SK Torhout v Eendracht Brugge
Torhout 1992 v Royal Knokke
Next morning it was a leisurely start back at Namur gate. An AM08 took me Brussels bound.
At Brussels Nord it was onto a Eupen-Oostende service.
Which was taken along the fast line to the mid rebuild Gent St Pieters, for a De Panne bound bung unit.
Passing the Derde Provinciale C side Union Astene.
Into Lichtervelde where an AM80 unit was waiting on a Brugge service.
This was taken to the first stop, Torhout. The place is a tiny, but quite historic city, based on agriculture, trading and shoe making. More recently it has been home to Rock Werchter, the Belgian Glastonbury.
An optimistic municipal view that a sculpture of a giant butterfly net wouldn't become a huge litter bin.
Torhout has two senior football clubs, located a few feet apart, seperated only by a cemetary. I'd say that it is the Belgian version of Liverpool, but that would be overestimating their status, so I'll go for Dundee.
On one side is Torhout 1992.
On the other are SK Torhout. Actually, having now seen the clubs, I'd probably say it is the Belgian version of what Alton used to be like.
SK Torhout 1 v Eendracht Brugge 0, Vierde Provinciale B - West-Vlaanderen
Sportkring Tourhout was originally formed in 1926, playing in the provincial leagues until reaching the fourth level in the 1980s. However, the early 1990s saw them merge with local rivals KVK, to form 1992 Torhout. However with the new side palying at the latter clubs ground, SK supporters saw it as a takeover and by 2001, had reformed their club, which has risen up through the provincial leagues.
Eendracht Brugge were formed in 1975 as Concord, playing in the provincial series. Over time they have had a few name changes, first to Unity and now with the Eendracht prefix, playing at the second level of the provincial series.
Sportstadion Benny Vansteelant is a very large athletics stadium and named after a local duathlete who got killed when he was hit by a car whilst out training.
The main feature is this quite substantial brick and concrete stand, which is a bit more architectually adventurous than the normal offering.
As well as the running track, there is also a cycling track.
This was being used by the local kids in a quite competitive series of scooter races.
Most of the spectators were watching from the wooden chalet social club, adjacent to the main stand.
Today's viewing of the @keepers_towel, was undertaken through a hammer cage.
Watching across both a cycle and athletics track, meant it was quite a distant view to the game.
The most active players were the keepers, with a not inconsiderable trek to retrieve stray shots.
The home side took the lead.
I did think there was an equaliser.
But the lack of any supporters to make any noise, added to the far goal being in a different time zone, meant I must have got it wrong, as the results showed it finishing 1-0.
So over to my next game, Bass Torhout. Congratulations to anyone who understood that 1980s Hampshire league joke.
SK Torhout 0 v Eendracht Brugge 6, Second Amateur Division VFV A
Torhout 1992 were founded by a merger of KVK Torhout and KSK Torhout, who were rival clubs in the city but by the early nineties, were both struggling at the fourth level. The new club played at the former home of KVK, which upset the old KSK members, who restarted their old club in 2001. However, 1992 have continued, and currently find themselves in the third tier.
Knocke FC was founded in 1926 reaching the national series the following year, but soon dropped down to the provincial leagues. After a sixty year stint at the provincial level, in
2014 Knokke were promoted again to the national series.
The Velodroom is no longer appropriately named, as the cycle track is long since gone, being flattened by Nazi occupiers who used the ground as an ammunition store. After the war, the site was re-built as a football ground, with SV taking residence. The nomenclature is slightly ironic as SKs ground has a cycle track but isn't called the Velodrone.
The main stand dates from 2001, replacing the 1951 version, of which I've never been able to find a picture.
Opposite is this low standing cover.
Behind the goal at the main entrance, is this very well protected social club.
The teams emerged.
With the subs making themselves comfy by wrapping themselves in blankets.
In the terrace, there was an obvious fan area.
As ever, there was a debacle trying to arrange banners. Firstly it was upside down.
Then back to front.
They got there eventually.
The supporters group comprised a very prolific brass band, accompanied by a very elderly gentleman with a full drum kit.
For the three people who can actually get these videos to work, here's their interpretation of the floral dance.
The ground had recently seen a lot of work, with the pitch converted to plastic and new pitchside railings. However, the perimeter fence was also being renewed.
This was the reason for my visit, as its temporary absence meant an unobstructed view of the adjacent railway line.
During the warm up, a Kortrijk-Oostende service passes, formed of a class 18 loco and M6 double-decker coaches.
To add to the scenario, the main line between Gent and Brugge was shut, so everything was being diverted, such as this Oostende-Eupen IC service.
Or this AM96 bung unit forming an Antwerp Oostende.
As the line has limited capacity, trains were being combined, so this is two M6 rakes, coupled with the class 18 loco sandwiched in the middle of the train.
The usual AM80 on the Brugge-Kortrijk all shacks.
And finally, an I11BDx driving trailer on a Eupen-Oostende service.
The away side took the lead.
And carried on scoring at fairly frequent intervals.
Until they had scored six.
The home side couldn't raise any response, and it finished 0-6.
I was back to the station.
And an AM80 service.
This was taken south to Kortrijk.
Where the Antwerp bound bung units from Lille and Poperinge combine.
These were taken onto Lokeren.
A cheerful welcome to the town. I was heading for the evening game between Lokeren and Club Brugge. This was in the dreariest league in existance, the Belgium first division. Basically, shit football, played in stadiums that have been badly rebuilt to comply with seating requirements, played infront of sterile crowds. Like a permanent version of the Europa league.
Anyway, on arriving at the ground I was informed that ticket sales were back in the town. I headed back to the shipping container on a car sales pitch that was apparently the ticket office. However, I was informed they only had corporate tickets left, and I couldn't be arsed to shell out €45 for the excruciating experience, so I gave it a miss. I went back to get some photos of the ground, only to find that you couldn't get near it without a ticket, so here is the closest view I could get, from an adjacent pallet re-cyclers.
Returning to the station, I was asked for directions by an English family who did have a spare ticket, but I couldn't be arsed, and continued to head back.
I was on another AM08 unit, which are very near the top of my list of worse European units.
This took the direct route back to Brussells, with Dendermonde - Jette being new track for me.
At Brussels Nord it was onto an Aaist bound AM08.
Which took me back to Namur, via the usual SNCB shambolic single line working, which delayed us by an hour.
Next morning and it was an 0600 return to Namur station.
As a bit of variety, the run into Brussels was top and tailed class 18s on M4 coaches.
Onto what should have been the 0852 Eurostar, but departed ten late due to awaiting the complementary meals for Business Premier customers.
I'd got my own Carrefour, Belgian breakfast of kings.
Because we stopped at both Lille and Calais, we ended up behind the Paris service and were thirty late into St Pancras.
My Kings Cross - Leeds service then had door interlock issues, so was also thirty late, meaning I eventually made it back to Sowerby an hour down, but in the Yorkshire sunshine.
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