When entering the stadium you will soon find the most beautiful mural: A portrait of Oscar Vankesbeeck, a former player and chairman of the club. At the young age of eighteen, he became the chairman of Racing. Later, he became a politician and the Belgian Football Association (KBVB) chairman. The patriotic Vankesbeeck was arrested and held captive by the Germans in 1942 in the Nazi concentration camp Fort van Breendonk. A year later, when he was released, he died from a liver disease, which he obtained as a result of the aggravated assault he experienced there.

The Oscar Vankesbeeckstadion is almost entirely surrounded by safe-standing stands, except for the tall main stand, which gives you a stunning view of the city. If you were to visit a game, make sure to arrive at the stadium an hour before kick-off so you can walk around the entire ground. Look out for the small details, the graffiti, the stickers and the two wooden players on the walls of the main stand.

Do not expect to see high-quality football at Racing. For the best experience, however, visit a derby against KV Mechelen’s youth team or Lyra Lierse. During smaller games, the atmosphere the Racing Boys creates will no longer blow your mind away. However, it does feel like you are travelling back in time and you cannot help but wish that this cult club will find their way back to professional football one day. Hopefully in this stadium, but the likelihood is small.