Follow Dender away: Beer and brotherhood in Belgium

Words: Joey Corlett

Images: Joey Corlett

We arrived at Denderleeuw train station to be greeted by Toon, one of the lead figures within the supporters’ clubs of FCV Dender.

A hug and a can of beer are exchanged to get things flowing. It’s a short drive across the town, passing by the home of FCV Dender, Van Roystadion as we head the pickup spot for the mandatory coach ride for away day travel in Belgium.

Three coaches are lined up, ready and waiting to take just over 250 residents of Denderleeuw into the heart of Brussels.

But first Toon takes us into their community space they’ve set up as a bar today, everyone running the place doesn't get paid to help keep the drink costs low, €1.50 beers aren’t to be sniffed at.

©Joey Corlett/ Terrace Edition. Dender en route to Union Saint-Gilloise.

Meanwhile, outside a 5G pitch is hosting a range of kids teams playing and training.

Fans mingle while parents watch on and interconnect, the community centre is used for a range of activities, says Toon as he tries to energise his local community around his local football team.

Denderleeuw is home to 20,000 residents and while FCV Dender’s stadium holds just shy of 9,000 it’s fair to say that the club could continue to grow into a centerpiece of the local community.

Two hours until kick off and it’s time to get on the road. Crate after crate of beers is stashed on board but we’re notified that Bacardi & Coke is also available for those bored of the Jupiler & Maes.

As we approached the capital city, the coaches were collected by policemen on motorcycles, their flashing blue lights leading the way as we slowly crawled through the streets of South Brussels toward Union Saint- Gilloise’s Stade Joseph Marien.

©Joey Corlett/ Terrace Edition. Dender drum at Union Saint- Gilloise.

We finally pull up, disembark, funnel ourselves through the ticket checks and into the away end.

Immediately it was apparent what a beautiful place the Stade Joseph Marien is. An open arena bowl surrounded by the forest of Parc Duden.

One side of open standing terraces holds the vocal active part of Union SG’s support while an old fashioned building holds the tribune opposite in juxtaposition.

Making the climb up to the highest point of the away section was worth it for the spectacular scouring view across the place.

By now the Dender fans had set up their banners and drum with Toon warming up in place at the front.

While the away end knew the opposition was dangerous, there was a collective hope for an upset and an early penalty had us in dreamland.

Sadly VAR intervened, took the hope away and everything began to follow the predictable script.

©Joey Corlett/ Terrace Edition. Dender at Union Saint-Gilloise.

Union picked up two goals and heading into half-time, a certain fear of getting thumped had begun to set in.

During the break more than few beers were consumed amongst the group and the mood shifted from ‘oh fuck it’ to ‘oh come on, FUCK IT!’.

Popularised during Euro 2024 by the Dutch fans, we were told to bounce to the left… then to the right… before pandemonium in the block. It took a couple of rounds as the beer continued to soak in but before long the whole end was hopping left and right regardless of the action on the pitch.

We had one moment to celebrate a consolation goal but apart from that, the second half was blur of bouncing left and right, conga lining around the away sector and enjoying ourselves as the players struggled on the pitch.

The match ended 4-1 to Union SG but the Dender players were serenaded with another rendition of left right before running through the songbook one last time.

The players returned the favour by dishing out high fives to the fans reaching across the divide before slumping back to the dressing room.

It wasn’t to be Dender’s day but their support earnt the respect of the Union fans that applauded the departing away coaches.

While three points weren’t collected today, that’s a small win to take back home at least.