K. Beerschot V.A.C.

1900: Beerschot Athletic Club (Beerschot AC) 1925: Royal Beerschot Athletic Club (R. Beerschot AC) 1968: Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging (K. Beerschot VAV) 1991: Beerschot Voetbal en Atletiek Club (Beerschot VAC) 1995: Koninklijke Beerschot Voetbal en Athletiek Club (K. Beerschot VAC)

Origins

In 1895, Ernest Grisar acquired a racecourse with its buildings and annexes near the "Beerschothof" park in Kiel, in the south of Antwerp, which consisted of a 19-hectare plot of land with stables, changing rooms, chalet, and a grandstand. Four years later, his son Alfred, seeing the place and its facilities, suggested the idea of creating a multi-sports club where they could practice field hockey, polo, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics and, of course, football. Following Ernest's approval, Alfred founded the Beerschot Athletic Club in the colors of purple and white on 3 September 1899, doing so with the help of his friends Max Elsen, Edouard Lysen, Charles Hunter, and Paul Müller. Ernest died a few weeks later in November, so his son then became the owner of the facilities and the club that he had named Beerschot, in reference to a nearby wooded park called "Beerschotshof". The young Grisar sought advice for his start in management and surrounded himself with friends to help him, giving each of them a sports section to manage, but choosing his favorite sport for himself, football, whose section was started in February 1900, and then officially registered in July of that year.

Early history

Grisar then contacted players from Antwerp FC and offered them the chance to join his new club. On 8 April 1900, Antwerp lost 0–1 to Racing de Bruxelles in a play-off to decide who qualified for the National Final. Following this defeat, the majority of the…

Belgian First Division Champions (7): 1921–22, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1937–38, 1938–39 Runners-up (7): 1900–01, 1922–23, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1936–37, 1941–42, 1942–43 Belgian Second Division Winners: 1906–07 Runners-up: 1981–82, 1992–93, 1994–95 Belgian Second Division final round Winners: 1982 Belgian Cup Winners: 1970–71, 1978–79 Runners-up: 1967–68 Challenge International du Nord Winners: 1901