères, a village some 7 km to the northwest of Ronquières, a recreational football club sees the daylight, FC Hennuyères. It is unclear which recreational federation was joined by this club – possibly the Brussels-based ABSSA. The club settles on a pitch at Rue du Ronchy, owned by a local smallholder, Léopold Guiot, who also takes on the role of chairman.
1980 / Following two titles in the recreational federation in which it played, FC Hennuyères joins the Belgian FA, acquiring registration number 8708 and being placed in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4. In November 1980, Ronquières and Hennuyères meet on the pitch for the first time, with the neophytes walking away as 3-0 winners. In the five subsequent derbies, Ronquières only managed one draw, losing all other encounters.
1982 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4E, 5 points ahead of closest rivals FC Saint-Vaast, FC Hennuyères wins promotion to Provincial League 3. Also in 1982, moving away from its ground at Rue Pied’Eau after nine years, FC Ronquièrois moves back to the exact site of the pitch used by the club in the years 1963-71, at the back of the café of Fernand Higuet at Rue de Nivelles.
1984 / A clubhouse is constructed in situ at Rue de Nivelles by FC Ronquièrois volunteers, with the old public bus, which had travelled along from one ground to the other from the early 1960s onwards, finally being removed from the site.
1985 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, FC Hennuyères drops back into Provincial League 4, along with bottom club FC Le Rœulx.
1986 / Following a conflict between FC Hennuyères chairman Léopold Guiot and other club members, Guiot decides to deprive the club of its pitch at Rue du Ronchy, of which he is the owner. With the club finishing in sixth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4E in its last season, two places above FC Ronquièrois, FC Hennuyères allows itself to be absorbed into a merger with FC Ronquièrois, resulting in the foundation of FC Ronquières HY 86, with registration number 5704 of Ronquières being retained and all activities moving to Rue de Nivelles in Ronquières. Gustave Bertaux takes on the role of chairman of the newly formed club.
1999 / Finishing in third place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4C, FC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club suffers defeat in R1 against AS Pommerœul-Ville, going on to ease past FC Fontaine-Valmont in a lucky loser play-off (8-0). This results in the club winning promotion for the first time in its history, acceding to Provincial League 3. The successful coach is Willy Langendries. Also in 1999, the ground at Rue de Nivelles is purchased by the municipality of Braine-le-Comte, which carries out several renovation works at the ground subsequently, which include a new set of floodlights being put in place.
2000 / The ground at Rue de Nivelles is officially renamed Stade Communal Fernand Higuet in honour of the local café owner who had put his plot of land at the disposal of the club, who had been a staunch supporter through the years, and who had passed away some time before.
2003 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, FC Ronquières HY 86 drops back into Provincial League 4 after four years, alongside bottom club FC Vellereille.
2004 / In what is the first title in club history, FC Ronquières HY 86 finishes in first place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4C, 1 point ahead of closest rivals JS Bray; as such, the team of coach Sven Renard wins promotion to Provincial League 3. Also in 2004, acquiring the royal epithet one year after the club’s fiftieth anniversary, FC Ronquières HY 86 officially changes its name to become Royal Football Club (RFC) Ronquières HY 86.
2005 / Finishing in third place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out RFC Ecaussinnois in R1 (2-0) and RSC Leval in R2 (0-3), going on to have the better of Association Montkainoise (2-1) in the final, played at Stade Fernand Higuet in front of a crowd of some 400. As such, Ronquières manages back-to-back promotions, achieving a historic promotion to Provincial League 2, along with champions AS Snef-Tyber. The successful coach is Sven Renard.
2006 / In spite of finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2B, RFC Ronquières HY 86 avoids relegation only thanks to RUS Binchoise, who finished in sixth place in the same division, being retrograded for administrative reasons.
2007 / Finishing in joint second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2B with RFC Labuissière, RFC Ronquières HY 86, coached by Salvatore Deriu, goes on to suffer defeat in a tie-break match against the club from Merbes-le-Château, with Ronquières thus descending into Provincial League 3 alongside bottom club RFC Carnièrois.
2009 / Champions in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, 3 points ahead of runner-up RFCE Bray Maurage, RFC Ronquières HY 86 manages a return to Provincial League 2 after two years. The decisive points are obtained in a 3-0 away win at AC Morlanwelz. The successful coach is Christophe Derom.
2010 / Coached by Johan Leghait, who replaced Sven Renard in the course of the season, RFC Ronquières HY 86 finishes in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2B, thus dropping back into Provincial League 3 after one season only, along with bottom club RUS Haulchin.
2011 / Finishing in fourth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out RUS Binchoise in R1 (1-3) and RFC Carnièrois in R2 (2-0), only to stumble over FC Gerpinnes in the final (1-0).
2012 / A second pitch is added to the set-up at the Stade Communal Fernand Higuet for lower team football and training sessions.
2013 / Finishing in sixth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club edges past RUS Grand-Reng in R1 (2-1) and RFCE Bray Maurage in R2 (0-1), only to suffer defeat in the final against RSC Wasmes (1-3); in a lucky loser play-off, the club defeats RUS Herseautoise (1-2), but the victory proves meaningless, as no extra promotion places turn out to be available. Also in 2013, RFC Ronquières HY 86 reaches the final of Hainaut’s Provincial Cup for teams from Provincial Leagues 3 & 4, in which the club has to leave the honours to FC Marbaisien in the final (2-0 A.E.T.), played at the Stade Communal d’Anderlues.
2014 / Finishing in fourth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club eliminated RFC Houdinois B in R1 (1-0) and Athènes Sport Péronnes in R2 (3-1), only to suffer defeat in the final against Football Couillet-Marcinelle (4-4 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out).
2015 / Finishing in third place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club bows out in R1 against AS Morlanwelzienne (4-5).
2016 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, 7 points behind champions RFCE Maurage, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the play-offs, in which the club knocks out RFC Houdinois B in R1 (1-0), going on to incur a 5-2 defeat against AS Snef-Tyber in R2; in a subsequent lucky-loser play-off, Ronquières defeats CS Taintignies in R1 (0-2), going on to have the better of FC Nalinnois in R2 (3-1). As a result, RFC Ronquières HY 86 wins promotion to Provincial League 2 after an absence of six years at that level. The successful coach is Gino D’Angelo.
2017 / Finishing in second-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 2B with coach Pino Salamone, RFC Ronquières HY 86 drops back into Provincial League 3 after one year only, alongside bottom club ESC Horrues.
2019 / Finishing in fifth place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is knocked out in R1 by RES Frasnoise (5-1).
2024 / Coached by Sven Renard, RFC Ronquières HY 86 finishes in joint third-last place in Hainaut’s Provincial League 3C with Bracquegnies Sports B, going on to suffer defeat in a tie-break match against this team, played at the Stade de la Ville du Rœulx of AC Le Rœulx (3-1). As a result, Ronquières, coached by Sven Renard, has to take part in the relegation play-offs, suffering defeat in R1 against US Thumaide (2-1) and drawing the short straw in R2 against RUSG Tertre-Hautrage B (1-1 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out). As a result, RFC Ronquières HY 86 descends into Provincial League 4, alongside AS Morlanwelzienne B and bottom team UE Estinnoise B.
2025 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4E, 3 points behind champions R Soignies Sports B, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out FC Péronnes in R1 (2-0), going on to defeat JS Erpion in R2 (1-3) only to be eliminated in the final by the closest of margins at the hands of RSB Frameries B (0-0 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out).
2026 / Runner-up in Hainaut’s Provincial League 4E, 5 points behind champions UE Chapelloise, RFC Ronquières HY 86 qualifies for the promotion play-offs. Edging past US Merbesars B in R1 (3-3 A.E.T. & penalty shoot-out) and having the better of RESC Horrues in R2 (0-2), the club crowns its season by defeating RCS Aulnoisien in the final (1-0), thus managing a return to Provincial League 3 after two years. The successful coach is Sven Renard. Following the 2025-26 season, works get underway at the Stade Fernand Higuet, involving the complete overhaul of the ground, including the main pitch being laid out anew with a synthetic surface. To bridge the period of works, the club moves all its activities to the Stade Communal du Poseur in nearby Braine-le-Comte for the duration of the 2026-27 season.
2027 (projected) / Having spent one season in exile at the Stade Communal du Poseur in Braine-le-Comte, RFC Ronquières HY 86 returns to its reconstructed Stade Fernand Higuet.

Note – Much of the information above has been derived from a book published on the occasion of the seventieth anniversary of the football club in Ronquières: “Dans les yeux des Renards. De 1953 à 2023… Septante ans d’histoire du Royal Football Club Ronquières HY86 à travers quatre générations”, by Sven Renard. Thanks to Sven Renard for allowing me to use this priceless piece of documentation.