DJ's Jottings

Number 1

updated Sunday 23rd January 2005

‘Can you name 10 famous Belgians?’ is an often-used put down for the perceived boringness of a certain low country. But let me tell you (if you didn’t already know), that Belgium has a lot to offer: excellent chocolates, cheap cigarettes and tobacco, a vast range of beers with sometimes alarming strengths (each served in their own specific glass, or test tube, or wooden bowl) and an extremely interesting, and occasionally confusing, football scene.

For those based in the South-east of England, getting there is particularly easy, via the shuttle, ferry or Ryanair from Stansted. Weekend matches are normally played on Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons and the smallish nature of the country, a car and a good motorway network provide the opportunity to visit several grounds on one trip. Careful planning can also allow borders to be crossed and several different countries to be covered, ‘Jeux Sans Frontieres’ you might say.

On the weekend of 15^th / 16^th January three intrepid travellers and I, got up in the middle of the night (half an hour before we went to bed) in order to make the 6.45 a.m. Stansted > Eindhoven flight. There was a little concern when the Captain announced that the temperature in Eindhoven was –4 C but as we drove further west into Holland it started to warm up a little.

Our first game was in Heerjansdam, a small town to the south of Rotterdam.  VV Herrjansdam compete in the ‘Hoofdklasse’ which is the top level of the Dutch amateur set-up and as there are only 2 divisions in the professional league it is a pretty good standard.

A windmill stands near the entrance to the Sportpark de Molenwei as if to prove that we are in the Netherlands. The ground is dominated by a main stand containing about 1,000 seats, with a wide area of flat hard standing and a narrow strip of grass banking to the rear, round the rest. As is common on the continent, advertising boards adorn every available space and there are a number of outside pitches. A thriving bar is located at the top of the stand and is packed before, during and after the game. The elevation and wide windows allow the fair weather supporter or alcoholic to watch the action in comfort.

Prior to the main event see one of several games on the outer pitches (the third team in fact) and patronise the bar, as it would have been churlish not to. One of our party falls for a blond. The beer that arrives is indeed blond, but is also low alcohol! Still, have to start somewhere.

The first team game is a reasonable affair between two mid-table teams, the home side defeating AFC Ajax Zaterdag 2-0. It’s a deserved victory, but they only make sure with the second goal coming deep into stoppage time. The admission cost of 8 euros included a 20-page A4 programme and up-to-date team sheet. On a fashion note the visitors played in the same strip as that of the professional Ajax club, while Heerjansdam had unusual shirts which appeared to have buttons all down the front!

An hour and a half’s drive took us over the border into Belgium and our overnight base of Dessel. The Brauwerhaus is a centrally located bar with rooms, very basic but cheap and friendly. Owner Christoph speaks perfect English and organises trips from this part of Belgium to watch his beloved Anderlecht.

Our evening game is a 200-yard walk away: KFC Dessel Sport v. Royal Antwerp in Div. II. An old-style ground only has a smallish elevated stand with about 400 seats. The near end is taken up with the bar and Business Club (VIP dining area) though many people watch the game from these areas. The remainder of the ground has about 6 steps of terracing, with full pitch length cover on the side opposite the stand.

Royal Antwerp are the oldest club in the country and as such are given matricule number 1. They were relegated from the top level last year but are now top of Div. II and seeking an immediate return. They have a link up to English side M-n. United and the number 6, Mohammad Cisse looks very similar to the Liverpool one. Dessel are in the bottom half of the table.

A crowd of about 2,500, which is about 4 times Dessel’s normal gate, see a cracking match, played at a pace more akin to English football than Belgian. Dessel start brightly but against the run of play a thundering volley from Mitrovic gives Antwerp the lead. They continually threaten to extend their advantage but Dessel level with a header. Full-blooded end to end action ensues, Dessel snatching the winner with 4 minutes to go. Entrance cost 12 euros with no programme, only a team sheet.

The rest of the evening and quite a bit of the night is spent sampling some of the renowned Belgian ales, particularly in De Campina, as recommended in the Camra guide for these parts.

Sunday afternoon sees us at Kapellen, about 10km. North of Antwerp for the Division III match between R. Cappellen FC and KSK Wevelgem City. The Stadion Lois Lucas is a 3-sided ground with a capacity of around 3,500. The entrance has an archway bearing the club’s name and miniature pay windows set in a wall. Three separate stands on the main side, 2 with around 250 seats apiece, the other terraced. The other 2 used sides have 4 steps of open terracing and there’s 2 club bars, the main one being at the top of the central stand. Cappellen are near the top of the table but the game only really gets going once they score in the 69^th minute. Wevelgem press for an equaliser but Cappellen threaten from counter attacks and get a 2^nd goal near the end. No programme but a team sheet and copy of the club’s quarterly magazine. 6.5 euros admission charge.

To complete a fine weekend, there’s time for a splendid meal in Turnhout before we have to catch our return flight.

END