FIFA Magazine

From coal town to thriving business centre - Lens: Football in the Blood

Among the ten cities staging the 1998 World Cup, Paris cuts a giant figure and, by the same token, its Tom Thumb would doubtlessly be Lens. It was there that the clever outside-left Didier Six began his great career at the Racing Club de Lens.

ANTOINE VIERNE
French World Cup Organising Committee.

f the town of Lens has no more than 35,000 inhabitants, its propitious geographical situation at the centre of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region enables it to spread out into a wider conurbation of more than 350,000 inhabitants.

View over Parc de la Glissoire to the city and (above), the imposing buildings of the Faculté des Sciences Jean Perrin.

In the course of the centuries, by very reason of this strategic situation, Lens was the coveted prize of fierce battles. During the First World War, in particular, the town was totally destroyed and lost almost 50% of its population; a population which had increased spectacularly in the second half of the nineteenth century, with the discovery and mining of coal. As early as the 1850's, Lens was the headquarters of the most powerful Société Houillère [Coal-mining Company] in France, and has undergone extraordinary development; an expansion which has enabled it to surmount the ravages of the two World Wars and which lasted up to the 1960's. In 1962, Lens had more than 42,000 inhabitants.

It was precisely at this time, marked by the beginning of the decline of the coal industry, that Lens undertook the formidable task of modernisation. This effort has borne fruit and, for some years now, the establishment of new businesses in Lens and its environs has been developing spectacularly. Today, more than 20,000 employees work in Lensois companies, including 5,000 in the newly founded firms (almost 120), which have been set up in the town's five business parks. These new companies carry out their activities in leading sectors, such as agri-foodstuffs, distribution and building. However, concurrently with this new economic boom, the Lens town council has managed to garner for itself all the equipment necessary in the cultural, sporting and educational spheres. Thus, for example, the old company headquarters of the Société Houillère has been made available again to the townspeople by the town council. Since the beginning of the nineties, the townspeople have been helping to turn it into the Faculté des Sciences Jean Perrin [Jean Perrin Faculty of Sciences].

Didier Six, Lensois and European champion 1984.
Picture: Presse Sports

In relation to its indigenous population, Lens is a large university town, with some 3,000 students pursuing courses in higher education in its various establishments.

Finally, in terms of sport, and more particularly football, how could one fail to mention the extraordinary passion of the Lensois for their team. On certain big-match days, the Lens stadium holds more spectators than the town has inhabitants! The Racing Club de Lens, with its famous red and gold (the club's colours) is truly the pride and joy of the whole town and surrounding region. A town with football in its blood.

For more information on the RC Lens, visit the official site of the French Football League

THE FÉLIX BOLLAERT STADIUM
Félix-Bollaert Stadium

Doubtless, it is the geographical position of Lens, right in the North of France, that is the reason for the Félix-Bollaert town stadium being an example of an English-style stadium. Admirably situated (the town centre is a 5-minute walk away) and well-served by public transport (the TGV high-speed train station is right near the stadium) the Félix Bollaert Stadium, which used to be able to hold more than 50,000 spectators, with more than 30,000 standing, underwent a major transformation, having already done so in 1984 for the European Championship). Now designed with the 1998 World Cup in prospect, it will be able to hold 41,275 spectators, all seated. Moreover, in order to meet the specifications of FIFA, many improvements have been made to its other facilities, notably the lighting, sound system and display boards. A video-surveillance system has also been installed, and the dressing rooms and press facilities have also undergone major alterations. Now the development work on the Félix-Bollaert has been completed.