Retro Lens Jersey: A Walk Down Memory Lane The Retro Lens Jersey serves as a physical embodiment of the rich history and indomitable spirit of the RC Lens football club. It is a throwback to the bygone era of football, weaving together stories, heartache, and euphoria into a single piece of fabric. As we reminisce […]
The Retro Lens Jersey serves as a physical embodiment of the rich history and indomitable spirit of the RC Lens football club. It is a throwback to the bygone era of football, weaving together stories, heartache, and euphoria into a single piece of fabric. As we reminisce and honour the club’s influential players and significant achievements throughout the years, we also trace the journey of the shirt that has become a living symbol of its identity, culture, and pride.
Founded in 1906 in the northern French city of Lens, Racing Club de Lens – more commonly known as RC Lens – is a professional football club with a storied history spanning over a century. The team came into existence through the merger of several local clubs and was initially composed of coal miners and members of the working class.
The club’s first taste of success came in the form of winning the Coupe de France in 1948, followed by their promotion to the top-tier French Ligue 1 in 1949. In the decades that ensued, RC Lens saw a fluctuating mix of successes and struggles. The team achieved its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s, capturing the Ligue 1 championship in the 1997-98 season and a runner-up finish in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup.
Over the years, RC Lens has weathered several setbacks and relegations, but its fervent supporters and the iconic retro Lens jersey have remained steadfast symbols of the club’s resilience.
The Stade Bollaert-Delelis is the heart and soul of the club, and the chants of the “Sang et Or” (blood and gold) faithful reverberate off its hallowed walls. Constructed in 1933, the stadium was initially named after Félix Bollaert, the former director of the Lens Mining Company. Later, in 2012, it was renamed Stade Bollaert-Delelis after the late André Delelis, the founder of the Lens Mining Company who played a pivotal role in the club’s early years.
This passionate atmosphere is brought to life by the Lens “Bollaert Boys”, a group of ardent supporters who bring fervour and intensity to home games. Over the years, the Bollaert-Delelis has hosted numerous historical matches and has undergone several renovations to modernise the 38,000-seat stadium, but the fiery spirit of Lens remains unwavering.
The traditional colours of the Lens kit are a vibrant representation of the club’s essence, with ‘sang et or’ or ‘blood and gold’ symbolising resilience and pride. The retro Lens jersey typically features a red vertical stripe flanked by yellow stripes adorning the centre of the kit, encompassing the club’s emblem – a fierce lion depicted on the crest.
The choice of these colours can be traced back to the early 20th century when the working-class miners, who made up the majority of the team’s first players, were passionate about their demanding profession. The use of bold red and yellow hues served as a finger in the eye of the French bourgeoisie, as these striking colours were seen as “revolutionary” and often associated with the Spanish flag.
The iconic 1990s retro Lens jersey, in particular, holds a special place in the hearts of supporters, as it was worn during the club’s glory years, culminating in their historic Ligue 1 championship win in the 1997-98 season.
Over the years, the Lens squad has had the honour of several exceptional players donning the club’s jersey, making history in the process. Legends such as Ahmed Oudjani, the Algerian talisman who was instrumental in Lens’ first major triumph in the 1948 Coupe de France, and legendary Polish defender Jacek Ziober, whose time at the club contributed to its on-field successes in the 1990s, are etched in RC Lens folklore.
Few players, however, can rival the impact of veteran French striker, Antoine Kombouaré. A pillar of strength and a symbol of unwavering loyalty to the club, Kombouaré’s 10-year-long Lens journey saw him embody the undeniable spirit of the blood and gold, wearing the retro Lens jersey with unmatched pride and conviction. His never-say-die attitude, distinguished by his memorable stoppage-time goals, earned him the nickname “Casque d’Or” or “Golden Helmet”, which is woven into the club’s history.
Similarly, RC Lens’ icon and local hero Tony Vairelles lit up the Ligue 1 during the 1990s, wearing the retro Lens jersey with pride. His dazzling skills, exhilarating goals, and his fighting spirit illustrated the essence of the club’s values, making him an inspiration to fans and aspiring players alike.
The Retro Lens Jersey is, without doubt, a symbol of endurance, passion, and glory that transcends generations, capturing the hearts and minds of fans and football enthusiasts across the globe. This simple yet meaningful piece of cloth serves as a totem – a reminder of the joy, pain, and loyalty intertwined with the rich history of the RC Lens football club.
Every time the sang et or clash on the pitch at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, the echoes of the past still stand and continue to shape the indomitable spirit of RC Lens. Generations of fans may come and go, but the legacy of the retro Lens jersey endures, forever immortalised in the tapestry of football.
