Union first appear in the Coupe Van Der Straeten Ponthoz in 1902 where they were beaten, 2-8, by DFC Dordrecht of Holland. In the next competition they reach the semi-finals where they are beaten, 1-6, by Pilgrims FC of London. It has to be noted that Union had recieved a bye in the 1st round and their quarter-final opponents, HBS Den Haag, joined the other Dutch sides in leaving the tournament in protest at, alleged, poor refereeing standards. The following year Union reach the final against Racing Club Brussels. Union had beaten FC Liegoise and HBS, both 2-1, before their semi-final opponents Daring Club withdrew for reasons unknown. In the final Racing Club won 3-2, their joy was not to last! Union started the 1905 tournament with a 3-1 win over East Sheen FC of England. They followed this with a 2-1 win over HFC Haarlem of Holland. And then the final and revenge. Racing Club were again the opponents only this time Union destroyed them 5-1 to take the trophy for the 1st time. The 1906 final had Union and Racing Club meeting again, finishing 2-2, after extra time. With no official rule regarding how to decide the winners the secretary of the FA, English not Belgian, was contacted. This resulted with the trophy being shared. Union start the 1907 tournament with a 12-0 destruction of Dortmund FC, they follow this with a 4-0 defeat of Sparta Rotterdam. Union again win the trophy by beating Hampstead FC 1-0 in the final. As a result of winning the trophy 3 times Union were allowed to keep the Cup. The Dutch walk out of the 1903 tournament it is thought to have led, indirectly, to the formation of FIFA in Paris on 25th May 1904.

During this time Union were runners-up in the league, 1902-03, and league champions 4 times 1903-04, 04-05, 05-06, 06-07. During the 1906-07 season Union started the season with a win the Tourcoing Challenge Cup beating the hosts, US Tourquenoise, 1-0. On Christmas day 1906 Union were in Holland where they drew 1-1 with Sparta Rotterdam. The following day they were beaten 2-3 by Haarlem. In May 1907 Union won the Challenge International Du Nord, Tourcoing Cup, beating Olympique Lillois 4-0. This was followed with a 10-1 thrashing of Tottenham in Oostende.

As you can see Union were becoming something of an International team, this part begins in 1904. On Saturday 23rd April 1904, Union set off from Brussels at 02.45 for Paris and arrived at 09.30 where they proceeded to enjoy the delights. The following day Union defeated Cercle A. Paris (Paris champions?) 6-2 in a friendly match. It is the next match which higlights the International credentials of the Union players. On Monday 25th April 1904 the France national team hosted USG. Union won 1-3. Although  cannot confirm the USG team that day the following players were used during the 1903-04 season: Joseph Vanderstappen, Edgard (Poupoule) Poelmans, Francois Leroy, Joseph (Jack) Romdenne, Paul Grumeaux, Guillame Van Den Eynde, Maurice (Max) Tobias, Alex Wigand, Gustave Vanderstappen (captain), Pierre Destrebecq, Charles Vanderstappen, Pierre Chilbert, Constant Delobbe, Charles Leten, Pierre Sacton and Henri Van Hemlen. The Vanderstappens were brothers. During their visit to Paris Union became known as the "Blue and Yellow Apaches". This was either due to their violent style of play, many Union matches finished with their opponents a man short at the end due to injury, or due to their dress style which was thought to be a bit scruffy for Parisiens.

On 1st May 1904 the 1st International match between Belgium and France was to take place, at the home of Racing Club Brussels. This is recognised as the 1st official FIFA International match. France left for Brussels at 22.00 and arrived at 04.00 on the day of the game. With 6 Union players in the side (Poelmans, Van Den Eynde, Tobias, Wigand, Destrebecq, C. Vanderstappen) Belgium managed a 3-3 draw, Destrebecq scored the 3rd with Georges Queritet (Racing Club Brussels) scoring the 1st International goal by a Belgian. Gustave and CharlesVanderstappen played in 3 International sides together, including the biggest victory by Belgium over France on 7th May 1905 - 7-0 (Destrebecq scoring 3). On 29th April 1906 the legend of The Red Devils was born with a 5-0 victory over Holland, this was started with a goal by Van Den Eynde.

 

The Coupe Jean Dupuich was a trophy donated by Adolphe Dupuich to remember his son. Jean Dupuich had been a forward with FC Leopold who had died young. USG won this trophy in 1914 by beating their rivals Daring Club Brussels 3-1. This trophy wa only contested once more, in 1920, with Racing Club/FC Leopold becoming the last winners. 

 

During this time Union had cotinued to dominate Belgian football, becoming champions in 1908-09, 09-10, 12-13, 22-23, 32-33, 33-34 and 34-35. They were also runners-up in 1907-08, 11-12, 19-20, 20-21, 21-22, 23-24. The Belgian Cup was also won in 1912-13 and 13-14. It seems that this was a golden period for Uion as they failed to reach these heights again. It was at this time the legend that is "Union 60" was born. Between 8/1/33 and 10/2/35 Union were undefeated for 60 games. This run was ended by their great rivals Daring Club Brussels.

 

Union also have a player in the 1st International between Scotland and Belgium at Hampden Park on 23rd January 1946 - Antoine Puttaert.

Union were entered into the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1958 where they met VFB Leipzig. In the 1st leg, played on 29th October 1958, Union easily defeated their East German opponents 6-1. The 2nd leg was a mere formality when it took place on the 4th March 1959, Leipzig won 1-0. Union had now reached the quarter-finals where they were to meet AS Roma of Italy. In the 1st leg, played on 22nd April, Union shocked the visitors by winning 2-0. In the return match in Rome, 13th May, Union came away with a highly creditable 1-1 draw to progress to the semi-finals. Birmingham City were the visitors to Brussels, on 7th October 1959, where Union were gracious hosts with Birmingham leaving with a 4-2 win. The return was played on the 11th November with Birmingham again winning 4-2. Barcelona defeated Birmingham 4-1 in the two legged final.

Undeterrred Union again entered the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for the 1961-62 season. This time Union were to meet Scottish opposition in Hearts. This was to be Hearts third European adventure and again it resulted in a trip to Belgium, their first trip had been to face Standard. In the 1st leg on 27th September a home crowd of 4,000 saw Union take the lead through Varenberg. This seemed to inspire Hearts who then went to score 3 with goals from Blackwood, and Davidson (2). Hearts lined up with the following players ; Gordon Marshall, Bobby Kirk, David Holt, John Cumming, Willie Polland, Billy Higgins, Bobby Ross, Johnny Hamilton, Norrie Davidson, John Docherty and Bobby Blackwood. Despite what appears a comfortable lead there was still a crowd of 20,000 fo he return at Tynecastle on the 4th October. Hearts made 3 changes for the return with Willie Bauld, Robin Stenhouse and Willie Wallace coming in for Blackwood, Davidson and Ross. Despite some resolute defending by the Belgians Hearts took the lead through Wallace in the 71st minute. The tie was put beyond doubt with 3 minutes remaining with a Stenhouse goal. Hearts progress was to be brief with the Italian giants of Internazionale winning 5-0 on aggregate. Inter then lost to eventual winners Valencia in the next round.

Union played their final games in European competition against Juventus in the 1964-65 Fairs Cup. Juventus won both games 1-0 on their way to the final, where they lost 1-0 to Ferncvaros.

Since the 1960's Union have been someting of a yo-yo club, with more emphasis on the yo! 

 

All that remains is to tell you something about some of the characters connected with tis fine club.

 

Ibrahim Tanakary. Born 24/03/1972 in Niamey, Niger. A player who has had so many clubs he should play golf. Among his former clubs are - R. Charleroi, Sambreville, Tubize, Lommel, FC Brussels, Zulte-Waregem, St Truiden, Verbroedering Geel, K Londerzeel, Rusas Foot Schaarbeek and St Mirren.

 

Joseph Romdenne. Joined USG in 1900 and was a player until 1905. He then became manager/trainer until 1911.

 

Paul Van Den Berg. Born 11/10/1965 in Saint-Gilles. A local boy who also played for Anderlecht and Standard Liege. In 41 selections for Belgium he played 38 games scoring 16 goals.

 

George(s) Hebdin. Born 19/04/1889, died 26/03/70. An English player who managed to play 3 times for Belgium before it as realised that he only had British citizenship. He was later allowed to play for Belgium again after having been in the country for 10 years. He won 4 Belgian championships, 2 cups and 12 caps from 12 selections.

 

Maurice Vertongen. Born Ixelles 07/05/1886, died Monaco 27/03/64. Maurice scored the first 7 goals of a 11-0 win over Antwerp. After serving with the flying corps during the war he helped start a flying school in Deurne. Later he helped design the training aircraft SV4, that was built in a factory on the site. The Stampe & Vertongen museum at Antwerp Airport honours the work of these men.  

 

Vanderstappen. Charles - 131 games,  23 goals, 1901-10.

Gustave - 128 games, 61 goals, 1901-11.

Pierre - 1 game, 1 goal, 1901-02.

Joseph - 84 games, 1903-10.

Andre - (born 27/03/1934) 235 games, 5 goals, 1960-65.

 

There is a street in Brussels named Rue Charles Vaderstappen/Charles Vanderstappen Straat. This is unfortunately named after a sculptor, not the footballer