ROYAL UNION ST GILLOISE (Stade Joseph Marien)

BELGIAN NATIONAL DIVISION 3 (Group B), ROYAL UNION ST GILLOISE 0-2 ROYAL SPRIMONT COMBLAIN SPORT, ATTENDANCE: 1,000 (est)

Tonight was the second part of my Saturday double in the Begian 3rd Division. I thought I would have to go some to beat Grimbergen's superb Prinsenbosstadion but I certainly managed that!

I was basically instructed by many fellow groundhoppers that when in Brussels a visit to Royal Union St Gilloise is an absolute MUST. They were spot on!

The Stade Joseph Marien is simply fanstastic. Opened in 1919 and situated on the edge of Duden Park, the ground is a 10 minute tram ride from Brussels Midi. You walk up the street from the main road and the first thing you see is the glorious facade of the main stand and the ornate glass in the main entrance. It was just a shame I wasn't visiting in the daylight to fully appreciate this more.

The ground is now effectively two sided as the trees of the park attempt to reclaim the terraces behind each goal. The is a large seated stand, with a very small standing section in front, along one side of the pitch whilst opposite there is a very steep, but impressive, terrace. 

USG were once a major force in Belgian football, winning the championship 11 times but the last of these was in 1935. They are now languishing in the third tier of Belgian football.

Tonight was a mid-table affair as USG took on Royal Sprimont Comblain. The visitors ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Valentin Goffin (3) and Mandi Sahuké (73).

There were lots of other Welsh fans present in the crowd tonight and the clubhouse was buzzing after the game, despite the result. I was still in there supping my beer and chatting away long after midnight. A top night, indeed a top day. These two grounds have certainly whetted the appetite for more Belgian visits in the future.