Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver is a small village east of Mechelen. It is most famous for its “Wintertuin” (interior garden) in the Ursulinen complex, with magnificent stained glass and Art Nouveau architecture. It’s certainly worth a visit. But while you’re there, go and have a look at the Dolf Vercammen Stadion as well. It’s a fine piece of typical Belgian lowerleague cosiness with some terracing, a little main stand, and an A-pitch in immaculate condition.
After Worldwar II, football started to flourish in Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver. Some local neighborhood teams, situated in different areas of the village, played friendlies against each other. But the need for a village team was growing, considering the neighboring towns of Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Putte had their football clubs up and running for some years. On February the 2nd in 1950, Sport Kring Wavria was born. The word “Wavria" is derived from the Latin name of the village: Wavria Beata Maria. And yes, Sport Kring Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver would be a little bit too much of a mouthful.
The club was given matricule number 5386 and started playing in blue-white colors. But with the neighboring FC Katelijne having the same club colors, SK Wavria changed theirs to purple-white some years later.
Within the first years of existence, Wavria often changed grounds. They played on 4 different locations, before finally ending up in the Dolf Vercammen Stadion in 1981. This complex has 4 grass-pitches. And we must admit, the greenkeepers do a really good job here: the SK Wavria A-pitch has always been famous for its mint condition.
Wavria always played the provincial leagues, with 7th tier (2de provinciale Antwerpen) being the highest division reached. Right now the purple whites play in the 3rd provincial league, competing with neighboring KV Bonheiden and FC Katelijne for the first place. Promotion is a goal, but not by all means necessary. The last couple of years, SK Wavria has shifted its strategy from bying high-flying but expensive players, to focussing on their own youth. This turn has taken a slow start but is now definitely starting to pay off. We tend to believe this is the only right way for a successful village club who doesn’t want to end up in a spiral of debt.
The Dolf Vercammen Stadion has a tiny grandstand (capacity around 50) on one side, and some minor terracing on the other. We really like the club colored "ultras stand" on this one. It’s these kind of efforts that make a lower-league stadium worthwhile.