Each month, we'll be speaking with supporters' clubs from around the world to shine a light on our fans who cheer us on from all corners. This month, we chat with Marcel Bogaerts, chair of the Belgium Supporters' Club.
“A club should be like a great big family with all the members of it sticking and pulling together in the same direction.“
Those are the words of the great Herbert Chapman, our manager from 1925-34, and it's a saying that strikes a chord with supporters far and wide - particularly with Marcel Bogaerts and the members of the Belgium Supporters' Club.
The Belgium group was established in 2014, following on from Arsenal Benelux, which incorporated Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg supporters in the 1990s. Marcel initially joined the first iteration, then became the treasurer and, four years ago, the chair.
"I enjoy being chairman very much," Marcel said. "It's good I'm retired from work, because there's quite a lot to do! But it's something I am passionate about and for as long as I can do it, I will!.
"We were at the 100 mark for members for a while, but in recent years, it's now exploding. We are now over 400; that's a lot. We met up for the match against Tottenham and we had a lot of members come and enjoy the game, it's great to see.
"We do around seven or maybe eight gatherings each year, which are great fun. Since the beginning, we said that we want to live along what Herbert Chapman in his time said. The club is one big family, you know, and that is very important to me.
"As chairman, I particularly enjoy that it's really a team effort, because you're going to be the coordinator, but then you become friends. So we stick together and that's very important for me.
"I asked a lot of board members and they always said the same thing. There is still friendship, you know and it's growing from sharing the same passion."
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Marcel's passion for Arsenal runs deep. His first memory of watching the Gunners came back in 1970 when we took on Belgian side Anderlecht in the Fairs Cup Final. Having lost the first leg 3-1 in Brussels, we produced a stunning comeback in the second leg to win 3-0 and take the trophy.
It was love at first sight for Marcel, now known as 'Marcenal' following an appearance on Belgian broadcaster PlaySports as he discussed all things Arsenal. Marcel and the group organise multiple get-togethers each year, often in his hometown of Leuven, but also in Flanders and other regions as the network grows.
"We are spread out across Flanders and other regions, we are all connected by our love of Arsenal. There are many younger fans over the last years that have joined. Many fans born in, let's say, 2000-2010. What we also see now is three generations of Belgian Arsenal fans in the group and are enrolling their children now, who are six or seven years old. My grandson is a football fan and he is also a fan of Arsenal, of course. So every year I buy him a shirt."
The group have also had the chance to take in some matches at Emirates Stadium, including a long bus trip to watch us defeat Leicester in the last minute back in 2016, courtesy of Danny Welbeck's last-gasp header.
"That was really, really, really special one. We saw the assist from Ozil, and we saw Danny rising, and we knew that's how special football can be. It makes the bus journeys worth it!"
Read more April 22, 1970: Fairs Cup final
There have been a host of Belgian players down the years to wear the famous red jersey of Arsenal, including current ace Leandro Trossard, someone that has impressed Marcel ever since his arrival from Brighton back in January 2023.
"He's been very strong this year, it's always nice to see a Belgian player in the team. I think he is a player Mikel can rely on, he will always do what is asked and this season he has hit an incredible level."
We head to Belgium for the first time since December 2019 and our first Champions League visit since 2014. Marcel is confident we can take all three points and extend our winning run in the league phase of the competition but is wary of Brugge's home form, something which saw them bag a point against Barcelona in their previous home contest.
"It's a bit difficult, because Brugge, in the Belgian league, they are not in good shape. But at home in the Champions League, they have got some good results. We cannot underestimate Brugge because they are strong at home. But I am optimistic!"
Click here for more information about the Arsenal supporters' group in Belgium!
Read more Trossard on being a man for the big occasion
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