The 1952–53 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Belgium. RFC Liégeois won their 5th Division I title. This was the first season since the 1952 reform of the national competitions. A new level of football was introduced at the top of the league system. The divisions were also renamed, with the top level being named Division I (one league of 16 teams), the second level Division II (one league of 16 teams), the 3rd level Division III (2 leagues of 16 teams each) and the lowest level remaining the Promotion (4 leagues of 16 teams each). The Belgium national football team played 6 friendly games (3 wins, 3 losses) and then started their 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with 2 away wins in Finland and Sweden.
Overview At the end of the season, RRC de Gand and Beringen FC were relegated to Division II and were replaced in Division I by 2 clubs from Lier: Division II winner K Lyra and runner-up K Lierse SK. The bottom 2 clubs in Division II (FC Renaisien and Stade Louvain) were relegated to Division III, while both Division III winners (K Tubantia FC and R Uccle Sport) qualified for Division II. The bottom club of each Division III league were relegated to Promotion: Helzold FC, K Mol Sport, RAA Louviéroise and Union Halloise, to be replaced by K Sint-Niklaasse SK, RCS La Forestoise, SRU Verviers and K Willebroekse SV.
National team DateVenueOpponentsScore*CompBelgium scorersOctober 19, 1952Bosuilstadion, Antwerp (H)The Netherlands2-1FLéopold Anoul, Joseph MermansNovember 26, 1952Wembley Stadium, London (A)England0-5FDecember 25, 1952Stade Olympique, Colombes (A)France1-0FJean StraetmansMarch 19, 1953Camp de Les Corts, Barcelona (A)Spain1-3FVictor LemberechtsApril 19, 1953Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam (A)The Netherlands2-0FHenri Coppens, Augustin JanssensMay 14, 1953Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H)Yugoslavia1-3FLéopold AnoulMay 25, 1953Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki (A)Finland4-2WCQHenri Coppens (3), Léopold AnoulMay 28, 1953Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm (A)Sweden3-2WCQLéopold Anoul, Jean Straetmans, Victor Lemberechts * Belgium score given first
Key H = Home match A = Away match N = On neutral ground F = Friendly WCQ = World Cup qualification o.g. = own goal
Honours CompetitionWinnerDivision IRFC LiégeoisDivision IIK LyraDivision IIIK Tubantia FC and R Uccle SportPromotionK Sint-Niklaasse SK, RCS La Forestoise, SRU Verviers and K Willebroekse SV
Final league tables
Premier Division
Top scorer: Henri Coppens (R Beerschot AC) with 35 goals.
References