Berchem Sport: The historic Belgian fourth-tier club bringing 200 fans to European away games

Tim Michielsen watches his team warm up in Fælledparken, a vast common park in central Copenhagen. His team, Berchem Sport, has a crucial return leg of their FENIX Trophy match against BK Skjold. The makeshift football ground, which is situated right by Parken, Denmark's national arena, has been transformed for the occasion with a temporary tribune and a fan zone where volunteers sell sausages and drinks from small stands by the pitch. 

Having won the first match 1-0 at home, the atmosphere is electric among the big group of traveling fans with anticipation for what could be a ticket to the tournament's finals in Italy. 

"We got a big fan base in Belgium. We bring more than 200 fans to away games in Europe. No clubs in Belgium that play Europa League or Conference League bring so many people for away games in Europe," Tim says.

Tim is the video analyst for the Belgian fourth-tier club that can qualify for a European final this night. The FENIX Trophy, an annual European football tournament between semi-professional and amateur clubs founded in 2021, has brought teams from across Europe together, fostering competition and friendship.

A historic club with deep community roots

Founded in 1906, Berchem Sport holds a special place in Belgian football history. In Belgium, clubs are assigned numbers based on when they were officially registered with the Belgian FA, with lower numbers indicating older, more historic clubs. 

"We are club number 28 in Belgium. You have Royal Antwerp, that's number one, and then Club Brugge, number three. But we are club 28, and there are a lot of clubs that are gone. So now I think we are the sixteenth oldest club in Belgium," explains Tim.

The club's passionate fan support matches this historic significance. When asked about the club's role in the community, Tim’s eyes light up: 

"When you see our socials, you'll see our supporters, and you probably saw the game that we played last week [against BK Skjold] for a sold-out stadium. For the games at our home stadium, we have a capacity of 1600 people. But I think we could have sold 10,000 tickets for that game. It was huge. We've got a lot of fans for whom this club is their life. They have tattoos with Berchem Sport. They help renovate the stadium with their own money. Things like that," he says with pride.

The first leg of the FENIX Trophy matchup against BK Skjold, played in Antwerp, showcased this passion perfectly. The stadium was packed with enthusiastic supporters, creating an electric atmosphere rarely seen in this level of football. Berchem Sport secured a 1-0 victory with a beautiful goal that sent their fans into raptures.

The commitment of Berchem Sport to their European adventure is remarkable. For their trip to Copenhagen, the club went the extra mile to ensure their supporters could be part of the experience. Tim tells how they chartered a plane and shows a photo of the team and supporters boarding the specially arranged flight. This extraordinary gesture demonstrates the special bond between the team and its fans.

The club's participation in the FENIX Trophy wasn't a decision taken lightly. "The FENIX Trophy organization came to Belgium, an old club with a big fan base, and asked if we wanted to join the tournament," Tim explains. 

"First, our management was hesitant because it would cost a lot of money for the club. But it turned out that the funding was quite easy for us as we got two sold-out games. We use that money to pay for the travels and the hotels."

More than just a competition

For the players, staff, and fans of Berchem Sport, the FENIX Trophy offers something special beyond domestic competitions. When asked about the club's ambitions in the tournament, Tim is straightforward: "Our ambition is to win it. We promised our fan base that we would win it, and it is our goal."

But beyond the competitive aspect, there's something more meaningful developing. "With Skjold, there's now a friendship between the teams. That's also the purpose of the FENIX Trophy – to make friends in Europe through football. After the game, everybody's together, and it's one big party."

This sentiment reflects the spirit of the tournament, in which clubs from different countries and cultures come together to celebrate their shared passion for the game.

A dramatic second leg

The match in Copenhagen delivered all the drama expected from a crucial European tie. The first half saw Skjold take control of the game, with limited chances for Berchem Sport. After a slow start with few clear opportunities, Skjold began to assert their dominance, though they struggled to create clear-cut chances.

In the 22nd minute, the deadlock was broken. A defensive error from Berchem Sport allowed Skjold to take a 1-0 lead, a score that remained until halftime. The lead was deserved based on the home side's control of the first 45 minutes.

However, Berchem Sport came alive in the second half. After steady pressure throughout the opening stages of the second period, they began creating real opportunities around halfway into the half. Their persistence was rewarded in the 75th minute with a spectacular equalizer that silenced the home crowd. On the opposite side, the traveling Belgian contingent celebrated with impromptu fireworks. 

The goal gave Berchem Sport an aggregate 2-1 lead, but they were hungry for more. The visitors took the lead with another well-deserved goal in the 87th minute. You’d think it should be settled with a 3-1 lead to Berchem and a few minutes to go, but the drama wasn't over. We’ll get back to that. 

‍Video analysis meets fan engagement

Behind the scenes, Tim’s role at Berchem Sport goes far beyond just analyzing matches. His detailed approach to video analysis showcases the club's commitment to professional standards despite their semi-professional status.

"I do all the clipping after the game. I do that with Veo. I'm recording the game, but also taking the recording into my computer, and I look at every set piece, every chance, every good build-up," he explains.

The analytical work continues well after the final whistle. "On Monday in the first training, or Tuesday, depending on when the game was, we do a video analysis meeting with all the players. It takes 15 minutes with all the good things and all the bad things. Then, I also analyze the games from the opponents."

The depth of Tim Michielsen's commitment is remarkable. He reveals he’s spending 24–30 hours a week with videos, a testament to the serious approach taken at this level of football.

At the heart of Berchem Sport's analytical setup is their Veo. For Tim, the choice was clear after trying another system that was significantly more expensive:

"I'm using the follow-cam a lot of times, but also a lot of times the panoramic, the wide-angle view. That's useful if you want to see where your team moves up and down. The quality is much better from the Veo, especially the Veo Cam 3 that I have."

The club's comprehensive approach to video coverage is impressive. "From every team, from under 14 till our first team, all the home games are recorded. For our second team and the first team, the away games are also recorded."

This extensive use of video technology extends beyond just the analytical side. For the club's passionate supporters who couldn't make the trip to Copenhagen, Veo provided a lifeline with live-streaming. In the first leg, the club even offered live commentary on their Veo live stream, a feature that’s not yet available with Veo. So how did they do that?

"I was thinking for weeks, how can I do that? I rented a special tripod to put the Veo very high. I then put speakers underneath it and gave two microphones to the commentators. The sound then went into the Veo Cam’s microphones. It was a MacGyver solution, but it worked very, very well."

Live-streaming the games also ensures that fans – even at the stadium – will never miss a moment: "In our stadium, we have three bars, and now, there are television screens in every bar. So when people are going to grab a beer, they can still watch the game live," Tim says with a smile.

FENIX Trophy: More than just a competition

In the dying minutes of the game in Fælledparken, with the Belgian side seemingly headed for victory, Skjold won a corner. Their goalkeeper came forward in a desperate attempt to salvage something – and while he didn't score himself, his presence caused enough confusion for a teammate to find the net, making it 2-2 in the 90th minute, with only the ref’s extra time to go.

In the dying moments of the game, Skjold kept sending long passes forward in a desperate attempt to stir up something with an electric atmosphere as a backdrop. But the Berchem Sport players fight and stand their ground, defending their aggregate lead.

As the sun sets on the Copenhagen match, the true victory lies in the connections made, the passion displayed, and the communities strengthened through football. For Berchem Sport, the journey continues – with 200 devoted fans ready to follow them wherever they go.