The Royal Belgian Football Association is referred to by many names such is the multi-lingual nature of Belgian society.
To the Dutch it is the Koninklijke Belgische Voetbalbond; for the French the Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de football Association and for the German minority in the east it is the Königlicher Belgischer Fußballverband.
It is much the same at KRC Mechelen who are arch local rivals of city neighbours KV Mechelen.
They were known as Racing Club de Malines Société Royale. This was before in 1937 the club’s name was changed to the Flemish – Racing Club Mechelen Koninklijke.
Few Belgian football administrators find themselves immortalised in art at least outside of the National FA headquarters in Tubize. But the Chairman of the Belgian Football Association between 1937 and 1943 finds himself captured in football colour at a Mechelen stadium which bares his name.
The Oscar Vankesbeeck Stadium is located in Mechelen-Noord.
Old fashioned, down trodden and way past its best, the stadium dates from 1923. Outside there is a street – Oscar Vankesbeeckstraat.
This is a stadium that has been modified several times across recent decades but retains its old school feel. In the period 1975-1985 the standing areas behind both goals were sold, which reduced the capacity drastically but not to the detriment of the whole.
When KV Mechelen was at the height of its powers in the 1980’s all KRC could do was look on and wonder. Several efforts were made to catch up but the have been left behind by history and most young people in Mechelen now follow the club who play in red, yellow and black.
Oscar Vankesbeeck had gained financial control at KRC Mechelen in 1910.
He started playing football at the age of eight before the turn of century.
In 1904 he was one of the first founders of Racing Mechelen, where he had also been a player.
For 34 years he was at the head of the club and in 1930 was a delegate who went to the World Cup in Montevideo leading a delegation of European football administrators to South America.
The Oscar Vankesbeeckstadion is almost entirely surrounded by safe-standing stands, except for the ageing grand main stand.
But its the small if stark detail that makes this stadium whether the tall North Stand or the glorious stone facade entrance to the North Stand.
The passage of time have meant many generations of football fans have been lost. But the stunning murals of the players in green from different club eras ensure that a living timeline remains. And then there is the colourful mural of that man – Oscar Vankesbeeck.
The Oscar Vankesbeeckstadion is located just under a mile away from the Achter de Kazerne, which is home to rivals KV Mechelen. The club are struggling but hope one day to find itself back at the top table of Belgian football.
