Looking back on it, maybe I am a bit mental. Yeah, I know I've said it before, but that was a pretty flippant suggestion. One cold Friday in February really rammed the point down my throat though. I left at 7:30 in the morning, and got back at 4am the following day, because I went all the way to Belgium to watch a game of football. At least I wasn't the one driving...
The idea of watching KSV Roeselare vs Lommel United had originally been put forward to me by Paul (Splodge) - famed for his involvement with Fareham Town as club secretary - after I'd tweeted the idea of travelling into Northern France to take in Le Havre vs Dijon in the second tier of French football. Of course, at no point did the thought of turning away the opportunity come into my mind, and so Splodge was to play the role as Chauffeur for the day, myself and fellow groundhopper Paul (whom I'd met in Norway) tagging along.
We picked Paul up from just outside of Folkestone, before heading over to catch the midday ferry sailing from Dover to Dunkerque. It's just a quick two hour journey on this particular sailing, sped up as Paul became increasingly flustered that he couldn't find a second game to tie in with the 12:45 kick-off at Ramsgate the following day.
The idea of watching KSV Roeselare vs Lommel United had originally been put forward to me by Paul (Splodge) - famed for his involvement with Fareham Town as club secretary - after I'd tweeted the idea of travelling into Northern France to take in Le Havre vs Dijon in the second tier of French football. Of course, at no point did the thought of turning away the opportunity come into my mind, and so Splodge was to play the role as Chauffeur for the day, myself and fellow groundhopper Paul (whom I'd met in Norway) tagging along.
We picked Paul up from just outside of Folkestone, before heading over to catch the midday ferry sailing from Dover to Dunkerque. It's just a quick two hour journey on this particular sailing, sped up as Paul became increasingly flustered that he couldn't find a second game to tie in with the 12:45 kick-off at Ramsgate the following day.
Once you've arrived in Dunkerque port, it's just over an hour or so's drive to the largely typical town of Roeselare. We didn't really spend enough time there to pass a total judgement, but from the few hours we were there, it seemed fairly unimpressive. There were plenty of bars and so forth opposite what was fast becoming a hollow shell of a train station, and it was pretty drizzly out so sadly Roeselare didn't leave too much of a lasting impression on me. I'm sure there would have been more to the place had we had the time to do a bit of exploring.
We took a quick stop in one of those bars for some food and a drink, before heading to one of the local Delhaize supermarkets to top up on some beer to take home. We arrived at Schiervelde Stadion a good couple of hours before kick-off, and so waited in the bar at the sports hall next doors having been told tickets wouldn't be available until about an hour before kick-off. I was supping Rodenbach, a very fruity number, when a local offered to get hold of some tickets for us. He kindly did, and we were going to watch KSV Roeselare vs Lommel United.
We took a quick stop in one of those bars for some food and a drink, before heading to one of the local Delhaize supermarkets to top up on some beer to take home. We arrived at Schiervelde Stadion a good couple of hours before kick-off, and so waited in the bar at the sports hall next doors having been told tickets wouldn't be available until about an hour before kick-off. I was supping Rodenbach, a very fruity number, when a local offered to get hold of some tickets for us. He kindly did, and we were going to watch KSV Roeselare vs Lommel United.
With tickets paid up, a cool 10 Euros, we were into the place. We'd taken a few photos of the ground having parked up outside, and it looked fairly impressive from the outside, but Schiervelde Stadion is even better once you've entered. Stewards handing out free team sheets is always a happy bonus as well, of course. Well done there lads.
My first taste of Belgian football came in a very impressive ground. The Schiervelde Stadion is on the outskirts of town, must be a good half hour or so walk from the station, but it's definitely worth visiting. There's some fantastic terracing behind the far goal, sadly out of use, but their main singing section stand in the more modern terracing to the left of the picture above. A large seated stand runs along half of the near touchline, with a towering all seater stand holding the changing rooms behind the near goal.
The rest of the ground is concrete standing, and includes toilet blocks, and stalls for food and drink in the corner next to the fans in their terracing. Despite an attendance of only 700 or so (the only figure I've heard), they made a fantastic noise, and I even joined in briefly as we stood with them in the second half. They had two or three songs in their repertoire that I'm still humming to myself now, including the one below;
The rest of the ground is concrete standing, and includes toilet blocks, and stalls for food and drink in the corner next to the fans in their terracing. Despite an attendance of only 700 or so (the only figure I've heard), they made a fantastic noise, and I even joined in briefly as we stood with them in the second half. They had two or three songs in their repertoire that I'm still humming to myself now, including the one below;
In truth the match itself was nothing particularly special. The home side won through a single poked finish from Davy Brouwers on the half-hour mark, despite creating a number of chances in the second half that they simply couldn't put away. Both sides got the ball down and played with some width, I'm starting to see that possession is a huge factor of footballing philosophies in the European game.
I spent a lot of the game admiring my surroundings, and enjoying the noise that the home fans generated, alongside a helpful few renditions from the Lommel fans opposite us. As far as a first visit to Belgian football goes, it's certainly motivated me to return in the near future!
I spent a lot of the game admiring my surroundings, and enjoying the noise that the home fans generated, alongside a helpful few renditions from the Lommel fans opposite us. As far as a first visit to Belgian football goes, it's certainly motivated me to return in the near future!
Sadly we had to race out on the whistle as an 8:30 kick-off would make it tight for getting back in time for the 23:59 sailing back to Blighty. We made it with ten minutes to spare, and the two hour journey was spent watching the 24 hour news, which isn't as exciting as it sounds I can promise you. The journey on land was uneventful and I stumbled through the door at 4am, having officially lost my Belgian football virginity.
I can only thank Splodge for offering me the chance to join, and to Roeselare, for being pretty awesome. I vowed to Paul that KSV Roeselare are very much down on my list of grounds I want to re-visit, not many have that privilege. I'd even say it caught my imagination as much as FK Rælingen in Norway, but that's a very high honour.
Cheers Roeselare!
Sheridan
I can only thank Splodge for offering me the chance to join, and to Roeselare, for being pretty awesome. I vowed to Paul that KSV Roeselare are very much down on my list of grounds I want to re-visit, not many have that privilege. I'd even say it caught my imagination as much as FK Rælingen in Norway, but that's a very high honour.
Cheers Roeselare!
Sheridan