3 Games on a wet Sunday in Flanders.
Game 1 - FC Latem Under 17s 6 VV Volkegem Under 17 'B' 0 - Flanders Regional Under 17 League, Complex Hoge Heirweg
Game 2 - Racing Waregem 0 KFC Marke 0 - 1e Provincial West Falnders League, Mirakel Stadion
Game 3 - SC Zulte Waregem 2 RSC Anderlecht 4 - Jupiler Pro League, Elindus Arena
Game 1:
20 minutes on the bus from Gent Station got me to the outskirts of the city, and a short walk of 5 minutes got me to the ground- old low seated stand on one side and a smaller modern stand on the other side, G3 Pitch (much needed, due to heavy rain). Club house also gave you a view of the pitch and a small junior pitch on the other side of the clubhouse.
Clubhouse selling hot drinks (and beer) and even had BBC Match of the Day on a big screen.
Football wise - very different to our U17 football- obvious that their were a number of Under 15's playing- some looked good and obvious playing in older age group because of their skill but others seemed to be just making the numbers up. However it was worth the effort as game played on the main pitch. FC Latem were 2 up in 8 minutes and added a third goal later in the half. Second half continued to be dominated by the home team and a further 3 goals were added.
Then I had a choice of the bus back to Gent, a short break then the train to Waregem or a bus to Deinze, an hour for lunch then the train to Waregem, I opted for the Deinze route.
Arriving in Waregem, it was still raining, managed to get a bus halfway, but still meant a 15 minute walk to my next game at Racing Waregem.
Game 2:
Drawn to this game by the stadium- the colours of the seats and the name of the stadium, however the heavy rain did not show it in it's best light - arrived and lucky I still had 10 Euro cash as no cards taken, then in the large clubhouse you had to buy tokens from a machine before you got drinks - a system that did not seem popular with either the home or visiting fans.
Two stands, the one on the clubhouse side with the red and yellow seats and a large stand the other side, concrete, more basic and only used by 3 people during this game. Plastic pitch was good news as not sure many grass pitches at the level would have been playable.
A game that neither side dominated and no surprise that the game finished 0-0.
Lucky for me that the rain stopped just before the end of the game as it was a 25 minute walk, partly down a main road with open fields either side to the 'big' game of the day back in Waregem.
Game 3:
After rain all day, quite happy to be in hospitality and plenty of free beer, also seat was still in the stand above hospitality, so did not need to sit with the 'prawn sandwich' brigade, and that stand had an old school English ground feel. Anderlecht had a large following, so a great atmosphere. The big surprise was how Anderlecht won this game. The home side were on top from the start but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping meant it was still still 0-0 till the 37th minute. Anderlecht appealed for a penalty for handball, game carried on, 5 minutes later, game stopped VAR got involved and the penalty was given! Anderlecht were one up.
Then the 'lesser known' Hazard took over and suddenly Anderlecht were 3 up as we went back to hospitality for more beer and cakes! Second half was the home team pull one gaol back before Hazard added a 4th and then the home team got a consolation in injury time. More beer and Frites with Mayo and then the
easier (and shorter) walk back through the city centre to the station and the short train trip back to Gent.
Great trip - one annoying thing- all 3 top division games, saw a DJ pitch side before kick off- and hour of 'Euro Garage' music before each game is not needed!!!
