All tables and results in amateur football

Origin of football in Belgium

Belgian football has its origins in the late 19th century, when the game was brought to Belgium by British expats and students. The very first football club in the country, Antwerp Athletic Club, was founded in 1880 by a group of enthusiastic English and Belgian sports enthusiasts. From there the sport spread quickly to other cities and villages throughout Belgium.

The current associations

Currently Belgian amateur football and professional football are regulated by various associations. The most important are:

1. Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA)

The RBFA is the oldest and most prominent football association in Belgium. It is responsible for the national football team and the organisation of the professional competitions, including the Belgian Pro League. Although the RBFA primarily focuses on professional football, it plays an essential role in developing and supporting amateur football in the country.

2. Football Flanders

Football Flanders is the official Flemish wing of the RBFA and is responsible for the organisation and support of amateur football in Flanders. It arose from a merger of the Flemish Football Association (VVB) and the Regional Football Associations (GWVB). Football Flanders focuses on promoting amateur football at regional and provincial level.

3. Association des Clubs Francophones de Football (ACFF)

ACFF is the French-speaking equivalent of Football Flanders and is responsible for amateur football in the French-speaking part of Belgium. It promotes and organises competitions for clubs in Wallonia and the German-speaking Community.

The current football pyramid

Belgian amateur football is characterised by a complex pyramid structure consisting of various levels, ranging from national to regional and provincial competitions.

1. National competitions

At the top of the pyramid are the national competitions, such as the Belgian Pro League (Eerste Klasse A), Challenger Pro League (Eerste Klasse B), the First National, and the Belgian Cup. These competitions include mainly professional clubs.

2. Regional competitions

Below the national competitions are the regional competitions, which are organised by Football Flanders and ACFF. These include lower divisions and regional classifications, including the Second Amateur Division, Third Amateur Division, and so on.

3. Provincial competitions

At the base of the football pyramid are the provincial competitions, organised by local provincial football associations. Here clubs from the same province compete against each other in various divisions.

The system of matricule numbers

A unique and intriguing aspect of Belgian amateur football is the system of matricule numbers. Every football team in Belgium, both professional and amateur, is identified by a unique matricule number. These matricule numbers have a deep historical significance and tell the story of the rich football history of each team. More information about the matricule numbers including an overview of all clubs.

Naming of Belgian Clubs

Most Belgian football clubs choose their name after the city, municipality or location where the team has its home base. A club that has existed for at least 50 years may adjust the club name and have it preceded by Royal or Koninklijk. Before 1968 this was still allowed at the 35-year anniversary, before 1958 at the 25th anniversary of a club.

Besides these elements, most clubs also include a prefix or suffix in their name in Dutch or French. This is a short list of some popular additions in the two languages:

Other common additions are "Eendracht" (E.), "Verbroedering", "Sport", "Entente Sportive" (E.S.), "Jeunesse Sportive" (J.S.), "Olympique Club" (O.C.), "Union Sportive" (U.S.). Some of these suffixes are sometimes abbreviated, sometimes in official names, but mostly in common parlance. So one usually only speaks of the shorter terms "Sporting", "Club", "Racing", "Cercle". In addition there is still a variety of abbreviations and additions that one specific club has chosen in its name.

Originally almost all clubs had a French-language name; both the municipality or city name and the additions were French. Between the beginning of the twentieth century and the end of the 1960s many Flemish clubs changed their name to a Dutch-language variant. Sometimes clubs change their name for other reasons: an anniversary, a merger, a club that wants to slightly adjust its profile or image, etc. Especially through mergers names arose with different place names in them, such as K. Beringen-Heusden-Zolder or Sporting West Ingelmuster-Harelbeke.

France also has a football pyramid, with different classes in national football and also competitions per region and department. On LiguesDeFoot.fr you will find all the results, standings and programs of French amateur football. Read more about French football

Alle voetbaluitslagen, standen en programma's in het Franse voetbal

• French national football
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region
• Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
• Region Brittany
• Centre-Val de Loire region
• Region Corsica
• Region Grand Est
• Region Hauts-de-France
• Region Méditerranée
• Normandy region
• Nouvelle Aquitaine Region
• Region Occitania
• Paris Île-de-France Region
• Region Pays de la Loire

In the Netherlands, the KNVB organizes competitions within a football pyramid, with different classes in national football and also competitions within 6 districts. On HollandseVelden.nl you will find all the results, standings and programs of Dutch amateur football. Read more about Dutch football

Alle voetbaluitslagen, standen en programma's in het Nederlandse voetbal

• Dutch national football
• District West 1
• District West 2
• District South 1
• District South 2
• District East
• District North