US Boulogne
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| Full name | Union Sportive de Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d'Opale |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1898 |
| Ground |
Stade de la Libération, Boulogne-sur-Mer |
| Capacity | 15,004 |
| Chairman | Jacques Wattez |
| Manager | Alain Pochat |
| League | Championnat National |
| 2015–16 | 8th |
| Website | Club home page |
Union Sportive de Boulogne-sur-Mer Côte d'Opale (commonly referred to as US Boulogne or simply Boulogne) is a French association football club based in the commune of Boulogne-sur-Mer. The club was founded in 1898 and currently plays in Championnat National, the third division of French football, having been relegated from Ligue 2 during the 2011–12 season.
The club was formed in 1898 and its achievements are minor with their biggest feat consisting of reaching the semi-finals during the 1936–37 edition of the Coupe de France. Boulogne play their home matches at the Stade de la Libération, which seats 15,004 having previously seated only 7,000 prior to its renovation in 2007.
US Boulogne were founded in December 1898 by a group of young athletes. While they mainly focussed originally on athletic events, they moved into the football industry and made a decent job in their first few years as a football club. Boulogne won the Maritime Championship three years running between 1904 and 1906. They next won the Championship in 1909 and their final victory of this division was in 1922. In 1924, Boulogne moved to the Northern Championship and fared well. The team also did well in the Coupe de France – reaching the quarter-finals in 1929 and the last 16 three times.
In 1926, Boulogne won the Northern League and only six years later, they became a professional club. In 1935, under chairman Marcel Lacroix, the team joined the professional leagues. However, they played averagely in Division Two but there were a few bright sparks in the team. The Coupe de France 1937 competition saw Boulogne make the semi-finals, but they were convincingly beaten by FC Sochaux 6–0. After the war, Boulogne reverted to amateur status – and only became a professional team again in 1957 when they were re-elected into Division Two. They stayed in Division Two for 22 years but plummeted through the divisions – suffering consecutive relegations. The Coupe de France competition only provided little restbite, as the team made the last 16 three times.
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