FC Gueugnon
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| Full name | Football Club de Gueugnon | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Les Forgerons (The Blacksmiths) | ||
| Founded | 1940 | ||
| Ground | Stade Jean Laville, Gueugnon (Capacity: 13,800) | ||
| Chairman | Guy Vairelles | ||
| Manager | René Le Lamer | ||
| League | Championnat National | ||
| 2008-09 | CN, 11th | ||
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FC Gueugnon are a French football club from Gueugnon, Saône-et-Loire, currently (2009/2010) playing in Championnat National.
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History
Football Club de Gueugnon was founded in 1940, and won the French amateur title in 1947. Supported by the local steelworks (hence the nickname "Forgerons" meaning Blacksmiths), the club reached Ligue 2 in 1970-71.
In 1974, inspired by playmaker Casimir Nowotarski, the Gueugnonnais reached the play-offs for promotion to Ligue 1, but lost to FC Rouen. In 1979, they won the Ligue 2 championship with players such as Trivino, Berthommier, Duch and Stropoli, but were not permitted to play in Ligue 1 due to their non-professional status. In the same season Gueugnon also enjoyed a cup run, eliminating Saint-Étienne. They were later knocked out by Strasbourg in front of a crowd of 10 000.
The 1980s steel crisis forced the club to turn pro, and after several seasons of struggles to prevent relegation, the tide turned in 1991 with a cup semi-final against Monaco, then in 1995 promotion to the top flight for the first ever time in their history. This was to be short-lived and despite a valiant effort, the club slipped back into Ligue 2.
In 2000, the club progressed through to the Cup Round of 16, losing to Nantes on penalties, but in an earlier round produced a major upset in eliminating Marseille 4-3 away from home. In the League Cup, the "Blacksmiths" made history, becoming the first Ligue 2 team to win the cup, against PSG 2-0 at Stade de France. At the end of the season, the club could not keep their best players, such as Sylvain Distin or Roda. The following season, the club played the UEFA Cup but lost against Iraklis Salonique (0-0 ; 0-1). After that season, the club hovered mid-table and just barely avoided relegation in 2004 with a 5-0 win over Lorient on the road in the last game of the season. The 2007-2008 season proved disastrous, with FC Gueugnon remaining blocked in the last position during most of the competition. With only 5 wins overall, the "Forgerons" were relegated to National.
In the 2008-2009 season, the club started at the third tier of French football for the first time in 38 years, an era during which FC Gueugnon competed 37 times in Ligue 2 and one time in Ligue 1. The Blacksmiths took a disappointing eleven place finish.
At the begining of the season 2009-2010, former French international Tony Vairelles joined FC Gueugnon and also became the club's main investor.[1] On October 27 2009 his father, Guy Vairelles, became FC Gueugnon's new chairman.
Rivalries
Most Gueugnon fans would consider Montceau or Louhans-Cuiseaux as their rivals.
Montceau are Gueugnon's historic rivals with Jean-Laville and Les Alouettes less than 10 miles apart. Gueugnon's rivalry with Montceau stems from the early 80's. During the time, Montceau's chairman Gérard Clayeux tried to bring FCG player's in his squad by increasing their wages and had hatred of Gueugnon's town, club and fans. Gueugnon have a remarkable record against their rivals, given that they have never lost a league game against Montceau. Gueugnon and Montceau have not been in the same league for well over twenty years. However, the South Burgundy derby was again passionately contested on 20 October 2009 during the French Cup, where Montceau won the encounter 3-1 (beating Gueugnon for the first ever time in official competitions).
Louhans-Cuiseaux have always been one of Gueugnon's rivals. Not only because the two clubs are relatively close to each other or because they have been in the same division for long periods of time, but also because Gueugnon sent Louhans down by holding them 1-1 on the last day of Ligue 2 season in 1984-1985. Since 2008-2009 the two clubs are playing in the same division again : National. Gueugnon have a dreadful away record and have not won in Louhans since 1973.
Other rivalries exist with local clubs such as Auxerre and Dijon.
The Rivarly with Auxerre started in the 70's with Gueugnon and Auxerre having many famous on the pitch battles. In 1979 Gueugnon won the Ligue 2 Championship by beating AJ Auxerre 3-2, but the club refused promotion to France's top flight. The last time Auxerre and Gueugnon were in the same league was during the 1995-1996 season in Ligue 1. Gueugnon held Auxerre at home (0-0), but lost away (0-4) as Auxerre marched on to win the Championship (for the first ever time in their history).
The Rivarly with Dijon appeared in 2004 when DFCO gain promotion to Ligue 2 and became the closest rivals of the Blacksmiths. Gueugnon only won one derby, the season they were relegated to National : on 19 October 2007 the "Forgerons" stunned Dijon 4-0.
Current squad 2009/2010
As of October 06, 2009. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable players
For a complete list of FC Gueugnon players, see Category:FC Gueugnon players
Nadir Belhadj- Madjid Bougherra
- Mansour Boutabout
- Abderraouf Zarabi
Alain Caveglia- Sylvain Distin
- Franck Jurietti
- Aly Cissokho
Amara Traoré
Ali Boumnijel
Steven Mouyokolo
Francisc Dican
Honours
- French Amateurs Champions 1947 and 1952
- French Division 2 1979
- League Cup Winner 2000
Managerial history
- Emile Daniel 1967-1974
- Casimir Nowotarski 1974-1986
- Guy Briet 1986-January 1988
- Georges Bernard January 1988-1988
- Jean-Yves Chay 1988-1990
- Marcel Husson 1990-1991
- Roland Gransart 1991-1998
- Alex Dupont 1998-2000
- René Le Lamer 2000-February 2001
- Georges Bernard February 2001-2001
- Noël Tosi 2001-2002
- Albert Cartier 2002-February 2004
- Georges Bernard February 2004
- Thierry Froger February 2004-2005
- Victor Zvunka 2005-2007
- Alain Ravera 2007-October 2007
- Alex Dupont 2007-2008
- Hubert Fournier & René Le Lamer 2008-December 2009
- René Le Lamer January 2009-
References
External links
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