The club's 125th anniversary #16: your memories

For several weeks, to mark the FCR’s 125th anniversary, we have been trying to retrace the club’s legendary history through memorable seasons, iconic matches, and legendary personalities.

To conclude this look back at the club’s history, we asked you for YOUR memories. Here is a selection of them.

CYRILLE COUTURIER

It was my father, a supporter for around 50 years, who got me hooked. My first match at Diochon was in the Coupe de France in 1999 against Sedan.

I have three memorable moments. In 2002-2003, for the promotion to Ligue 2 against Alès, a good old 0-0 draw. My second memory is my first trip to Le Havre, which we lost 2-0. And finally, last season’s Coupe de France: the good run to the quarter-finals.

CLEMENT FOUCARD

My history with FCR began one afternoon in 1987, training with the beginners next to the Ferme field before going to Diochon that evening for an FCR-Caen match and a 2-1 victory for the Red Devils.

Then came a succession of encounters, shared experiences, immense joy on victory nights, promotions, and endless sadness on defeat nights.

My history with FCR consists of hundreds of matches at Diochon and miles traveled to follow the club away from home!

FRED VAST

Two legendary figures for me are Djamel Tlemçani (the strongest player I’ve seen at the club) and Philippe Chanlot (an incredibly charismatic and true leader).

The Rouen-Rennes playoff is, for me, the most iconic match I’ve ever seen.

And behind that, the FCR-HAC match in 2004 and the 4-0 victory.

PHILIPPE BACHELET

On the sporting side, I remember Jean-François Beltramini’s performance against Nancy, and on the non-sporting side, Eddy Mitchell, well lubricated with whisky, who couldn’t blow the whistle for the filming of À mort l’arbitre!

LUC LAURENT

The D1 years in the early 1980s. I was a teenager, and I dreamed when I saw Tlemçani, Beltramini, Alberto and their teammates beat the big teams at Diochon. That goal from Pascal Malbeaux against the leaders Bordeaux and the explosion of joy in the “Shell” stand, now the Lenoble stand. Beltra’s five goals, including four headers against Nancy on a summer evening in 1983 (7-1). And that sad day in June 1985, when I watched the cruel penalty shootout against Rennes that sent the Devils back to hell. I think that, that evening, at the age of 16, I cried.

CHRIS KURZ

On August 31, 1983, I was 13 years old at the time and, with a friend, it was my first time at Diochon. What a baptism of fire with a crushing 7-1 victory over Nancy with the goal-scoring Beltramini. How could you not fall in love with this club?

DOMINIQUE DRIEUX

I attended my first match at Diochon in 1972: Rouen vs. Boulogne. I then have two memorable memories. The trip to Saint-Ouen for the promotion to D1. The A13 was red and white heading towards Paris: flags in car windows, honking horns…

And the second was when I was at the Rouen Rive Droite boarding school with a friend. We went down to the station for a drink and bumped into Ignacio Pena playing pinball. We chatted with him and he invited us to accompany him to training at Diochon. We were 15 years old and there we were, in a 504 coupe at the stadium among the players of the time. It left a lasting impression!

NICOLAS BROUCK

The Vicot era in the first division, with the Rouen-Nancy clash as the highlight, of course. Then there was the Orts-Horlaville strike partnership with Soloy pulling the strings.

And the Bertin period with the great seasons (and the incredible atmosphere at Diochon and away games) in CFA, National and the promotion to Ligue 2 with the brilliant Chanlot, who unfortunately got injured so early in the season. I experienced these moments “live” and from the inside during the Bertin period. Unforgettable moments.

PEDROSH*

Not necessarily a positive memory, but it’s undoubtedly the match that made the biggest impression on me. Rouen-Fauville 2016.

After a grueling season facing the QRM project alone against all odds at the bottom of the DH, we found ourselves at Diochon for the last match of the season, in the running for promotion to CFA 2, which was crucial for the club’s survival.

As I recall, at kickoff we were two points behind with an unfavorable goal average.

There was a great atmosphere at Diochon with a beautiful tifo from Rouen Fans, and you could feel that this match was absolutely vital for the future of the club. Diochon roared for 90 minutes.

We quickly opened the scoring, but soon lost our goalkeeper to a red card and found ourselves trailing 2-1. It was a crazy game that saw us miss three penalties and win 6-3, with hopes of overtaking QRM B on goal difference after the sixth goal. Unfortunately, that was as far as it went, and we fell two goals short of promotion.

One of the few games where I can say that I really went through every emotion possible and imaginable.