Football Club de Versailles 78, also known as FC Versailles or simply Versailles, is a French semi-professional association football club based in the commune of Versailles, Île-de-France. The club was formed in 1989 as the result of a merger between Racing Club Versailles and Companion Sports Versailles.[1] Their home stadium is the Stade de Montbauron, which has a capacity of 7,545 people, but play at the Stade Jean-Bouin for Championnat National matches.
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| Full name | Football Club de Versailles 78 | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Les Bleus (The Blues) | ||
| Short name | FCV | ||
| Founded | 1989 | ||
| Ground | Stade de Montbauron, Stade Jean-Bouin (Championnat National) | ||
| Capacity | 7,545 20,000 | ||
| President | Anthony Perrat | ||
| Manager | Jean-Luc Vasseur | ||
| League | Championnat National | ||
| 2023–24 | Championnat National, 9th of 18 | ||
| Website | https://fcversailles.com | ||
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The club won promotion from the 2021–22 Championnat National 2 and now plays in the Championnat National, the third tier of the French football league system. The club is an official academy of the French Football Federation.
History
editFC Versailles was formed in 1989 as the result of a merger between Racing Club Versailles and Companion Sports Versailles.[1] The new club took Racing Club Versailles' place in Division 3 and were placed in the North section. FC Versailles' first season was not successful as they finished 14th, amassing 24 points from 30 matches, and were relegated from the division.[2] Competing in Division 4, they achieved two successive eighth-placed finishes before a sixth-placed finish in the 1992–93 season. In the summer of 1993, Versailles were one of the clubs accepted into the newly formed National 3. They ended the season with 40 points, finishing as runners-up behind Le Mans B.[3]
Versailles struggled in the National 2 and were relegated after one season after finishing 17th in the table. The team returned to the National 3 and achieved a couple of mid-table positions in the following two seasons. Versailles qualified for the Championnat de France Amateur 2 Group B in the 1997–98 campaign and finished 13th in their inaugural season. The following year, Versailles were moved to Group H and the side finished 15th out of 16 teams in the division, thereby suffering relegation to the Division d'Honneur Paris Île-de-France.[4] Versailles remained in the same division for the next six seasons, achieving a highest finish of third place in the 2000–01 campaign. In the 2004–05 season the team again suffered relegation after finishing bottom of the division with 46 points from 26 matches.[5] Versailles have played in the DSR Paris Île-de-France since the 2005–06 season. In the 2009–10 campaign, Versailles reached the Ninth Round of the Coupe de France before losing to Beauvais. Versailles caused an upset by defeating Ligue 2 club Dijon in the Eighth Round.[6]
On 29 January 2022, Versailles eliminated Ligue 2 side Toulouse in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France following a 1–0 win, and went on to qualify for the semi-finals after beating Bergerac in a penalty shoot-out.[7] Versailles was eventually defeated 2–0 by Nice in the semi-finals.[8] Later in the 2021–22 season, Versailles secured promotion to the Championnat National.[9]
Teams
editAs of February 2010, FC Versailles has a total of 750 registered players in a total of 26 senior and junior teams.[10] As of the 2009–10 season, the first team plays in the Division Supériore Régionale Paris Île-de-France Group A. Other senior teams play in local leagues around the Paris region. The club is renowned for having successful youth teams, and it has been named as an official training centre for the French Football Federation (FFF) since 2007.[10] Players who have previously played for Versailles include Thierry Henry, Hatem Ben Arfa, Charles Itandje, and Jérôme Rothen.[11]
Stadium
editFC Versailles' main stadium is the Stade de Montbauron in Versailles. The stadium has a capacity of 6,208 spectators.[12] The ground is typical of many continental European stadia with limited roofing and an athletics track around the perimeter of the playing field. At two sides of the ground there are stands with seating while the rest of the stadium has terracing for standing spectators.[12] There is also an annexed pitch with an artificial playing surface which is used predominantly for reserve matches and the football academy.[10]
FC Versailles playing games at Stade Jean-Bouin as temporary stadium for 2022–23 season.
Current squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
edit- National 2 (1)
- Champions: 2021–22
- Division 4 (1):
- Finalist: 1986.
- Champions of group F: 1986.
- National 3 (1)
- Champions: 2019–20
- Runners-up of group B: 1994.
- Coupe de France (0)
- Best finish: Semi-final : 2022.
- Division d'Honneur (2)
- Champions: 1985, 2017
- Division Supérieure Régionale (1)
- Champions of group A: 2010.
- Division d'Honneur Régionale (0):
- Runners-up of group A: 2009.
References
edit- ^ a b "Historique du football Versaillais" [History of football in Versailles] (in French). FC Versailles. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "1989–90 Division 3 Nord final standings" (in French). Football en France. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
- ^ "1993–94 National 3 final standings" (in French). Football en France. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "1998–99 CFA 2 Group H final standings" (in French). Football en France. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "2004–05 DH Paris" (in French). Football en France. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "L'exploit du FC Versailles 78" [The feat of FC Versailles 78] (in French). FFF. 2009-12-12. Archived from the original on 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "4th-tier Versailles upsets Toulouse to reach French Cup QFs". KESQ. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ Daveau, Romain (1 March 2022). "Nice-Versailles (2-0) : pas d'exploit pour les Yvelinois, éliminés par les Aiglons en demi-finale" [Nice-Versailles (2-0): no surprises for the Yvelinois, eliminated by the Aiglons in the semi-finals]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Coupe de France semi-finalists Versailles promoted to third tier". Get French Football News. 1 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "Presentation du Club" [Club Presentation] (in French). FC Versailles. Archived from the original on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "Ils ont joués au FCV78" [They have played for FCV78] (in French). FC Versailles. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ a b "Photos du Stade Montbauron" [Photographs of the Stade Montbauron] (in French). Stades Spectateurs. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "L'effectif National" [National 2 squad] (in French). FC Versailles 78. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
External links
edit- Official website
- Football Club de Versailles 78 at Football en France