NETHERLANDS: RCL

Sportpark De Bloemerd, Leiderdorp (RCL)

Netherlands, province: South Holland = Zuid-Holland

18 X 2025 / RCL - Sporting Leiden 3-0 / District West II, Regional Cup (Districtsbeker) R1

Timeline

• 1926 / Foundation of a football club in Leiderdorp, a village in the vicinity of Leyden, Province of South Holland. The new club takes on the name ODI – an abbreviation probably meaning ‘Ontspanning Door Inspanning’, i.e. Relaxation Through Effort. After a brief spell at Terrein De Zijl, the club moved to Terrein Hoogmadeseweg, though no information is available when this move was undertaken. Terrein Hoogmadeseweg remained the location of the club until the mid-1970s, though it should be noted that the pitch was given a quarter’s turn at some point prior to 1950.
• 1929 / ODI wins promotion to KNVB District West II’s Sunday League 4 for the first time. No information is available concerning the club’s performance in subsequent years.
• 1932 / ODI changes its name to become Ons Clubje, i.e. Our Little Club.
• 1938 / Ons Clubje changes its name to become Racing Club Leiderdorp, abbreviated as RCL.
• 1948 / Abandoning the ranks of Sunday football, RCL joins the Saturday divisions of District West II, being placed in Saturday League 4A – the second-highest level in the Saturday league pyramid at that time.
• 1953 / Champions in District West II’s Saturday League 4A, 4 points ahead of closest followers HVV RAS, RCL fails to break down the door to Saturday League 3 in the championship play-offs.
• 1954 / Champions in District West II’s Saturday League 4A for the second year running, 9 points ahead of runners-up CVV De Jodan Boys, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 3 for the first time.
• 1957 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, RCL drops back into Saturday League 4 after three seasons.
• 1959 / RCL finishes as runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 4B, 4 points behind champions ZSV Sportlust ’46. 
• 1960 / RCL finishes as runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 4B for the second year running, 5 points behind champions SV Ornas.
• 1961 / RCL finishes as runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 4A, 1 point behind champions SV Loosduinen.
• 1962 / Clinching the title in District West II’s Saturday League 4A, RCL manages a return to Saturday League 3 after an absence of five years at that level.
• 1970 / Finishing in second-last place in District West II’s Saturday League 3B, RCL drops back into Saturday League 4 along with bottom club CSC Unicum.
• 1971 / Champions in District West I’s Saturday League 4A, 5 points ahead of closest rivals SV Brandweer, RCL manages an immediate return to Saturday League 3.
• 1972 / RCL finishes as runners-up in District West I’s Saturday League 3A, 4 points behind champions vv IJmuiden.
• 1973 / Champions in District West I’s Saturday League 3B, 4 points ahead of closest followers SV DVS ’33, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 2 for the first time.
• 1974 / Moving away from Terrein Hoogmadeseweg, RCL settles at the newly laid-out Sportpark De Bloemerd, which is situated in a former farmland area incorporated into Leiderdorp as the village sees a considerable extension in the 1970s and 1980s.
• 1975 / RCL finishes as runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 2A, 1 point behind champions IJVV De Zwervers.
• 1976 / Champions in District West I’s Saturday League 2A, 2 points ahead of closest rivals RKAV Volendam, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 1 – the highest level in Saturday football at that time – for the first time.
• 1977 / In the best season in club history, RCL finishes as runners-up in Saturday League 1A, 2 points behind champions vv DOVO.
• 1979 / A covered stand is added to the set-up at Sportpark De Bloemerd.
• 1987 / After eleven years in the top division of Saturday football, RCL now finishes in second-last place in Saturday League 1A, descending into Saturday League 2 along with bottom club vv Oostkapelle.
• 1988 / Finishing bottom of the table in District West II’s Saturday League 2B, RCL suffers its second relegation in a row, descending into Saturday League 3 along with the club in second-last place, ZSV Sportlust ’46.
• 1991 / Finishing in third place in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 2 following a successful round of play-offs.
• 1992 / Finishing in third-last place in District West II’s Saturday League 2B, RCL drops back into Saturday League 3 along with RCVV TOGR and bottom club vv De Zwerver.
• 1993 / Finishing in second-last place in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, RCL descends into Saturday League 4 along with bottom club SV BVCB. It marks the return of the club at this lowly level after an absence of 22 years.
• 1995 / Champions in District West II’s Saturday League 4B, 1 point ahead of closest rivals vv KRV, RCL manages a return to Saturday League 3.
• 1996 / Finishing as joint runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 3A with vv Naaldwijk, 5 points behind champions ZSV Sportlust ’46, RCL wins direct promotion to Saturday League 2 due to extra promotion places being available following the introduction of a Zaterdag Hoofdklasse as the new top level of the Saturday pyramid.
• 1998 / Coached by Boudewijn de Geer, RCL finishes in third-last place in Saturday League 2C, thus dropping back into Saturday League 3 along with CSV Vitesse Delft and bottom club SV Soccer Boys.
• 2000 / Champions in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, 7 points ahead of closest followers SV DSO, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 2. The successful coach is Wim Eilander.
• 2001 / RCL finishes as runners-up in Saturday League 2C, 12 points behind runaway champions Voorschoten ’97.
• 2002 / RCL finishes as runners-up in Saturday League 2C, 8 points behind champions vv JAC.
• 2004 / Coached by Bob van Bohemen, RCL finishes in second-last place in Saturday League 2C, thus dropping back into Saturday League 3 along with bottom club ZSV Sportlust ’46.
• 2006 / Runaway champions in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, 16 points ahead of closest followers vv SEV, RCL wins promotion to Saturday League 2. The successful coaching duo consists of Bert Kouer and Cees Verbree.
• 2007 / Still coached by Bert Kouer and Cees Verbree, RCL finishes in third-last place in Saturday League 2C, going on to suffer defeat in the relegation play-off – resulting in the club dropping back into Saturday League 3 along with vv WDS and bottom club SV Rohda ’76.
• 2008 / Still coached by Bert Kouer and Cees Verbree, RCL finishes as runners-up in District West II’s Saturday League 3A, 3 points behind champions vv Haaglandia. Thanks to a successful round of play-offs, the club manages an immediate return to Saturday League 2.
• 2011 / Finishing in third place in Saturday League 2A, RCL qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club manages subsequent wins over RCVV TOGR (4-2 aggr.) and SV Gouda (2-1 aggr.). As a result, the club manages a return to Saturday League 1 after an absence of 24 years. The successful coach is Frank Bloemheuvel.
• 2014 / Coached by Ben Kottenhagen, RCL finishes in third-last place in Saturday League 1B. In the promotion-relegation play-offs, the club sees off vv Spirit in R1 (7-4 aggr.), only to be knocked out by SV Bolnes in R2 (6-1 aggr.). As a result, RCL drops back into Saturday League 2.
• 2016 / Finishing in third place in Saturday League 2C, RCL qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out WV-HEDW in R1 (4-1 aggr.), only to be eliminated in R2 by RKVV Westlandia (za) (7-2 aggr.).
• 2017 / Runners-up in Saturday League 2C, 6 points behind champions HVV Te Werve, RCL qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out vv Hellevoetsluis in R1 (6-4 aggr.), only to suffer defeat in R2 at the hands of SV ARC (8-6 aggr.).
• 2018 / A new clubhouse is inaugurated at Sportpark De Bloemerd, replacing the original construction erected on the same spot in the 1970s.
• 2024 / Finishing in third place in Saturday League 2C, RCL qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is eliminated in R1 by SV Honselersdijk (3-1).
• 2025 / Champions in Saturday League 2C, with an equal number of points as runners-up vv Alphia, but with a better goal difference (+38 vs. +23), RCL manages a return to Saturday League 1 after an absence of eleven years. The successful coach is Alex Redel.

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

LUXEMBOURG: FC The Belval Belvaux (1939-1940, ±1945-) / FV Bieles (1940-1944)

Terrain ‘Bei der Schoul’, Belvaux (FC The Belval Belvaux, formerly FV Bieles)

Luxembourg, canton: Esch-sur-Alzette

12 X 2025 / FC The Belval Belvaux - FC Lorentzweiler 3-0 / Promotion d'Honneur (= LUX level 2)

Timeline

• 1908 / Foundation of a football club in Belvaux, an industrial town situated halfway between Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette in the far south of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The new club, of which the founding meeting is held in Café Bel-Val, situated at the Belval-Rédange train station, is given the appropriate name The Bel-Val Belvaux. The club is a founding member of the Luxembourg Football Association (FSLSA, also founded in 1908, renamed FLF in 1930). A pitch is laid out at Schwaarze Pad, alongside the railway track – with the facility being known locally as Terrain ‘Op Wäiterech’.
• 1909 / The Bel-Val Belvaux takes part in the first-ever league championship in Luxembourg, being placed in Klasse B against teams such as FC Mansfeldia Clausen (which clinches first place in this group), FC Résidence Walferdange, FC Marisca Mersch, DC Echternach, and FC Pfaffenthal.
• 1910 / Foundation of a second club in Belvaux, which takes on the name The Sportsmen Belvaux. It is unclear where this club’s ground was situated – possibly there was a groundsharing agreement with The Bel-Val Belvaux at Terrain ‘Op Wäiterech’.
• ± 1912 / Moving away from Terrain ‘Op Wäiterech’, The Bel-Val Belvaux settles on a newly laid-out pitch only a stone’s throw further down the road, Terrain ‘A Gadder Ändri seng Wiss’.
• 1914 / A merger is concluded between The Bel-Val Belvaux and The Sportsmen Belvaux, resulting in the foundation of FC The Belval Belvaux.
• 1917 / Having taken part in Division 3 Region Esch in the 1916-17 season, FC The Belval Belvaux withdraws from league football for the following two seasons – or the club may have been excluded by the Luxembourg FA due to an unplayable pitch.
• 1919 / After two years of inactivity, FC The Belval Belvaux returns to Division 3. Probably, this coincides with the club settling on a new pitch, Terrain ‘Um Bierg’, alternately known as Terrain ‘Op der Köppchen’, at Galgebierg, a hillside to the west of the town.
• 1920 / Champions in Division 3 South following a tie-break match for the title against SC Tétange, resulting in a 2-1 win, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Promotion, the second level of Luxembourg’s fledgling league pyramid.
• 1921 / Finishing bottom of the table in Promotion, FC The Belval Belvaux descends into Division 2 (level 3) along with the club in second-last place, FC Avenir Beggen.
• 1924 / FC The Belval Belvaux finishes as runners-up in Division 2 Group 3, 4 points behind champions US Esch.
• 1925 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 2 Group 3, FC The Belval Belvaux goes on to finish in last place in a relegation play-off with Gold a Ro’t Wiltz and FC Swift Hesperange, with only the side from Wiltz saving its skin. As such, The Belval descends into Division 3, the fourth and lowest level of Luxembourg’s league system at that time.
• 1926 / Champions in Division 3 Group 2, 4 points ahead of runners-up FC Sporting Steinfort, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 2 (level 3).
• 1927 / FC The Belval Belvaux withdraws from competitive football for reasons unknown.
• 1929 / After two years of inactivity, FC The Belval Belvaux returns to first team football in Division 3 (level 4).
• 1930 / Champions in Division 3 Group 2, 5 points ahead of closest rivals SC Bettembourg, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 2 (level 3).
• 1931 / FC The Belval Belvaux finishes as runners-up in Division 2 Group 2, 8 points behind champions CS Alliance Dudelange.
• 1932 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, 7 points ahead of closest followers FC Chiers Rodange, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Promotion, the second level of Luxembourg’s league pyramid – confusingly renamed Division 1 in the summer of 1932. Also in 1932, The Belval’s pitch, Terrain ‘Um Bierg’ is laid out anew and reinaugurated as a veritable ‘stade’.
• 1933  / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1, FC The Belval Belvaux suffers relegation to Promotion (level 3) along with bottom club SC Bettembourg.
• 1935 / Champions in Promotion, 1 point ahead of closest rivals US Rumelange, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 1 (level 2) along with the aforementioned club as well as FC Tricolore Muhlenweg and FC Progrès Grund.
• 1937 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 1, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Promotion (level 3) along with FC Mansfeldia Clausen and CS Pétange.
• 1938 / Finishing in second-last place in Promotion, FC The Belval Belvaux descends into Division 2 (level 4) along with US Esch, AS Luxembourg, and bottom club CS Hollerich.
• 1939 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, 5 points ahead of closest followers AS Schifflange, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Promotion (level 3). That same year, moving away from Terrain ‘Um Bierg’, the club settles on a newly laid-out pitch at the backside of the local primary school, aptly being referred to locally as Terrain ‘Bei der Schoul’ – i.e. the location where the club still plays its home matches nowadays. To allow the pitch to be laid out, the small lake situated on the location is filled up with industrial debris, topped by a layer of earth. At the time, the ground does not sport a terrace at its western touchline yet – a feature which would not be added earlier than in the second half of the 1960s, or possibly even later.
• 1940 / Finishing in ninth place in Promotion, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Division 2 (level 4) along with AS Schifflange, FC Blue Boys Muhlenbach, and bottom club CS Grevenmacher. As the German armed forces oppress Luxembourg in May 1940, all football clubs in the country have to shed references to the French and English languages – with FC The Belval Belvaux being renamed Fussballverein (FV) Bieles at the behest of German authorities.
• 1944 / As Luxembourg is liberated from the German yoke, FV Bieles reverts to its old name FC The Belval Belvaux. However, due to the American army having requisitioned Terrain ‘Bei der Schoul’ for a depot, the club is constrained to revert temporarily to Terrain ‘Um Bierg’.
• ± 1945 / As the American armed forces leave Belvaux, FC The Belval Belvaux returns to Terrain ‘Bei der Schoul’.
• 1946 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 1, 3 points behind champions AS Schifflange, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Promotion (level 3) along with the aforementioned club as well as US Esch, FC Swift Hesperange, FC Red Star Merl, FC Tricolore Muhlenweg, and CS Hollerich.
• 1949 / Runners-up in Promotion Group 2, 3 points behind champions FC Progrès Grund, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 1 (level 2).
• 1950 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Promotion (level 3) after just one season, along with FC Progrès Grund, SC Bettembourg, and bottom club FC Jeunesse 07 Kayl.
• 1951 / Runners-up in Promotion , 3 points behind champions AS Differdange, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Division 1 alongside the aforementioned club as well as AS Schifflange.
• 1954 / FC The Belval Belvaux finishes as runners-up in Division 1 Group 2, 9 points behind champions CS Alliance Dudelange.
• 1957 / Runners-up in Division 1 Group 1, 9 points behind champions FC US Dudelange, FC The Belval Belvaux is placed in Promotion d’Honneur, the newly created second level of the Grand-Duchy’s league pyramid.
• 1960 / Finishing in third place in Promotion d’Honneur, FC The Belval Belvaux gets the opportunity to compete for an extra promotion place following the exclusion of CS Alliance Dudelange from the National Division (level 1) due to disciplinary reasons. Taking on the club in second-last place in National Division, CS Fola Esch, in a tie-breaker, The Belval draws the first match 1-1 (A.E.T.) – and a second match ends with the exact same result. Eventually, in a third encounter, Fola establishes its hegemony (6-1) – with The Belval thus missing out on a historic promotion. Also in or around 1960, The Belval’s star player Joseph Kunnert earns himself a transfer to top flight club FC Aris Bonnevoie; Kunnert would go on to win caps for Luxembourg’s national team.
• 1962 / Coached by Raymond Ceccotto, FC The Belval Belvaux finishes as runners-up in Promotion d’Honneur, with an equal number of points as champions FC Avenir Beggen, but with an inferior goal difference (+27 vs. +44); a tie-break match for the title ends in a 2-2 draw, resulting in Beggen being accorded the title once and for all. This result is academic, because both teams are promoted to the National Division directly. For The Belval, this entails a return to the top flight of Luxembourg’s football pyramid for the first time since the early 1910s. Moreover, the club from Belvaux reaches the quarterfinals of Luxembourg’s Cup for the first time, being eliminated in that round by Union Luxembourg (7-0).
• 1963 / Finishing bottom of the table in National Division with just 6 points (2 wins and 2 draws), FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) after one season only, along with the club in second-last place, CS Fola Esch. The Belval has not managed a return to the top flight of Luxembourgian football since.
• 1965 / Finishing bottom of the table in Promotion d’Honneur, FC The Belval Belvaux descends into Division 1 (level 3) along with the club in second-last position, CS Oberkorn.
• 1966 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1, FC The Belval Belvaux suffers back-to-back relegations, descending into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Claravallis Clervaux, AS Differdange, and bottom club AS Schifflange.
• 1967 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, 3 points ahead of closest rivals AS Schifflange, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3).
• 1968 / Reaching the quarterfinals of the Luxembourg Cup for the second time in club history, FC The Belval Belvaux is knocked out at that stage by National Division side US Rumelange (4-0).
• 1973 / Finishing in eleventh place in Division 1, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Division 2 along with FC Swift Hesperange, FC Sporting Steinfort, and bottom club FC Arminia Weidingen.
• 1979 / Champions in Division 2 Group 4, 3 points ahead of runners-up US Esch, FC The Belval Belvaux manages to retrace its steps to Division 1 (level 3) after six seasons. 
• 1981 / Finishing bottom of the table in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux is retrograded to Division 2 along with US Mondorf-les-Bains.
• 1983 / Champions in Division 2 Group 4, 3 points ahead of closest followers FC Tricolore Gasperich, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 1 (level 3).
• 1985 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux descends into Division 2 (level 4) along with bottom club FC Tricolore Gasperich.
• 1986 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 3, 4 points behind champions SC Tétange, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3).
• 1991 / Champions in Division 1 Group 2, with an equal number of points as runners-up FC Mondercange, but with one goal more to its credit (32 vs. 31, goal difference equal at +9!), FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) along with the aforementioned club, entailing a return to that level after an absence of 26 years.
• 1993 / Finishing bottom of the table in the regular Promotion d’Honneur season, FC The Belval Belvaux goes on to finish in second-last place in Relegation Group A, thus dropping back into Division 1 (level 3) along with bottom finishers FC Olympique Eischen.
• 1994 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux is retrograded into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Jeunesse Biwer and bottom club FC Old Boys Consdorf.
• 1996 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 4, 6 points behind champions US Mondorf-les-Bains, FC The Belval Belvaux qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club finishes top in a group of four, thus winning promotion to Division 1 (level 3) along with runners-up FC Atert Bissen, at the expense of US Rambrouch and FC Jeunesse Biwer.
• 1999 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Division 2 (level 4) after three years, along with FC ES Clemency and bottom club US Esch.  
• 2000 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 3, 4 points behind champions AS Differdange, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3).
• 2004 / Finishing in second-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Division 2 (level 4) after four years, along with FC Blue Boys Muhlenbach and bottom club CS Hobscheid.
• 2005 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 3, 4 points behind champions FC Red Star Merl-Belair, FC The Belval Belvaux manages an immediate return to Division 1 (level 3).
• 2006 / Finishing second from bottom in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux drops back into Division 2 (level 4) immediately, along with FC Red Star Merl-Belair and bottom side FC Tricolore Gasperich.
• 2008 / The pitch of Terrain ‘Bei der Schoul’ – mostly referred to simply as Stade The Belval – is laid out anew with a synthetic surface; a logical move, given that FC The Belval Belvaux disposes of one pitch only.
• 2009 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 2 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux goes on to stave off relegation in a promotion-relegation play-off against FC Luna Oberkorn after a penalty shoot-out (3-3 A.E.T.); thus, the club avoids an unprecedented relegation to Division 3, the fifth and lowest level of Luxembourg’s league pyramid. In the summer of 2009, The Belval signs former FC La Jeunesse d’Esch and Luxembourg international striker, 36-year-old Paolo Amodio, who joins the club from FC Differdange 03. Amodio would stay in Belvaux for two seasons, hanging up his boots in 2011.
• 2010 / Runners-up in Division 2 Group 2, with an equal number of points as champions FC Schifflange 95, but with an inferior goal difference (+28 vs +34), FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 1 (level 3) along with the aforementioned club and US Esch.
• 2012 / For the first time in club history, FC The Belval Belvaux conquers a tangible piece of silverware, winning the Coupe FLF, the cup competition for clubs in the lowest three divisions of Luxembourg’s league pyramid. In the final, The Belval has the better of FC ES Clemency (1-0). 
• 2013 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux goes on to suffer defeat in a promotion-relegation play-off against AS Wincrange following a penalty shoot-out (1-1 A.E.T.). As such, the club drops back into Division 2 (level 4) along with FC Munsbach and bottom side DC Echternach.
• 2015 / Finishing in third place in Division 2 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux goes on to defeat SC Steinfort in a promotion-relegation play-off (3-1), resulting in the club acceding to Division 1 (level 3) along with champions FC Munsbach and runners-up DC Echternach.
• 2018 / Finishing in third-last place in Division 1 Group 2, FC The Belval Belvaux fails to stave off relegation in a play-off against US Berdorf-Consdorf (2-1 A.E.T.). As such, the club drops back into Division 2 (level 4) after three years, along with FC Jeunesse Biwer and bottom club FC Avenir Beggen.
• 2022 / Champions in Division 2 Group 2, 2 points ahead of closest rivals FC Schengen, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Division 1 (level 3) along with the aforementioned club and play-off winners FC Red Star Merl-Belair. In the summer of 2022, The Belval signs former FC Differdange 03 and Luxembourg international midfielder, 33-year-old Michel Kettenmayer, from UN Käerjéng 97. Kettenmayer would stay with the club for one season only, giving up competitive football in 2023.
• 2023 / FC The Belval Belvaux signs 35-year-old Nigerien international striker Moussa Maâzou (55 caps for his country). Maâzou has a rather colourful career behind him, with spells at – among other clubs – KSC Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen, CSKA Moskva, AS Monaco, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, SV Zulte Waregem, Vitória Guimarães, AC Ajaccio, RC Lens, and FC La Jeunesse d’Esch. In the end, Maâzou would stay in Belvaux for one season only, managing 5 goals in 12 matches.
• 2025 / Champions in Division 1 Group 2, 5 points ahead of closest followers FC Syra Mensdorf, FC The Belval Belvaux wins promotion to Promotion d’Honneur (level 2) – entailing a return to that level after an absence of 32 years.

Note 1 – Part of the information above has been derived from a book published on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the club: “100 Joer FC The Belval Bieles”, by Simone Asselborn-Bintz / Nicolas Block / Raymond Conter / Henri Dondelinger / Roland Fritsch / Marc Olinger / Alex Reuter / Jean-Pierre Schlesser, ed. Heintz: Pétange 2008

Note 2 – On my match visit in October 2025, the match ball was offered by 86-year-old Arthur Reuter (cp. pictures 6-7 & 9 below). Mr Reuter was part of the only team in the history of FC The Belval Belvaux which played in the top flight of Luxembourg football (1962-63) – and in fact the last survivor of this team by 2025. Apart from his merits as a player, Mr Reuter served FC The Belval Belvaux in various other capacities, notably as a youth academy coach and as a stadium speaker 

Note 3 – Below, a compilation of photos of two different visits: pictures 1-4 & 6-26 = match visit, October 2025 / picture 5 = non-matchday visit, March 2011. Picture 22 courtesy of Anneke te Boekhorst

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

NETHERLANDS: SV Schalkhaar

Sportpark De Horsterhoek, Schalkhaar (SV Schalkhaar)

Netherlands, province: Overijssel

11 X 2025 / SV Schalkhaar - SV Voorwaarts 4-1 / Sunday League 3L (= NL level 8)

Timeline

• 1945 / Foundation of a football club in Schalkhaar, a village just to the north of Deventer in the Province of Overijssel. The new club takes on the name Sportvereniging (SV) Schalkhaar, with the club joining Afdeling Gelderland, alternately referred to as Gelderse Voetbalbond (GVB), the Guelders sub-branch of the Netherlands’ Football Association (KNVB) – with clubs from the Deventer area of Overijssel also playing in this sub-federation. SV Schalkhaar starts its existence as a competitive club in Afdeling Gelderland Sunday Division 2. The club settles on a pitch laid out at Hagenvoorderdijk.
• 1946 / Moving away from Terrein Hagenvoorderdijk after just one season, SV Schalkhaar settles on a newly laid-out pitch at Spanjaardsdijk.
• 1948 / Moving away from Terrein Spanjaardsdijk after two years, SV Schalkhaar settles on a newly laid-out pitch, Terrein ‘t Mensink.
• 1948 or 1949 / SV Schalkhaar wins promotion from Afdeling Gelderland Sunday Division 2 to Division 1 of the same league system. The club would play a part in the higher reaches of Afdeling Gelderland in the next thirty odd years.
• 1951 / Moving away from Terrein ‘t Mensink after three seasons, SV Schalkhaar settles on a newly laid-out pitch at the back of the local primary school at Spanjaardsdijk.
• 1964 / Moving away from Terrein Achter de School at Spanjaardsdijk after thirteen years, SV Schalkhaar settles on a newly laid-out pitch at the back of the police office – and next to the then ground of Deventer club SV Helios.
• 1968 / Having played at five other locations in the previous 23 years, SV Schalkhaar now moves into the newly laid-out Sportpark De Wijtenhorst. 
• 1972 / SV Schalkhaar’s new clubhouse at Sportpark De Wijtenhorst is inaugurated.
• 1976 / Clinching the title in Afdeling Gelderland Zondag Hoofdklasse, 6 points ahead of closest followers vv VIOD, SV Schalkhaar accedes to KNVB District East’s Sunday League 4 for the first time.
• 1979 / Champions in District East’s Sunday League 4H, 7 points ahead of runners-up USV Nieuwleusen, SV Schalkhaar wins promotion to Sunday League 3 for the first time. Also in 1979, the clubhouse at Sportpark De Wijtenhorst is extended, with the new construction being inaugurated in the presence of Diepenveen’s mayor, Mr. Samuel Crommelin.
• 1981 / SV Schalkhaar finishes as runners-up in District East’s Sunday League 3B, 2 points behind champions ZVV AZC.
• 1982 / Champions in District East’s Sunday League 3B, 6 points ahead of closest followers ABS and vv Daventria, SV Schalkhaar accedes to Sunday League 2 for the first time.
• 1986 / SV Schalkhaar narrowly misses out on the title in District East’s Sunday League 2B, finishing 1 point behind WVC.
• 1988 / Finishing in second-last place in District East’s Sunday League 2B, SV Schalkhaar drops back into Sunday League 3 after six seasons, along with bottom club AV&CV Robur et Velocitas.
• 1989 / Champions in District East’s Sunday League 3B, 5 points ahead of closest rivals SV Colmschate ’33, SV Schalkhaar wins promotion to Sunday League 2.
• 1995 / As SV Schalkhaar celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with a gala match at Sportpark De Wijtenhorst against professional league side Go Ahead Eagles, the clubhouse at the park is extended following a design by architect Jan Daggenvoorde.
• 1999 / Finishing in third-last place in Sunday League 2J, SV Schalkhaar drops back into Sunday League 3 along with SV Epe and bottom club vv Lemelerveld.
• 2000 / SV Schalkhaar finishes as runners-up in District East’s Sunday League 3B, 2 points behind champions SC Klarenbeek.
• 2001 / Finishing in joint first position in District East’s Sunday League 3B with vv Heino, SV Schalkhaar meets the club from Heino in a tie-break match, played at SV Heeten’s Terrein Dorpsstraat – and going on to win the encounter in the most dramatic of fashions (4-3 win after trailing 1-3). As such, SV Schalkhaar manages to retrace its steps to Sunday League 2 after two years. The successful coach is Henk Heijink.
• 2002 / Champions in Sunday League 2J, 2 points ahead of closest rivals HVV Tubantia, SV Schalkhaar manages a historic promotion to Sunday League 1. The successful coach is Chris Jansen.
• 2003 / Coached by Chris Jansen, SV Schalkhaar finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 1E, thus dropping back into Sunday League 2 after just one season, along with the club in second-last place, MVV Alcides.
• 2006 / Coached by Arjen Bredewolt, SV Schalkhaar finishes bottom of the table in Sunday League 2J, thus descending into Sunday League 3, along with the club in second-last place, RDC.
• 2007 / Moving away from Sportpark De Wijtenhorst after 39 years, SV Schalkhaar settles at the newly laid-out Sportpark De Horsterhoek, which is inaugurated by the Netherlands’ Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport, Dr. Ab Klink. The main pitch of the park, adorned with a covered stand and ‘panoramic’ canteen, has been laid out with a synthetic surface.
• 2008 / Coached by Arjen Bredewolt, SV Schalkhaar finishes in second-last place in District East’s Sunday League 3B, thus dropping back into Sunday League 4 along with bottom club SV Eerbeekse Boys. It marks the return of SV Schalkhaar at this lowly level after a gap of 29 years.
• 2009 / Champions in District East’s Sunday League 4H, 9 points ahead of runners-up SV Heeten, SV Schalkhaar manages an immediate return to Sunday League 3. The successful coach is Jacob Ensing.
• 2010 / Runners-up in District East’s Sunday League 3B, 8 points behind champions AVV Columbia, SV Schalkhaar wins direct promotion to Sunday League 2 due to extra promotion places being available following the introduction of a Zondag Topklasse as the new top tier of the Sunday pyramid. The successful coach is Jacob Ensing.
• 2011 / Finishing in third-last place in Sunday League 2J with coach Jacob Ensing, SV Schalkhaar has to play a promotion-relegation play-off against vv Heerde to stave off relegation – but, losing the tie 4-2 (aggr.), the club drops back into Sunday League 3 after one season only, along with vv DOS ’19, Koninklijke DC&FC UD, and bottom club vv Twenthe.
• 2013 / Finishing in third place in District East’s Sunday League 3B, SV Schalkhaar qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out BVV Borne in R1 (6-3 aggr.), going on to defeat WVC in the final (7-5 aggr.). As such, the club wins promotion to Sunday League 2. The successful coach is Hans van der Hoog.
• 2016 / Finishing in fifth place in Sunday League 2J, SV Schalkhaar qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club knocks out RKVV Rood Wit in R1 (7-3 aggr.), only to be pegged back by SV BVC ’12 in the final (3-2 aggr.).
• 2017 / Finishing in joint first place in Sunday League 2J with AVC Luctor et Emergo, SV Schalkhaar meets the club from Almelo in a tie-break match for the title, played at SV Excelsior ‘31’s Sportpark De Koerbelt in Rijssen. Going on to win that encounter (3-2), SV Schalkhaar wins promotion to Sunday League 1 for the second time in club history. The successful coach is Marc Lobbert.
• 2018 / Finishing in second-last place in Sunday League 1E with coach Marcel Geestman, SV Schalkhaar drops back into Sunday League 2 after just one season, along with bottom club Quick 1888. 
• 2024 / Finishing in ninth place in Sunday League 2G, SV Schalkhaar has to stave off relegation in the promotion-relegation play-offs. Drawing a bye in R1, the club goes on to suffer defeat (1-2) at the hands of vv Jonge Kracht in R2. As such, the team of coach Martijn de Haas suffers relegation to Sunday League 3, along with SV DCS, vv Vorden, DIO ’30, and bottom club AVV Columbia.
• 2025 / Runners-up in District East’s Sunday League 3I, with an equal number of points as champions SV OBW, but with an inferior goal difference (+34 vs. +30), SV Schalkhaar has to settle for the promotion-relegation play-offs, in which the club draws a bye in R1, only to be knocked out in R2 by SV DCS (1-2).

Note – Thanks to SV Schalkhaar chairman Hans Sanders for providing essential parts of information for the article above. Some other parts of information have been derived from the publication ‘Naar de overkant. Een kleurrijke beschrijving van de periode 1995-2007’, by Rudy Brouwer, Michel Hulman, and Harry Schrijver (ed. SV Schalkhaar: Schalkhaar 2007).

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