1913: Union – Circle 3-2 AD
“The officials didn't know what to do after the regulation ninety minutes”
After dismissing Herstal, circle of D2 in the round of 16… 14-0; Leopold 2-1 in the next round; then the great Brussels rival of Racing Club 6-0 in the half, the Union played the first final in its history on June 1, 1913. It had the chance to play it at home, in the “rue de Forest stadium”, facing Cercle de Bruges.
”There were only 1000 spectators”, explains Yves Van Ackeleyen. “Football was seen as a winter sport at the time, so there was controversy over the fact that we were playing this final in the spring. And then we also deplored poor organization by the Belgian football union, which had not issued an official invitation. Moreover, it was the first time that the Cup was offered by the king… but we can read in the press of the time that the latter did not attend the final, which was pointed out.”
The rules did not say what to do in the event of a tie after 90 minutes.
The meeting is described as a “nice match”, but the organization leaves something to be desired. “The public quickly shouted 'jerseys, jerseys!', because contrary to custom, both teams played in striped outfits; black and green colors so faded for the people of Bruges that we couldn't really distinguish them from the Unionists. At half-time the referee asks some people to change and… three Bruges players return in the second half with different jerseys; two in white and one in red.”
To everyone's surprise, Cercle opened the scoring, but Heyman and Hebdin put the Union in control… before the visitors equalized. 2-2 after ninety minutes: the question arises of the follow-up to this meeting. “Obviously, this scenario was not provided for in the regulations. The Unionists rather wanted to continue, while the Cercle would have preferred the match to be replayed another day. The federation officials discussed on site and then decided that the match would continue with two fifteen-minute overtimes..” Hebdin makes it 3-2 and the Union signs the first Cup-championship double in the history of Belgian football.
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1914: Union – FC Bruges 4-1
“Three excluded due to a dispute between the two clubs”
The defending champion needs an extension to take out Antwerp in the eighth, before sweeping Brussels Racing 1-4 in the quarter, and Saint-Ignacius from the lower divisions 1-5 in the half. On to the final, against Club Bruges, on May 17, 1914, in front of 4,000 spectators, on neutral ground: the Vivier d'oie stadium in Uccle.
”This meeting was marked by a brutal game, with many mistakes, especially from Bruges according to press comments at the time.”, continues Yves Van Ackeleyen. “In fact, there was a dispute between the two teams, who hated each other. Union trips to the Club were seen as risky, sometimes ending in fights with spectators. The police had to escort the Brussels players to the station on their return. It was partly linked to a match in 1910 where a Saint-Gillois player had broken the leg of a Bruges player..” At a time when players were not professionals, and medicine, less advanced than today, should we remember?
”First there was an exclusion of a Bruges resident, for a big mistake. Tensions rose and there was another altercation between a Unionist and a Club player who punched each other and were both sent off..” Cards were not allowed at the time, but referees could send players to the locker room. “The Union won quite easily, 4-1, and the match ended without much at stake, Bruges being discouraged.”
Albert Carion, author of the 4-1, had no idea that 110 years later he would still be the last Unionist to have scored a goal in the Cup final.
Prize list, finances, European ticket: everything the Cup final can bring to the Union
