Our History

FC Irlande was founded in ABSSA in 1989. As the number of Irish players who were playing for the existing expat clubs at the time (Brussels British and British United) was steadily growing, it became clear that there was a desire to found an expat football club with an Irish ethos. A mid-week league where an Irish team had participated in from 1983 to 1988 had proved that it could be possible to have the players required to form a new club to play Saturday football in ABSSA. In our first season in ABSSA we were able to field two teams. Both teams started in Division 6 .

The 1st team had mainly players who had previously played in Division 1 or Division 2 so promotion was easily achieved in that first season. A Ladies team was also formed in the early years. The Men’s 1st team went on to gain promotion in the following three seasons and in the 1993-1994 season we were already in Division 2. Men’s football continued to grow and more teams were formed. Ladies football only lasted for a few years unfortunately due to lack of numbers.

In season 2010-2011 the Club achieved its greatest goal when it won the ABSSA Division 1 Championship just over 20 years since the Club was founded.

Ladies Football started again and in 2015 they joined the Brabant Provincial League, being promoted in their first 2 seasons. A second Ladies team was formed in 2016 and a third one in 2019. Ladies 1 were promoted to the National League Division 2 in season 2018-2019.

The Club now has nine teams (four men’s, three women’s teams and two veteran’s teams) and over 200 playing members. We are a diverse community with players from over 50 countries appearing in our Green shirts! Our Club has retained its welcoming spirit from its founding members and has been enriched by the many players who have played for us over the last 30+ years. Long may it continue.

For more information about our history, you can download our 25th anniversary booklet hereunder: