Main Photo by Michal Matlon

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NICKNAME – Sang et Or (Blood and Gold)
FOUNDED – 1906
LOCATED IN – Lens, Hauts-de-France
STADIUM – Stade Bollaert-Delelis
ON FOOT – 15 minutes from the centre/train station
CAPACITY – 38,233
PROMOTED – 2020
BEST LEAGUE FINISH – Winners (1997/1998)
BEST COUPE DE FRANCE RUN – Runners Up (3 times)
BEST COUPE DE LA LIGUE/D’ETE RUN – Winners (Twice)
BEST EC/CL FINISH – Group Stage (3 times)
BEST UC/EL FINISH –SF (1999/2000)
BEST CWC FINISH – R16 (1975/1976)
RECORD GOALSCORER – Ahmed Oudjani (118)
2022/2023 FINISH – 2nd

FIVE FACTS ABOUT RC LENS
1. Lens’ evocative colours of blood and gold were chosen by an early president inspired by the Spanish national flag.
2. Most of the players were miners up until the 1960s when the mine relinquished ownership, forcing the club to return to amateur status.
3. Under Daniel Leclerq, known as “The Druid”, they claimed their only Championnat in 1997/1998.
4. A couple of years later, they reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals, where they were defeated by Arsenal.
5. They contest the “Derby du Nord” with local rivals Lille.

FIVE FACTS ABOUT LENS
1. Created as a Norman fortification, Lens formed part of the Spanish Netherlands before returning to France.
2. It was a major coal mining centre from 1849 until the 1980s; the second worst mining disaster in history happened 2km away in Courrieres, claiming 1,099 lives.
3. Half the population died in World War I, which largely destroyed the town. Another 500 died in WWII air raids.
4. The popular Louvre-Lens museum houses 200 exhibits from the collection of the Paris Louvre.
5. For a sunset view, hike to the top of the “Pyramids of the North”, two slag heaps that stand watch over the city.

INTERESTING VIDEO LINKS
Club anthem
“Les Corons” at the stadium
Seeing the team bus off for the Derby du Nord
A look around Lens

OTHER FRENCH TEAMS
Ajaccio, Amiens, Angers, Auxerre, Bordeaux, Brest, Clermont, Dijon, Le Havre, Lens, Lille, Lorient, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Monaco, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Nimes, Paris Saint-Germain, Reims, Rennes, Saint-Etienne, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Troyes