Beerschot AC

Full Name: Koninklijke Beerschot Antwerpen Club
City: Antwerp
Founded: 1999 (1920)
Stadium: Olympisch Stadion (12,771)
Colors: Red, Yellow

Previous: Germinal Beerschot (1999-2011)
Nicknames: De Ratten (The Rats), de Kielse Ratten
Rivals: Antwerp, Beveren

Description:

Beerschot AC (Antwerpen Club) is technically a continuation of Germinal Ekeren, though in practice it is a new club born of the fusion between K.F.C. Germinal Ekeren and K. Beerschot V.A.C. The two clubs were traditional rivals, but were forced to merge in 1999 because of financial problems. After a dozen years with the name Germinal Beerschot the club was renamed in 2011 to Beerschot AC. The word Koninklijke (Royal) is an honorary title given by the Belgian royal family to every club in Belgium after twenty-five years of existence. Additionally each club in Belgium has a matricule number, given in order of the club's foundation (ie the lower the number the older the club). Beerschot AC has the matricule 3530.

The history of Germinal (named after the Victor Hugo novel): FC Germinal Ekeren (1920-71), KFC Germinal Ekeren (1971-1999). Germinal Ekeren won one Belgian Cup.

The history of Beerschot (formed by breakaway members of Antwerp and named for Beerschothof, a park near the club's original field): Beerschot Athletic Club (1899-1902), Beerschot AC (1902-25, a merger with Antwerp Lyon's Club), R. Beerschot AC (1925-68), K. Beerschot VAV (1968-91), Beerschot VAC (1991-95), K. Beerschot VAC (1995-99). Beerschot won seven Belgian First Division titles and two Belgian Cups. 

Olympisch Stadion:

The Olympisch Stadion was the main stadium of the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.

Major Trophies:

• Belgian Cup (2005)

Links:

• Official Website: beerschot.be
• Germinal Beerschot