Exploring our DNA: A Chronological Tale Back To 1880

The unique and vibrant atmosphere, the many English chants, the intense rivalry in the stadium… This page unearths an in-depth and captivating overview of our English heritage, and the profound essence woven into our DNA, from the days of our founding fathers in 1880.

Explore here the exquisite connection between Royal Antwerp FC and England, woven through the threads of management, players, supporters, and… the passion for the game!

This section also gives an overview of every official encounter between Antwerp FC and English teams since 1890: Spanning across competitive clashes, tournaments and friendly matches, from the momentous inaugural encounter with Clapton FC in 1890 to the latest Europa League display against The Spurs in 2020. Dive here into the rich history of our Red & White 🇵🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 connection!

29.10.2020 UEFA Europa League – Antwerp FC vs Tottenham 1-0

Just imagine this game with fans in the stadium instead of being locked down… José Mourinho and his formidable lineup of football stars, including Bale, Kane, and Son, were taken by surprise by a brilliant play executed by Mbokani and Refaelov, our Top Scorer and Golden Boot winner for that season. Regrettably, the match unfolded in an empty Bosuilstadion due to the impact of corona. On 10/12/2023, Tottenham clinched a 2-0 win in the London return, thanks to goals scored by Carlos Vinícius and Celso.

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 2010’s and 2020’s

  • 10.12.2020: Tottenham Hotspur FC – Antwerp FC 2 – 0
  • 29.10.2020: Antwerp FC – Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 – 0
  • 18.03.2018: Antwerp FC – Newcastle United FC 1 – 1
  • 26.07.2014: Luton Town FC – Antwerp FC 4 – 0
  • 20.07.2013: Nottingham Forest FC – Antwerp FC 2 – 2
  • 11.08.2012: Birmingham City FC -Antwerp FC 1 – 3

26.07.2014 Royal Antwerp fans visit Luton Town FC

Luton Town FC – Royal Antwerp FC: Taste of Summer marathon…

I’m a Luton Town fan.. Hope to play you every pre season, quality fans! Love You Royal Antwerp!

Amazing fans, much love from LTFC, I hope this game will be every season.

11.08.2012 Royal Antwerp fans visit Birmingham 1-3

1,000 Royal Antwerp fans travel from Belgium to St. Andrew’s for a pre-season friendly, and they never stop singing…

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 2000’s and 2010’s

  • 01.08.2008: Bristol City FC – Antwerp FC 4 – 0
  • 04.08.2007: Hull City AFC – Antwerp FC 0 – 0
  • 31.07.2007: Antwerp FC – Ipswich Town FC 1 – 1
  • 03.08.2005: Antwerp FC – Manchester Utd. 1 – 6
  • 14.07.2004: Antwerp FC – Yeovil Town F.C. 1 – 2
  • 02.08.2003: Blackpool FC – Antwerp FC 1 – 0
  • 01.08.2003: Notts County FC – Antwerp FC 2 – 0
  • 23.07.2003: Bolton Wanderers FC – Antwerp FC 4 – 0
  • 14.07.2001: Livingston – Antwerp FC 0 – 0
  • 12.05.2000: Antwerp FC – Manchester Utd II 1 – 0

1997-2009 Royal Antwerp & Manchester United Partnership

Manchester United sent a host of young players on loan to Royal Antwerp during a productive partnership between 1997 and 2009. Danny Higginbotham and Ronnie Wallwork were the first Manu players joining Royal Antwerp forces. In December 1999, Luke Chadwick embraced the opportunity.

They flew me out there to watch a game before I signed. It was amazing. There were flares, and it was like a proper European atmosphere. I’d never experienced anything like that. I couldn’t wait to get on the pitch.

I absolutely loved my time on loan at Royal Antwerp, incredible club, fans and atmosphere!

Luke Chadwick (planetfootball.com)
Picture: Luke Chadwick, GVA

Here’s a great 2023 interview with Luke Chadwick – almost 25 years later! – by The Square Goal Post – ‘De Vierkante Paal’ a most popular Antwerp Supporters Podcast Channel in Belgium.

Follow this link for a great piece on PlanetFootball about “The inside story of Man Utd’s link with Royal Antwerp”

I learned to be aggressive and to tackle. That desire to win. The [Antwerp] supporters over in Belgium were fanatical. We played the derby there, which was carnage. I enjoyed every minute of it!

Fraizer Campbell (PLANETFOOTBALL.COM)

01.08.2008 Bristol City – Royal Antwerp

The benchmark for ANY team coming down the gate!

Royal Antwerp fans were something else! One of the best (if not the best) away fans I have seen down the gate. Non stop singing. Very impressive.

24.12.2005 🎄 Christmas gift from Manchester United

Andy Welsh / RAFC
Warren Joyce / RAFC

In an attempt to elevate R Antwerp FC to its rightful place in the top tier of Belgian football, Manchester United intensifies its involvement by providing an infusion of English talent during the 2005/2006 season, in support of head coach Regi Van Acker.

As ‘Special Assistant Coach’ Andy Welsh followed a couple Manu youngster to Antwerp: Lee Martin (18, left midfielder), Adam Eckersley (20-year-old left-handed defenseman), Danny Simpson (18, right-back), Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (19, striker) and Tom Heaton (19, goalkeeper). In addition to that assignment, he became a permanent supervisor of the English Antwerp players and conducted a thorough investigation of the youth activities of R Antwerp FC. In 2006/2007 also Warren Joyce joined the Great Old, to be head coach, next to Andy.

03.08.2005 Pre-season friendly Antwerp FC vs Manchester United

In honour of the club’s 125th anniversary, Antwerp FC engaged in a pre-season friendly against Manchester United at the Bosuilstadion. Manchester United concluded their pre-season campaign with a dominant 6–1 triumph over their affiliate club in Belgium. Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed a hat-trick, with United’s other goals being scored by Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Darren Fletcher, other stars on the pitch that day: Rooney, Ferdinand, Keane and Van der Sar.

Cristiano Ronaldo with Manchester United at the Bosuilstadion in 2005. Picture GVA/Belga

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 1980’s and 1990’s

  • 31.08.1999: Antwerp FC – Manchester Utd. II  2 – 2
  • 28.09.1998: Antwerp FC  – Manchester Utd. II  3 – 1
  • 27.09.1994: Newcastle United FC – Antwerp FC  5 – 2
  • 13.09.1994: Antwerp FC – Newcastle United FC  0 – 5

13.09.1994 UEFA Cup – R Antwerp FC vs Newcastle United

4,000 Newcastle United fans support their team in their first European match in 17 years, at the Royal Antwerp FC Bosuil Stadium in 1994. It turns out to become a European night of glory for the Geordies, beating Antwerp FC 0-5.

The significant defeat in that match unintentionally marked the beginning of one of Antwerp FC’s most challenging eras. In the subsequent years we struggled to regain our form and found ourselves in a period of decline before ultimately reemerging as a strong, top-tier club.

Picture: The Away Fans (Twitter)

12.05.1993 Wem-Be-Lee, Wem-Be-Lee! UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup final: Parma vs Royal Antwerp FC at Wembley

It stands as one of the most significant events in the club’s history: On May 12, 1993, Royal Antwerp Football Club competed in the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup final at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Over 20,000 devoted fans embarked on a journey by plane, car, bus, and boat from Belgium to London, as no one was willing to miss the opportunity to witness a European cup final on the hallowed turf of the legendary (still original twin-towered) Wembley.

Even though the final against Parma concluded with a 3-1 defeat, the unforgettable atmosphere, the passionate chants of the Red & White legion, and the pivotal goal that equalised 1-1, credited to ‘Cisse’ Severeyns with an assist from another Antwerp legend, Alex Czerniatynski, continue to be etched in the recollections of all Antwerp fans who were present at that historic encounter in London.

Parma proved to be a strong opponent, and Antwerp faced significant challenges – a severe injury to star-player Hans-Peter Lehnhoff, as well as a rather dubious decision to field a goalkeeper who had barely played with the team before (replacing another legendary figure, Ratko Svilar) – greatly diminished our chances.

Interestingly, since that memorable night in 1993, Royal Antwerp Football Club proudly holds the distinction of being the last Belgian team to have reached any of the UEFA European Cup- or League Finals!

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 1960’s and 1970’s

  • 08.08.1979: Antwerp FC – Everton FC 1 – 1
  • 08.08.1978: Antwerp FC  – Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 – 3
  • 16.08.1976: Tottenham Hotspur FC – Antwerp FC 1 – 1
  • 14.08.1976: Everton FC – Antwerp FC 2 – 1
  • 11.08.1976: Aston Villa – Antwerp FC 3 – 1
  • 01.10.1975: Aston Villa – Antwerp FC 0 – 1
  • 17.09.1975: Antwerp FC – Aston Villa 4 – 1
  • 11.08.1975: Ipswich Town FC – Antwerp FC 0 – 1
  • 09.08.1975: Oxford United FC – Antwerp FC 1 – 2
  • 28.07.1974: Antwerp FC – Luton Town FC 2 – 1
  • 02.08.1970: Antwerp FC – Luton Town FC 1 – 1
  • 18.05.1967: Antwerp FC – Ipswich Town FC 1 – 2

17.09.1975 UEFA Cup – R Antwerp FC vs Aston Villa (4-1 aggregate)

UEFA Europe League, first round, first leg: Royal Antwerp FC plays against Aston Villa, the English League Cup champions. By halftime, the score stood at 4-0 in favour of Antwerp FC. Heyligen found the net once, while Karl Kodat – dubbed ‘The White Pelé’ and nicknamed ‘Bang Bang’ by the English media – secured a hat trick. Kodat delivered another stellar performance, scoring the sole goal at Villa Park two weeks later, on 01/10/1975.

The Bosuilstadion 1975 – RAFC vs Aston Villa. Picture: Gerry Armes/Birmingham Mail/Popperfoto – Getty Images

1966 – 1970 Maurice Tillotson joins Antwerp FC

Born in Yorkshire, Maurice Tillotson joined Antwerp FC in 1966, after having played for Huddersfield Town and Stockport County in England. Tillotson played in several European Cup games with Antwerp. Later in his career he moved to New Zealand, where he joined the national team and was voted NZ-Player of the Year in 1973.

“Celebral Soccer” is an incredible blog where Mr. Tillotson shares his captivating football journey, encompassing his significant time with Royal Antwerp FC. Here’s a link to his memories at RAFC.

From Mr. Tillotson’s memories in 1966: “On the boat across the Channel I can remember talking to some home bound West German football supporters who kept me awake, as they drowned their sorrows by consuming copious amounts of Stella Artois. Their complaints centred on how England had cheated them out of winning the World Cup Final at Wembley; played on the previous weekend. On arrival at the Belgian port, in the pitch dark, and traversing the bumpy winding cobblestoned roads, on which I frequently found myself on the wrong side, I arrived, blurry eyed, at the Antwerp Stadium just as dawn was beginning to break.”

Maurice Tillotson relaxing at the Antwerp Club. Picture: M. Tillotson
Royal Antwerp FC – Season 1966-1967. Picture: M. Tillotson

1953 – 1960 🏆 Belgian Cup Winners and 🏆 League Title with English Manager Harry Game

In 1953, Englishman Harry Game, assumed the role of team manager for Antwerp. He transitioned from Panathinaikos in Greece, where he achieved success by securing the national league title with the team. Throughout Harry’s triumphant tenure from 1953 to 1960, Antwerp claimed the Belgian Cup in 1955 and clinched the League title in 1957. During this period, he guided a generation of footballers who seamlessly blended talent with experience.

Coach Harry Game – during his second tenure as manager of Antwerp in the late 1960s – here with fellow foreign players from the team. Picture: M. Tillotson.

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 1900’s and 1930’s

  • 09.04.1928: Antwerp FC – Oxford United FC 5 – 0
  • 04.04.1926: Antwerp FC – Dulwich Hamlet 0 – 3
  • 01.04.1923: Antwerp FC – South Bank FC 1 – 0
  • 27.03.1921: Antwerp FC – Nunhead FC 3 – 2
  • 24.03.1913: Antwerp FC – Leytonstone FC 3 – 6
  • 19.04.1908: Antwerp FC – Old Mancunians 3 – 1
  • 21.04.1905: Antwerp FC – King’s Cross FC London 3 – 5

1.11.1923 Inauguration “English” Bosuil Stadium with a match against… England

The Bosuilstadion in 1950 – Picture stadiumguide.com

The Bosuilstadion was built in 1923 – following the typical architecture of English football stadiums of that era, with examples like London’s White City Stadium (1906) and Wembley Stadium (1923) – as the home ground to Antwerp Football Club. It was also officially inaugurated with a match against England: On Thursday 1 November 1923 Belgium-England. At its peak – from the 1950’s – it held 60,000 fans, which is still the largest and record-keeping capacity for a Belgian football stadium.

Amongst many historical matches at the Bosuilstadion, are:

  • 1957 – The Champions League 1st leg Antwerp FC against Real Madrid, with star-players Kopa and Di Stéfano.
  • 1964 – The Bosuil hosted the UEFA Eurocup II Final between Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sporting Lisbon) and MTK Budapest.
  • 1972 – Belgium organised the UEFA European Football Championship, on 14 Jun 2024 more than 55.000 people attended the semi-final between Belgium and West-Germany in the Bosuilstadium.
  • 1976 – One of the last games of football’s greatest Pelé when Antwerp FC – with Dutch legend Louis Van Gaal – beat Pelé’s Harlem Globe Trotters 3-1.
  • 2023 – Another Spanish football giant bites the dust at the Bosuilstadion, as Royal Antwerp beats Barcelona FC with a thrilling 3-2 victory in the final game of that season’s UEFA Champions League group stage.

An interesting ode to the Bosuilstadion can be found in this 2023 article by theawaysection.com.

1897 – English essence finds its home 🔴 ⚪️

Red and white, a vibrant tale, Of passion fierce and purity pale.
Power and purity, a dance of light, A heritage of strength and right.

Scarlet flames in hearts ignite, Courage born from ancient fight.
Ivory hues, serene and clear, A legacy both bold and dear.

With every breath, we hold their flame, A sacred past, in every name.
Red and white, our guiding star, It shows us who we truly are.

In 1897 Red and White become the official club’s colours – a worthy English heritage. Antwerp FC, “Rood en Wit de liefdevolle kleuren!”

10.11.1895 First Official Belgian Football Match – Antwerp FC plays with largely English-tinged team

In 1895 Antwerp FC were the driving force behind the creation of the Belgian FA (UBSSA) – the very first football competition. Antwerp also played Belgian football competition’s first match ever, securing an impressive 8-0 victory against Sporting Brussels, with a squad primarily comprised of English players.

1892 – Englishman Llelyn Evan Thomas becomes Antwerp FC’s first Chairman

In the early years of Antwerp FC’s establishment, the club’s leaders were chosen annually. The first individual to hold the prestigious position of “President for the club” was an Englishman by the name of Mr. Llelyn Evan Thomas. These significant appointments also transpired in a setting influenced by English culture, at the esteemed café “The Shakespeare”.

From 1893 to 1896, the reins of the fledgling club were entrusted to two more English gentlemen: Mr. Lewis Potter and Mr. Edgard Flint. Notably, Mr. Flint would go on to represent Antwerp Football Club during Belgian’s inaugural football competition season. That first Belgian football league was held in 1895–96 as a round-robin tournament with seven teams: Antwerp FC, FC Brugge, RC Brussels, LC Brussels, SC Brussels, FC Liégeois and Union d’Ixelles.

Antwerp FC & English Teams – Between 1890’s and 1900’s

  • 13.04.1900: Antwerp FC – Alexandra Park FC (London) 3 – 0
  • 11.04.1898: Antwerp FC – Old Northonians London 2 – 3
  • 08.04.1894: Antwerp FC – Ealing FC 0 – 5
  • 23.12.1893: Harwich & Parkeston FC – Antwerp FC 9 – 0
  • 16.12.1892: Harwich & Parkeston FC – Antwerp FC 11 – 0
  • 27.11.1892: Antwerp FC – Harwich & Parkeston FC 0-3
  • 06.04.1890: Antwerp FC – Clapton FC 0 – 7

1890 – Antwerp FC’s 1st European clash vs Clapton FC

Clapton FC are acknowledged by the English Football Association as being the country’s first Football representatives on the Continent when they played Antwerp FC on 6 April 1890 (0-7).

Clapton FC – picture Metro.co.uk
Clapton FC – The Football Association – picture Metro.co.uk

1887 – Official Football division – Antwerp Football Club

In 1887 the division ‘Antwerp Football Club’ was formed, with only from 1889 a second official competitor.

1880 – Foundation by English students residing in Antwerp

Founded in 1880 by British merchants who, not only exported their products and commodities to the world, but in doing so, introduced their most popular football code. Harry Tremasure, H. Kufal and Alban Thornburn formed the “Antwerp Athletic Club” sports association with their English compatriots. They were mostly trainees from the trade and shipping world.

Various sports were practiced during training sessions and occasionally games were organised against British ship crews, or English colleges based in Belgium. Following English tradition the sports changed according to the season: cricket and lawn tennis in the summer, rugby and football in the winter.

Founded 15 years before the creation of the Royal Belgian Football Association, Antwerp FC – 1880 – is regarded as the oldest football club in Belgium and amongst the oldest tradition clubs in Europe.

Picture and info by RAFC Museum.

More information and links provided by The Official Royal Antwerp Football Club Archive.