R.W.D.M. Brussels F.C.

This article is about the club dissolved in 2014. For the predecessor club dissolved in 2002, see RWDM. For the club continuing its traditions founded in 2015, see RWDM47.

R.W.D.M. Brussels

Full name	Racing White Daring Molenbeek Brussels Football Club
Nickname(s)	Les Coalisés (The United)
Founded	1932[1]
Dissolved	2014
Ground	Stade Edmond Machtens, Molenbeek
Capacity	11,266
Chairman	Johan Vermeersch
Manager	Jean-Guy Wallemme
League	defunct
2013–14	Belgian Second Division, 8th (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

Racing White Daring Molenbeek Brussels F.C., often simply referred to as RWDM Brussels, F.C. Brussels or simply Brussels, was a Belgian professional association football club based in the municipality of Molenbeek, in the Brussels Capital-Region. They last played in the second division during the 2013–14 season where they finished 8th, but folded at the end of the season due to financial trouble. The club was a continuation of FC Strombeek, a club from the Brussels suburb of Strombeek-Bever with matricule №1936 which was formed in 1932. However, Strombeek merged with Racing White Daring Molenbeek (RWDM) in the 2000s and practising the tradition of RWDM instead. FC Brussels played at the Stade Edmond Machtens, Molenbeek's former stadium. Their highest league ranking was a 10th place in the first division in 2005–06.

History

F.C. Strombeek first registered at the Royal Belgian Football Association in 1932.^[2] After many seasons played at the lower levels of Belgian football, Strombeek first reached the third division by winning the Promotion D – Belgium's 4th highest level of football – in 1995–96.^[3] After three seasons at that level, they won the third division A in 1999–2000, gaining promotion to the second division for the first time in their history. They finished at the 10th place in the second division in 2000–01.^[4] The next season, Strombeek finished at the 9th place. At the same time, the club of R.W.D. Molenbeek, though ranked 10th in the first division, were refused their professional license, and were subsequently relegated to the third division, struggling with financial problems.^{[citation needed]}

Johan Vermeersch decicided to create another club by moving KFC Strombeek from the Singelstadion, their stadium in Grimbergen, to Molenbeek's stadium, the Stade Edmond Machtens.^[5] KFC Strombeek finished at the 9th place again in the second division in the 2002–03 season. Only 2 players from Strombeek remaining at the club,^[6] and the new club was named FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek,^{[citation needed]} with the aim to promote to the first division the next season.^[7]

In April 2003, the club announced to change the name again. Effectively at the start of 2003–04 season, the club would known as R.W.D.M. Brussels F.C..^[8]

They won the 2003–04 Belgian Second Division.^[9]

Timeline

RWD Molenbeek had itself been created by the merger of earlier clubs. The timeline below shows visually the history of the various clubs that went into the creation of FC Brussels.

Honours

• Belgian Second Division:
  • Winners: 2003–04
• Belgian Third Division A:
  • Winners: 1999–2000

References

1. "RACING WHITE DARING MOLENBEEK BRUSSELS FC". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
2. "Belgium – Overview of teams". Pluto. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
3. "Classements finals des divisions supérieures 1995–96" (PDF). footbel.be. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
4. "Belgium – Final Tables 1895–2008". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
5. "Le déménagement". dhnet.be. 3 September 2002. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
6. "Longrie et Dessaer, seuls rescapés". dhnet.be. 17 June 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
7. "Autre matricule, même esprit". dhnet.be. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
8. De Vel, Anneleen (29 April 2003). "FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek wordt RWDM Brussels FC". hln.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 November 2019.
9. "Racing White Daring Molenbeek Brussels FC: Trophies". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 6 February 2016.