The West Flanders Tribes was a Belgian American football team based in the province of West-Flanders, with two home cities, Ostend and Izegem. The Tribes were members of the Flemish American Football League (FFL) conference in the Belgian Football League (BFL). Their team colours are maroon, white and black. In 2012, the team split up into the Ostend Pirates and the Izegem Tribes.
History
1990 In 1990 the Izegem Redskins were formed by Rudy Dewaegemaeker after his old team, the Moeskroen Redskins, was disbanded. After a couple of months of practice the Redskins played their first game against the Brussel Raiders. The Raiders, led by Mike La Salle and QB Jon VandeMergel, beat the Redskins 78-0. The game was stopped in the 3rd quarter. This poor start was a harbinger of years of losses. But the Redskins were a group of friends, crazy about the game of football, so they stuck in there. During the second season they scored their first touchdown, which was celebrated afterwards as if they were World Champions. They won their first game in their fourth season.
1994 In 1994 the other team in the province, the Ostend Tigers, ended play. Players from the Tigers transferred to Izegem to start playing with the Redskins. At the time there were 2 coaches: Frank Daemen and John Vandemergel. After Daemens' tragic death. Luc Verhoest, the quarterback, took over as Offensive coach and John Vandemergel was the Defensive Coach. Vandermergel became president.
In the mid '90s the Redskins started a junior flag team in Izegem, the Redskin Warriors, coached by Andy Vandenbulcke. A junior team was set up in Ostend also, under the name of the Ostend Seminoles. This was the start of the two practice fields for the Izegem Redskins. The team name was then changed to West-Vlaanderen Tribes as an overall organization, with 2 practice squads: Redskins and Seminoles. During games they played under the name Tribes.
1999 - first Bowl appearance In 1999 the Redskins played the Antwerp Diamonds in Belgian Bowl XII but lost in their first Belgian Bowl appearance with a score of 41-6.
First two Belgian Titles
2000 season Tribes 2000 Season Week Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 20 Charleroi Cougars 12 - 0 Izegem Redskins Ghent 2 February 27 Ghent Gators 0 - 22 Izegem Redskins Charleroi 3 March 5 Bye 4 March 12 Izegem Redskins 56 - 6 Flemalle Flames Flemalle 5 March 19 Izegem Redskins 20 - 18 Liège Red Roosters Liège 6 March 26 Ghent Gators 14 - 26 Izegem Redskins Izeghem 7 April 2 Flemalle Flames 0 - 50 Izegem Redskins Izeghem 8 April 9 Liège Red Roosters 3 - 20 Izegem Redskins Ghent 9 April 16 Brussels Tigers 12 - 20 Izegem Redskins Izeghem 10 April 23 Bye 11 April 30 Izegem Redskins 26 - 0 Charleroi Cougars Charleroi Post Season 12 May 7 Izegem Redskins 20 - 16 Brussels Tigers Brussels 13 May 14 Flemalle Flames 20 - 34 Izegem Redskins Izeghem 14 May 21 Belgian Bowl Bye 15 May 28 Belgian Bowl XIII Izeghem Charleroi Cougars 0 - 28 Izegem Redskins
2000 Playoffs
2001 season
Tribes 2001 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 March 11 Charleroi Cougars 8 - 14 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 2 March 18 West Flanders Tribes 14 - 0 Liège Red Roosters Ghent 3 March 25 Easter Bye 4 April 1 Bye 5 April 8 West Flanders Tribes 16 - 14 Charleroi Cougars Liège 6 April 15 Bye 7 April 22 Brussels Angels 0 - 22 West Flanders Tribes Izegem 8 April 29 Bye 9 May 6 Liège Red Roosters 7 - 12 West Flanders Tribes Antwerp Post Season 10 May 13 Playoffs Bye 11 May 20 Brussels Angels 14 - 42 West Flanders Tribes Waregem 12 May 27 Belgian Bowl Bye 13 June 3 Belgian Bowl XIV Ghent West Flanders Tribes 22 - 0 Brussels Tigers
2001 Playoffs
2002 season Tribes 2002 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 March 3 Tournai Phoenix 14 - 8 West Flanders Tribes Antwerp 2 March 10 Antwerp Diamonds 18 - 0 West Flanders Tribes Tournai 3 March 17 Brussels Tigers 14 - 12 West Flanders Tribes Liège 4 March 24 Flemalle Flames 26 - 32 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 5 March 31 Easter Bye 6 April 7 West Flanders Tribes 26 - 6 Charleroi Cougars Charleroi 7 April 14 Bye 8 April 21 Liège Red Roosters 0 - 50 (FF) West Flanders Tribes Tournai 9 April 28 Brussels Black Angels 6 - 6 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 10 May 5 West Flanders Tribes 12 - 0 Ghent Gators Ghent 11 May 12 Bye Post Season 12 May 19 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 8 Brussels Tigers Antwerp
2002 Playoffs
2003 season Tribes 2003 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 March 2 Bye 2 March 9 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 22 Antwerp Diamonds Antwerp 3 March 16 Bye 4 March 23 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 26 Flemalle Flames Charleroi 5 March 30 Brussels Black Angels 14 - 20 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 6 April 6 West Flanders Tribes 36 - 0 Liège Red Roosters Liège 7 April 13 Bye 8 April 20 Easter Bye 9 April 27 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 6 Charleroi Cougars Charleroi 10 May 4 Bye
2004 season Tribes 2004 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 22 Bye 2 March 7 West Flanders Tribes 0 - 14 Brussels Black Angels Antwerp 3 March 14 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 13 Leuven Lions Brussels (BBA) 4 March 21 Bye 5 March 28 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 6 Liège Red Roosters Charleroi 6 April 4 Flemalle Flames 8 - 3 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 7 April 11 Easter Bye 8 April 18 Charleroi Cougars 9 - 6 West Flanders Tribes Tournai 9 April 25 West Flanders Tribes 26 - 0 Ghent Gators Leuven 10 May 2 West Flanders Tribes 21 - 0 Brussels Tigers Brussels (BBA) 11 May 9 Antwerp Diamonds 20 - 0 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 12 May 16 Bye
2005 season In 2005 Frans "Harve" Heuvicq took over as head coach. The 2005 season was the last season that the Tribes were beaten on the road. Off. Coordinator: Frans Heuvicq / Def. Coordinator : John Vandemergel / Off. Assistant : Frederik George / Def. Assistant : Benedict Verheyen. Tribes 2005 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 27 West Flanders Tribes 7 - 20 Antwerp Diamonds Antwerp 2 March 6 Bye 3 March 13 Bye 4 March 20 Bye 5 March 27 Easter Bye 6 April 3 Leuven Lions 0 - 14 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 7 April 10 West Flanders Tribes 0 - 6 Antwerp Diamonds Antwerp 8 April 17 Brussels Black Angels 23 - 8 West Flanders Tribes Ghent 9 April 24 Bye 10 May 1 West Flanders Tribes 12 - 12 Brussels Black Angels Leuven 11 May 8 Leuven Lions 10 - 14 West Flanders Tribes Izegem 12 May 15 Bye
Dominating the BFL (2006-2011) The Tribes have won the last six consecutive Belgian Bowls, setting a European record. Head coach: Frans Heuvicq / Off. Coordinator : Frederik George / Def. Coordinator : Benedict Verheyen
2006 season 2006 was the last season the Tribes had a loss (at home, none on the road). Tribes 2006 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 26 Bye 2 March 5 Bornem Titans 0 - 26 West Flanders Tribes Antwerp 3 March 12 Bye 4 March 19 Antwerp Diamonds 6 - 33 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 5 March 26 Bye 6 April 2 West Flanders Tribes 34 - 0 Ghent Gators Antwerp 7 April 9 West Flanders Tribes 27 - 18 Brussels Black Angels Bornem 8 April 16 Easter Bye 9 April 23 West Flanders Tribes 25 - 19 Ghent Gators Ghent 10 April 30 Bye 11 May 7 West Flanders Tribes 19 - 12 Leuven Lions Leuven 12 May 14 Antwerp Diamonds 20 - 11 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem Post Season 13 May 13 Playoffs Bye 14 May 21 Charleroi Cougars 0 - 26 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 15 May 28 Belgian Bowl Bye 16 June 4 Belgian Bowl XIX Brussels West Flanders Tribes 23 - 14 Tournai Phoenix
2006 Playoffs
2007 season In 2007 many changes were made to the Operational Board. Due to continuous efforts in youth and improved coaching, the Tribes are now the most successful American Football sport team in the history of Belgium. Every top player is a product of the Tribes youth teams. The Leuven Lions were the last team to play the Tribes and not lose to them, this was a 6-6 tie in week 1 of the 2007 regular season. Head coach: Frans Heuvicq / Off. Coordinator : Frederik George / Def. Coordinator : Benedict Verheyen Tribes 2007 SeasonWeek Date Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 18 Bye 2 February 25 West Flanders Tribes 6 - 6 Leuven Lions Leuven 3 March 4 Bornem Titans 6 - 22 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 4 March 11 West Flanders Tribes 14 - 0 Antwerp Diamonds Antwerp 5 March 18 Ghent Gators 0 - 38 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 6 March 25 West Flanders Tribes 26 - 7 Brussels Black Angels Leuven 7 April 1 Bye 8 April 8 Easter Bye 9 April 15 Bye 10 April 22 Bye 11 April 29 Bornem Titans 3 - 50 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 12 May 6 West Flanders Tribes 42 - 12 Ghent Gators Ghent Post Season 13 May 13 Playoffs Bye 14 May 20 Charleroi Cougars 6 - 55 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 15 May 27 Belgian Bowl Bye 16 June 2 Belgian Bowl XX Brussels West Flanders Tribes 35 - 13 Brussels Black Angels
2007 Playoffs
2008 season Tribes 2008 SeasonWeek Date Kick Off Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 February 17 14.00 West Flanders Tribes 42 - 0 Bornem Titans Bornem 2 February 24 14.00 Ghent Gators 13 - 20 West Flanders Tribes Izeghem 3 March 2 13.00 West Flanders Tribes 41 - 14 Brussels Black Angels Heverlee (LL) 4 March 9 Bye 5 March 16 13.00 West Flanders Tribes 57 - 6 Brussels Bulls Brussels (BBA) 6 March 23 Easter Bye 7 March 30 Bye 8 April 6 14.00 West Flanders Tribes 45 - 6 Leuven Lions Heverlee (LL) 9 April 13 14.00 Brussels Black Angels 7 - 8 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 10 April 20 14.00 West Flanders Tribes 23 - 0 Antwerp Diamonds Berendrecht (AD) 11 April 27 15.00 Leuven Lions 13 - 41 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 12 May 4 Bye Post Season 13 May 11 Playoff Bye 14 May 18 14.00 Antwerp Diamonds 6 - 13 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 15 May 25 Belgian Bowl Bye 16 May 31 18.00 Belgian Bowl XXI Anderlecht West Flanders Tribes 25 - 20 Brussels Black Angels
2008 Playoffs
2009 season Tribes 2009 SeasonWeekDate Kickoff Opponent Results Team record Game Site 1 February 15 12:30 Brussels Bulls 6 – 16 1–0 Bornem 2 February 22 12:30 Brussels Black Angels 7 – 13 2–0 Heverlee 3 March 1 14:00 at Antwerp Diamonds 6 – 22 3–0 Berendrecht 4 March 8 14:00 at Ghent Gators 0 – 52 4–0 Ghent 5 March 15 14:00 at Bornem Titans 6 – 34 5–0 Bornem 6 March 22 14:00 Leuven Lions 57 – 6 6–0 Izegem 7 March 29 Bye 8 April 5 15:00 Brussels Bulls 35 – 6 7–0 Ostend 9 April 11 Bye 10 April 19 Bye 11 April 26 15:00 Antwerp Diamonds 50 – 0 8–0 Ostend 12 May 3 Bye 13 May 10 Playoffs Bye 14 May 17 14:00 Charleroi Cougars 53 – 12 9–0 Ostend 15 May 24 Belgian Bowl Bye Belgian Bowl XXII 16 May 31 19:00 Tournai Phoenix 0 – 12 10–0 Brussels 2009 Atlantic Cup June 27 Dudelange Dragons 0 – 52 N/A Berchem-Sainte-Agathe June 28 Dublin Rebels 13 – 15 N/A Berchem-Sainte-Agathe
2009 Playoffs
EFAF 2009 Atlantic Cup The tribes won the 2009 Atlantic Cup. The tournament took place at Centre Sportif, Rue des Chalets 1, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe. The game field is made of artificial turf (4th generation).
2010 season Tribes 2010 SeasonWeek Date Kickoff Visitors Results Home Game Site 1 14-02 Bye week due to bad weather: (rescheduled 04-04) 2 21-02 12.30 West Flanders Tribes 38 - 0 Leuven Lions Leopoldsburg 3 28-02 15.00 Bornem Titans (02-05) West Flanders Tribes Izegem 4 07-03 15.00 Antwerp Diamonds 0 - 28 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 5 14-03 Bye 6 21-03 14.00 Brussels Bulls 14 - 26 West Flanders Tribes Izegem 7 28-03 15.00 West Flanders Tribes 33 - 7 Brussels Black Angels Brussels 8 04-04 12.30 Limburg Shotguns 6 - 33 West Flanders Tribes Bornem 9 11-04 12.30 West Flanders Tribes 29 - 9 Ghent Gators Brussels 10 18-04 Bye 11 25-04 12.30 Brussels Bulls 18 - 34 West Flanders Tribes Bornem 12 02-05 15.00 Bornem Titans 23 - 42 West Flanders Tribes Izegem Post Season 13 09-05 Playoff Bye 14 16-05 14.00 Tournai Phoenix 0 - 32 West Flanders Tribes Ostend 15 29-05 Belgian Bowl Bye16 4-06 17.30 Belgian Bowl XXIII St.Agathe-Berchem West Flanders Tribes 36 - 6 Brussels Tigers
The game on week 3 was rescheduled due to a frozen underground of the gamefield.
2010 Playoffs
2011 season
Pre-season