GUEUGNON is not exactly a run-of-the mill club. A club of D2, true, but a club which refused to accept promotion to D1, preferring to remain an amateur club ! Eventually the club turned pro and won its place in the elite for one season in 1995, before returning to its spiritual home, where it has been ever since.
Football Club de Gueugnon was founded in 1940 and won the amateur title in 1948. Not bad for a village of 4000 souls ! Supported by the local steelworks (hence the nickname), the club reached D2 in 1970-71.
In 1974, with playmaker Casimir Nowotarski, the Gueugnonnais made the play-offs for promotion to D1, missing out to FC Rouen. In 1979, they won the championship with players such as Trivino, Berthommier, Duch, Stropoli (see photo). In addition Gueugnon enjoyed a cup run, including eliminating the great Saint-Etienne. They later lost out to Auxerre in front of a crowd of 10 000.
The 1980's steel crisis forced the club to turn pro, and after several seasons of struggles against the drop, the tide turned in 1991 with a cup semi-final against Monaco, then in 1995 promotion to the top flight. This was to be short-lived and despite a game effort, just one missing point meannt that the tiny club slipped back into D2.
This season the club progressed through to the Cup 1/8 final, losing to Nantes on penalties, but in an earlier round produced a major surpise in eliminating Marseille at Marseille 4-3, even leading 4-0 at one point ! In the League Cup, success too with Niort, Toulouse and Strasbourg all going the same way.
Between Gilles Perrin, president of Gueugnon and Jean-Michel Aulas, president of Lyon, there is an enormous gulf. The first runs his club on a budget of 25MF, the second 300MF. But one thing is sure, at Gueugnon not a penny over the budget will be spent.
Gilles Perrin, a former player arrived at Gueugnon, helped the club into D1 before later becoming vice-president then president, rather like Red Stars' Jean-Claude Bras.
Founded : 1940
Stade Jean Laville (cap. 13 872), rue Roger Couderc 71130 Gueugnon (Tel. +33 3 85 85 12 78)
President : Gilles Perrin
Secretary : Franck Sochan
Budget : 25 MF
Supporters' Club : Allez Gueugnon (tel. +33 3 85 84 48 20)
Honours : Cup semi-finalists 1977. D2 champion 1979.
Coach : Alex Dupont, born 30th June 1954, Dunkerque. Player with Dunkerque. Started career as coach with Dunkerque, then Beauvais, Charleville, Boulogne & Gueugnon since season 1998-99.
Assistant : Michel Royer
Youth Development Officer : Alain Dessoly
General Manager : Georges Bernard
Internet : www.fcgueugnon.com
G. Valck