BACK IN TIME: CERCLE BRUGGE - BEERSCHOT 1-5, SEASON 1927-1928

With Beerschot starting the 2020-2021 season in the First Division, we look back at our club’s history and turn the spotlight on a corresponding fixture from yesteryear…
Today: Cercle Brugge – Beerschot, season 1927-1928

THE BEST START IN BELGIAN FOOTBALL HISTORY

Three goals in as many minutes and a fourth seven minutes later, that is how the Beerschot team of the 1927-1928 season started in their away game at Cercle Brugge early February 1928. Undeniably the best start in Belgian football history. 

There was no stopping Beerschot that season. The team of coach Johnny Dick played a blinder, winning all 13 of their home games. But also the away record was impressive: ten wins, two draws and just one defeat. At the end of the campaign Beerschot won their fifth (from seven) league title, with Standard and Cercle Brugge finishing 2nd and 3rd, respectively eleven and fourteen points behind our Mannekes. In the old “two-points-for-a-win”-system, which makes the achievement even more illustrious.

Gazet van Antwerpen raved about Beerschot’s brilliant performance in Brugge. “Beerschot recorded a brilliant win at the reigning champions and look well on their way to the title. (…) When Renson missed his interception Raymond Braine scored the opening goal after just a few seconds. Less than a minute later it was Mertens who converted a cross by Hendrickx for goal number two. And the goal fest continued when Raymond Braine headed home after just three minutes. The Cercle goalkeeper  should have done better on all three occasions. The home team were baffled and after yet another sweet Beerschot combination Raymond Braine scored number four… with just ten minutes on the clock.”   

After the break Beerschot allowed Cercle to score a consolation goal, while Mertens then poached again for a 5-1-win. Beerschot scored an impressive 85 goals in 26 league games that season, conceding 26. Star player Raymond Braine was top scorer with 35 goals; his fellow striker Pierre Mertens came second with 21 strikes.

After winning five league titles in the “roaring twenties” Beerschot had a bit of a lean spell when a handful of their older and better players left the club or called it a day. Also the fact that Raymond Braine left for Sparta Prague after being suspended by the Belgian Football Association had a major impact on Beerschot’s relapse. But our club would bounce back to the top of Belgian football when Raymond Braine returned home… and celebrated two more league titles in 1938 and 1939. Happy days!

SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1928 – EDGARD DE SMEDT STADIUM, BRUGGE
CERCLE BRUGGE – BEERSCHOT  1 – 5
ATTENDANCE: 14.000
REFEREE: Christophe
GOALS: 1’ R. Braine 0-1, 2’ Mertens 0-2, 3’ R. Braine 0-3, 10’ R. Braine 0-4, 66’ Ruysschaert 1-4, 75’ Mertens 1-5
CERCLE BRUGGE: Proot, Baes, Renson, Brilleman, Van Halme, Van Hoorick, Ruysschaert, Van Poucke, De Vos, Van den Bauwhede, Vernimmen
BEERSCHOT: Raemdonck, Ruyssevelt, Janssens, Pelsmaeker, Meljado, Van Averbeke, Elst, P. Braine, R. Braine, Mertens, Hendrickx 

By Danny Geerts