RWD Molenbeek

The show must go on

FC Asse-Zellik 2002 5-2 RWD Molenbeek (02:05:10)

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I didn't think I'd be writing up an article on the 4th Provincial Division in Belgium today but when a story falls into your lap, one is inclined to well - lap it up. RWD Molenbeek died as a club in 2002 when they merged with KFC Strombeek to form FC Brussels. They're back back back though and the name RWDM lives on with a small but loyal following in the nether regions of the Belgian football pyramid.

The 4th Division in Belgium is split into nine sections. RWDM now play in the Brabant Province version. That's how far they've fallen, but at least this season they've picked up 31 points so far, with two games left. Now then, what about this particular match and that pitch. Well, I'll let Stephane Lievens take up the story:

Asse-Zellik are the "biggest" club in the division. They have played as high as the 1st Provincial division 5 years ago, but due to lack of money (as always), they've fallen on hard times recently. They are the only team of the division with some kind of "stadium", well a ground with one stand, a big club house and some terraces that is. On Sunday, they had to win and wait for other results to go their way to be champions of the division, which eventually happened as they beat us 5-2and results elsewhere went their way.

Them winning was a good thing for us because beer was free after the game in the club house (I literally had to flee 2 hours after game, god knows what state I would have go home if I had stayed much longer...). Asse is a town of 30,000 about 15km from Brussels. The local side SV Asse merged in 2002 with neighbours Zellik Sport to form FC Asse-Zellik 2002.

As for this match, when we arrived, it was not raining but you could see that the pitch was already in a bad condition. Then after about 15 minutes, it started to rain very heavily for about 30-45 minutes, the pitch rapidly became some kind of swimming pool. At no point did the ref think about calling it off.

We were also certain that it would last until the end whatever because of the hard winter we've had, there has been a lot of postponed matches already and the season is now running two weeks late. The FA really can't "afford" to postpone anymore matches if they want to complete the season (as in the lower leagues, there are also play-offs due to be played, which are also lasting two weeks or so). After half-time, the rain stopped but the playing conditions didn't improve much.

So this match not only lasted the full 90 minutes, they dished out free beer afterwards. I'm not one to have kittens easily here at EFW HQ but how much fun can one have on a rainy Belgian afternoon? If you've ever seen a match take place on a pitch in worse condition than this then please let us know.

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