R.A.A. Louviéroise

R.A.A. Louviéroise, sometimes referred to as La Louvière or RAAL, was a Belgian football club located in the city of La Louvière, in the province of Hainaut. It had been playing its latest run in the Belgian First Division from 2000-01 to 2005-06 included. Two players have been called to the Belgium national football team while at La Louvière: Guy Dardenne (6 caps when at La Louvière, 11 caps in all) and Silvio Proto (5 caps when at La Louvière). The matricule of the club was the number 93. In June 2009, it merged with R.A.C.S. Couillet to form Football Couillet La Louvière.

History

The club was founded on January 26, 1913 during a meeting at the Place Maugrétout in La Louvière. It was named A.A. Louviéroise. After one season in a provincial league, the football stopped due to the War. The club did not play official matches until 1921 as it had no stadium. Between 1921 and 1937 Louviéroise played in the provincial leagues. In 1937 the club changed its name to R.A.A. Louviéroise and it reached the Promotion. The next year a Belgian international player (namely August Hellemans who played in the 1930 World Cup) was transferred at La Louvière.

The club had its first spell in the first division between 1977 and 1979. In 1984 it was relegated to the third division and it played at that level for 10 years. Between 1994 and 2000 it played in the second division.

In 2006 the club was one of the most frequently mentioned in a gambling scandal that rocked Belgian football. It was alleged in the Belgian press that several players, board members and manager Gilbert Bodart had accepted large sums of money from Chinese businessman Zheyun Ye, who wanted to influence the results in matches so he could manufacture high profits in gambling. At first the club strongly denied the allegations, but on February 21, 2006 Bodart resigned as manager.

His assistant, former La Louvière forward Frédéric Tilmant replaced him at the helm of the club but could not avoid RAAL finishing in last place in the division. This meant the club would have to play in the second division for the 2006-07 season. However on May 16, 2006 the club was refused its license to play in the second division. It subsequently appealed the decision but the Appeal Commission of the Belgian Football Association confirmed the judgement of May 16. The club eventually seized the Evocation Commission which rejected the plaint of La Louvière on June 15, 2006. The day after, chairman Filippo Gaone retired from the club as it would play the third division in 2006-07. In 2009, La Louvière merged with R.A.C.S. Couillet to form Football Couillet La Louvière, with the matricule number 93 begin retired as the new club continued with the number 94 of R.A.C.S. Couillet.

Notable players

Honours

• Belgian Cup:
  • Winners (1): 2002-03
• Belgian Supercup:
  • Runners-up (1): 2003
• Belgian Second Division Final Round:
  • Winners (3): 1975, 1977, 2000

European record

References

• (English) UEFA page