K. Rupel Boom F.C.

K. Rupel Boom FC
Full name	Koninklijke Rupel Boom Football Club
Nickname(s)	De Steenbakkers (The Brickmakers)
Founded	1998
Ground	Gemeentelijk Parkstadion
Capacity	9470
Chairman	Walter Leijs
Manager	Urbain Spaenhoven
League	Belgian Third Division

Koninklijke Rupel Boom FC is a Belgian association football club based in Boom, Antwerp province currently playing in the Belgian Third Division. They play at the Gemeentelijk Parkstadion in Boom.

History

K. Rupel Boom FC was founded in 1998, a result of a merger between K. Boom F.C. and Rupel SK. The club started playing in the regional third division of the Belgian provincial leagues. In 1999 they were promoted to the regional second division and in 2001 to the regional first division.

In 2004 the club reached the Nationwide Fourth Division. In its first season they reached the playoffs and won promotion to the Belgian Third Division. But, after only one season, K. Rupel Boom FC were relegated back to Fourth Division.

In 2008 the club again won promotion to the Belgian Third Division, and in 2009 they narrowly missed a ticket for the promotion playoffs.

After being on top of the league since mid September 2009, the club fell back and were beaten to the title by K.S.K. Heist with only one match to play. As runner-up of the regular season, they played the promotion playoffs in which they defeated Eendracht Aalst in the first round (4–0:3–4) and R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne in the second round (2–2:0–2). The final was played against U.R.S. du Centre (1–0: 4:4). And so, at the end of the 2009–2010 season, Rupel Boom were promoted to the Belgian Second Division.

In November 2010, Peter Van Wambeke was fired as head coach after a string of bad results. He became the first trainer in Rupel Boom history to be prematurely released off his contract.

In December 2010, Rupel Boom appointed Yves Cloots as the new head coach of the club. Cloots was Technical Manager with KV Mechelen and head coach of Rapid Leest. This change in head coach did not have the desired effect, and after the 2010–2011 season, Rupel Boom were relegated back to the Third Division.

For the 2011–2012 season, Johan Houben was appointed as the new manager. During this season, Rupel Boom had a very successful cup run, beating Acrenoise (Belgian Promotion), Boussu Dour (2nd Division), Oud-Heverlee Leuven (1st Division) and Belgian record champion Anderlecht against all odds. For Anderlecht, it was the first time since 1954 (against VV Terhagen) that they were eliminated by a Third Division team. Rupel Boom eventually lost the quarter finals against Mons with 2-0 in the first leg and 2-2 draw at home.

In May 2013 player Alexander Bell was selected for Scotland u20 for an international youth tournament in Den Haag, Netherlands.

The 2013–2014 season started good, with a first place after 5 games. But after a series of heavy losses, trainer Johan Houben stepped down as manager. Club captain and icon Jerry Poorters also resigned from the club. Frank Staes was appointed new manager in September 2013. In his first game in charge, Rupel Boom won against KSV Standaard Wetteren with 2–0, after being reduced to 9 men after 40 minutes of play, with a 0–0 on the board. The team ended a disappointing season in 13th place, just 3 points above the relegation places.

Halfway through the 2014–2015 season, head coach Frank Staes resigned and was replaced by his assistant Serge Van Den Stock, who eventually signed a two-year contract with the club. With Van Den Stock, Rupel Boom won 6 of its last 11 matches, and drew 2, finishing the season in 5th place.

In oktober 2015 Serge Van Den Stockt was fired and replaced by his assistant Robbie Grauwloos. Former K. Boom FC player and Belgian international Glenn De Boeck was appointed as Technical Advisor.^[1] De Boeck left the club in January 2016 to become head coach of First Division club Mouscron Péruwelz. Rupel Boom finished the season in 9th place.

For the new season 2016-2017, former coach Urbain Spaenhoven was appointed as the new coach. It's his second stint as headcoach after leaving the club for KV Mechelen in 2010.

Seasons

Season	Division							Division	Points	Remarks
	I	II	III	IV	P.I	P.II	P.III
1998–99							2	Regional Third Division	65	promotion
1999–00						3		Regional Second Division	54
2000–01						1		Regional Second Division	73	champion
2001–02					6			Regional First Division	53
2002–03					3			Regional First Division	63
2003–04					2			Regional First Division	64	promotion
2004–05				2				Fourth Division B	53	promotion
2005–06			15					Third Division A	19	relegation
2006–07				3				Fourth Division B	55
2007–08				3				Fourth Division B	64	promotion
2008–09			6					Third Division B	49
2009–10			2					Third Division A	71	promotion, final against U.R.S. du Centre 1–0: 4:4
2010–11		17						Second Division	36	relegation
2011–12			5					Third Division	58	¼ Final Belgian Cup after eliminating RSC Anderlecht
2012–13			4					Third Division	56
2013–14			13					Third Division	36
2014–15			5					Third Division	54
2015–16			9					Third Division	51

Club honours

Belgian Cup
- ¼ Finale 2012
Third Division
- promotion 2010
Fourth Division
- promotion: 2005 & 2008
Regional First Division
- promotion: 2004
Regional Second Division
- winner: 2001
Regional Third Division
- promotion: 1999

Individual honours

Top Goal Scorer Third Division
- Stavros Glouftsis: 28 goals in 2009–2010

Current squad

As of 16 February 2016

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	BEL	Marko Ristovic
25	GK	BEL	Ruben Van Wemmel
—	GK	BEL	Ruben Smet
—	DF	BEL	Jens De Paepe
27	DF	BEL	Jef Vogels
18	DF	BEL	Andreas Kliché
4	DF	BEL	Yannick Lodders
11	DF	BEL	Nick Felix
33	DF	BEL	Niels Vets


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	BEL	Nick Spaenhoven
6	MF	BEL	Jeroen Mertens
22	MF	BEL	Jonas Laureys
23	MF	BEL	Bjorn Cornelissens
—	MF	BEL	Lennard Hens
—	MF	BEL	Dominique Ernst
12	FW	BEL	Yannick Put
—	FW	BEL	Antonio Munoz Herrera
—	FW	BEL	Thoma Frick