Koninklijke Rupel Boom FC is a Belgian association football club based in Boom, Antwerp province currently playing in the Belgian Division 2, the fourth tier of Belgian football. They play at the Gemeentelijk Parkstadion in Boom.
K. Rupel Boom FC was founded in 1998, a result of a merger between K. Boom F.C. and Rupel SK. The club started playing in the regional third division of the Belgian provincial leagues. In 1999 they were promoted to the regional second division and in 2001 to the regional first division.
In 2008 the club again won promotion to the Belgian Third Division, and in 2009 they narrowly missed a ticket for the promotion playoffs.
After being on top of the league since mid September 2009, the club fell back and were beaten to the title by K.S.K. Heist with only one match to play. As runner-up of the regular season, they played the promotion playoffs in which they defeated Eendracht Aalst in the first round (4–0:3–4) and R.O.C. de Charleroi-Marchienne in the second round (2–2:0–2). The final was played against U.R.S. du Centre (1–0: 4:4). And so, at the end of the 2009–2010 season, Rupel Boom were promoted to the Belgian Second Division.
In November 2010, Peter Van Wambeke was fired as head coach after a string of bad results. He became the first trainer in Rupel Boom history to be prematurely released off his contract.
In December 2010, Rupel Boom appointed Yves Cloots as the new head coach of the club. Cloots was Technical Manager with KV Mechelen and head coach of Rapid Leest. This change in head coach did not have the desired effect, and after the 2010–2011 season, Rupel Boom were relegated back to the Third Division.
For the 2011–12 season, Johan Houben was appointed as the new manager. During this season, Rupel Boom had a very successful cup run, beating Acrenoise (Belgian Promotion), Boussu Dour (2nd Division), Oud-Heverlee Leuven (1st Division) and Belgian record champion Anderlecht against all odds. For Anderlecht, it was the first time since 1954 (against VV Terhagen) that they were eliminated by a Third Division team. Rupel Boom eventually lost the quarter finals against Mons with 2–0 in the first leg and 2–2 draw at home.
In May 2013 player Alexander Bell was selected for Scotland u20 for an international youth tournament in Den Haag, Netherlands.
The 2013–14 season started well, with a first place after 5 games. But after a series of heavy losses, trainer Johan Houben stepped down as manager. Club captain and icon Jerry Poorters also resigned from the club. Frank Staes was appointed new manager in September 2013. In his first game in charge, Rupel Boom won against KSV Standaard Wetteren with 2–0, after being reduced to 9 men after 40 minutes of play, with a 0–0 on the board. The team ended a disappointing season in 13th place, just 3 points above the relegation places.
Halfway through the 2014–15 season, head coach Frank Staes resigned and was replaced by his assistant Serge Van Den Stock, who eventually signed a two-year contract with the club. With Van Den Stock, Rupel Boom won 6 of its last 11 matches, and drew 2, finishing the season in 5th place.
In October 2015 Serge Van Den Stockt was fired and replaced by his assistant Robbie Grauwloos. Former K. Boom FC player and Belgian international Glenn De Boeck was appointed as Technical Advisor.[1] De Boeck left the club in January 2016 to become head coach of First Division club Mouscron Péruwelz. Rupel Boom finished the season in 9th place.
For the new season 2016–17, former coach Urbain Spaenhoven was appointed as the new coach. It's his second stint as head coach after leaving the club for KV Mechelen in 2010.
Rupel Boom was crowned as champions of the 2nd Amateur league after the 2017–18 season. They will be playing in the highest Amateur League for the 2018–19 season.
Take over by Beerschot
In March 2019 it was announced the club would be taken over by Beerschot Wilrijk, with the Rupel Boom senior team continuing in the highest amateur league. Former Olympic athlete Tia Hellebaut joined the club to become an advisor at the club's academy with former referee Frans Van Den Wijngaert in charge of the set-up.[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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