It's hard to not fall in love with RC Lens. A real working-class club with its roots in the pit mines of the north of France. The Stade Bollaert-Delelis is a beautiful refurbished diamond, within two hours from Paris.
Sang et Or. Blood and gold. A great nickname, referring to the yellow-red colours of RC Lens. The city of Lens is well known for the flourishing mining industry in the region, but also for (after the closing of the mines) unemployment and poverty. Racing Club de Lens is the pride of the working class: Rolling up your sleeves and accessibility are real core values of the club. In other parts of France, they look down on the north, but for the locals, it only stirs up the pride and love they feel for their team and region. You will understand when you go.
Bollaert-Delelis is already nearly 90 years the home of RC Lens, in the heart of the city of Lens. Fun fact: There's a place for every single inhabitant of the city in the stadium, and the capacity exceeds the population (38,000 against 30,000). Even though it's quite a small town, , Lens still was one of the host cities for the World Cup of 1998 and EURO 2016. Despite radical renovations for both tournaments, the football spirit of the stadium has always been kept alive. A cutting-edge arena wouldn't suit this working-class club either.
The four stands of Bollaert-Delelis are named after men who meant a lot in the history of the club and the region (Trannin, Marek, Delacourt and Lepagnot). Just like the names of Bollaert and Delelis who were of great importance for the development of the club and the city.
It might have been one of the best celebrations of a league title we've ever seen when RC Lens became champions for the first and only time in 1998. The day after, there was a driving tour from Bollaert-Delelis to the town hall. But not with an open bus like you usually see. Only in Lens would they go on a tractor with a container in the club's colours. At the wheel, chairman Gervais Martel, the players in the container and at the side of the road more than 50,000 ecstatic fans. The container has always been preserved and is parked right in front of the stadium, behind Tribune Delacourt. Nowadays, fans still take photos with the truck.
For a couple of years now, a street along Stade Bollaert-Delelis is named after Marc-Vivien Foé, former midfielder of RC Lens and part of the league-winning squad of 1998. In 2003, the Cameroonian died tragically suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch, aged only 28. Live on television, for viewers all over the world. His number at Lens, 17, has been retired since.
Not a single bar in Lens doesn't wear the colours of RC Lens, but of all, we think Chez Muriel on the Rue Edouard Bollaert is the most special one. The café was opened by former player Lanislas Smid long ago and has been a meeting point for fans of Sang et Or throughout the years.
When you visit a home game of RC Lens, make sure you arrive at the stadium on time. Just before kick-off, the famous 'Les Corons' is played, sung along by every single Lensois in the stadium. The song of singer Pierre Bachelet is an ode to the north of France, the mine workers and the northern landscape. It's not really a football song but has been adopted by Lens and its fans. By far one of the best chansons you'll ever hear in a French stadium.
Tickets for RC Lens are easily bought on the club's official website. We recommend a place with a nice view of the fanatics standing on the low level of Tribune Marek, opposite the main stand.
The small town of Lens is just a 30 minute drive beneath Lille, and Bollaert-Delelis is situated right in the heart of it. Follow directions towards the city center and you'll find the stadium automatically. From the railway station of Lens it's just a short walk, approximately 10 minutes.
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