{{Short description|Association football club in Belgium}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Union Rochefortoise | image = Union Rochefortoise logo.png | fullname = | nickname = {{lang|fr|les Marcassins}} (The Young Wild Boars) | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1939|5|3}} (as ''Royale Jeunesse Rochefortoise Football Club'')<br/>''matricule'' 2799 | ground = Parc des Roches,<br />Rochefort | capacity = 1,000 | chairman = Nicolas Lhoist | manager = Jeffrey Rentmeister | league = Belgian Division 1 | season = 2024–25 | position = Belgian Division 1 ACFF, 5th of 12 |leftarm1=778899|body1=87CEEB|rightarm1=778899|shorts1=87CEEB|socks1=87CEEB |pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_ra2=|pattern_sh2=|pattern_so2= |leftarm2=778899|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=778899|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF }}
'''Union Rochefortoise''' is a Belgian football club based in Rochefort, Namur Province. The club currently competes in the Belgian Division 1, the third tier of Belgian football. It plays its home matches at the Parc des Roches, which has a capacity of approximately 1,000 spectators. The club's colours are blue and white.
==History== The club was founded on 3 May 1939 as '''Jeunesse Rochefortoise Football Club''' and was assigned ''matricule number'' 2799 by the Royal Belgian Football Association.<ref name="DH1">{{cite news |last1=Monmart |first1=Sébastien |title=Rochefort, la nationale 16 ans plus tard |url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/sport-regional/namur/2019/05/25/rochefort-la-nationale-16-ans-plus-tard-7MFPTPCDLFHONJWDEAR3VX2WT4/ |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=DHnet |date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531093534/https://www.dhnet.be/sports/sport-regional/namur/2019/05/25/rochefort-la-nationale-16-ans-plus-tard-7MFPTPCDLFHONJWDEAR3VX2WT4/ |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref> Due to the outbreak of the World War II, the club's competitive debut was delayed. Following the war, Jeunesse Rochefortoise progressed through the provincial leagues, achieving promotion to the national divisions for the first time in 1963 after winning the Namur Provincial First Division.<ref name="DH1" /> In their debut season in the Promotion (then the fourth tier), the club finished fifth. However, they were relegated the following season. Subsequent promotions in 1968 and 1970 also resulted in immediate relegations.<ref name="pitchd">{{cite news |title=GROUND // Parc des Roches – Union Rochefortoise |url=https://www.pitchd.tv/post/ground-parc-des-roches-union-rochefortoise |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=pitchd |date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423105500/https://www.pitchd.tv/post/ground-parc-des-roches-union-rochefortoise |archive-date=23 April 2025}}</ref>
In 1987, the club was granted the "Royal" designation, becoming Royale Jeunesse Rochefortoise Football Club. A provincial title in 1990 facilitated a return to the national divisions.<ref name="DH1" /><ref name="pitchd" /> Throughout the 1990s, the club maintained a stable presence in the Promotion. Notably, in 1997 and 1998, the team finished fourth in their series, qualifying for the promotion play-offs to the Third Division on both occasions, though they did not secure promotion.<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web |title=Belgium – Third Level History 1952-2000 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belg3hist.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=31 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203110250/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belg3hist.html |archive-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>
Following relegation in 2003, the club merged with FC Jemelle (''matricule'' 7214) in 2008, forming Jeunesse Rochefortoise Jemelle Association. This merger aimed to consolidate resources and revive the club's fortunes.<ref name="indehekken">{{cite news |title=Check die backdrop in Rochefort |url=https://www.indehekken.net/check-die-backdrop-in-rochefort/ |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=In de Hekken |date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318045043/https://www.indehekken.net/check-die-backdrop-in-rochefort/ |archive-date=18 March 2025 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> In 2016, the club reverted to the name Royale Jeunesse Rochefortoise FC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Le club de Rochefort se restructure après les difficultés |url=https://www.matele.be/le-club-de-rochefort-se-restructure-apres-les-difficultes |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Matélé |date=23 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531094902/https://www.matele.be/le-club-de-rochefort-se-restructure-apres-les-difficultes |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>
In April 2020, a further merger with FC Éprave (''matricule'' 7049) led to the formation of '''Union Rochefortoise'''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Foot: l'Union Rochefortoise est née! |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/id178486/article/2020-04-08/foot-lunion-rochefortoise-est-nee |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Sudinfo |date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418071132/https://www.sudinfo.be/id178486/article/2020-04-08/foot-lunion-rochefortoise-est-nee |archive-date=18 April 2020 |language=fr}}</ref> This merger also introduced new club colours—blue and white—replacing the traditional red and white. The newly formed club retained ''matricule'' 2799.<ref>{{cite news |title=Les clubs de football de Rochefort et d'Eprave fusionnent |url=https://www.matele.be/les-clubs-de-rochefort-et-eprave-fusionnent |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Matélé |date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531095100/https://www.matele.be/les-clubs-de-rochefort-et-eprave-fusionnent |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=L'Union Rochefortoise est née |url=https://www.lavenir.net/sport-local-best-of/2020/04/08/lunion-rochefortoise-est-nee-7ETRXOAJJBHFFDKFY5CABQWQGU/ |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=L'Avenir |date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531095212/https://www.lavenir.net/sport-local-best-of/2020/04/08/lunion-rochefortoise-est-nee-7ETRXOAJJBHFFDKFY5CABQWQGU/ |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>
A turning point in the club's modern era came in 2018, when Nicolas Lhoist, a local entrepreneur and member of the prominent Lhoist family, known for their global lime and dolomite business, became actively involved in the club's management. Initially serving as vice-president alongside his brothers Jérôme and Arthur, Lhoist brought renewed ambition and investment to the club. Following the 2020 merger, he assumed the role of president. Under Lhoist's leadership, the club implemented a long-term vision focused on infrastructure, youth development, and competitive advancement. This included the development of a covered synthetic pitch and a planned youth academy, partially supported by public subsidies. The club has also explored proposals for a new stadium in Marche-en-Famenne, reflecting its growing regional ambitions.<ref>{{cite news |title=L'Union Rochefortoise en play-off: retour sur les 10 tournants de la saison |url=https://www.matele.be/l-union-rochefortoise-en-play-off-retour-sur-les-10-tournants-de-la-saison |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Matélé |date=10 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531100624/https://www.matele.be/l-union-rochefortoise-en-play-off-retour-sur-les-10-tournants-de-la-saison |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Thibaut |title=Le président de l'Union Rochefortoise Nicolas Lhoist: "Encore tout l'avenir devant moi" |url=https://www.lavenir.net/regions/namur/sports/2024/12/10/nicolas-lhoist-encore-tout-lavenir-devant-moi-477IVAKWLJF3ZFTFB6ODHVDI5A/ |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=L'Avenir |date=10 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212190245/https://www.lavenir.net/regions/namur/sports/2024/12/10/nicolas-lhoist-encore-tout-lavenir-devant-moi-477IVAKWLJF3ZFTFB6ODHVDI5A/ |archive-date=12 December 2024 |language=fr}}</ref>
After a 16-year absence from national football, Union Rochefortoise returned to the national divisions in 2019, securing promotion to Division 3 Amateur via the interprovincial play-offs.<ref>{{cite news |title=L'Union Rochefortoise, plus ambitieuse que jamais |url=https://www.matele.be/l-union-rochefort-plus-ambitieuse-que-jamais |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=Matélé |date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250531100002/https://www.matele.be/l-union-rochefort-plus-ambitieuse-que-jamais |archive-date=31 May 2025 |language=fr}}</ref> The 2020–21 season was annulled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2022–23 season, the club won the Division 3, earning promotion to Division 2. The following season, they achieved a second consecutive promotion, ascending to the third-tier Division 1 for the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zoon van steenrijke Belgische kalkfamilie mikt met Rochefort op eerste klasse: "Hij komt meezingen met de ultra's" |url=https://www.standaard.be/sport/voetbal/zoon-van-steenrijke-belgische-kalkfamilie-mikt-met-rochefort-op-eerste-klasse-hij-komt-meezingen-met-de-ultra-s/40799068.html |access-date=31 May 2025 |work=De Standaard |date=30 October 2024 |language=nl-BE}}</ref>
== Honours == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Union Rochefortoise !scope=col|Honour !scope=col|No. !scope=col|Years |- !scope=row|Belgian Division 3 ACFF B |align="center"|1 | 2022–23 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://union-rochefortoise.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Union Rochefortoise}} Category:Football clubs in Belgium Category:Sport in Namur Province Category:Association football clubs established in 1939 Category:1939 establishments in Belgium Category:Organisations based in Belgium with royal patronage Union Rochefortoise