title: 1952–53 in Belgian football
text: # 1952–53 in Belgian football
  
  The 1952–53 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Belgium. RFC Liégeois won their 5th Division I title. This was the first season since the 1952 reform of the national competitions. A new level of football was introduced at the top of the league system. The divisions were also renamed, with the top level being named Division I (one league of 16 teams), the second level Division II (one league of 16 teams), the 3rd level Division III (2 leagues of 16 teams each) and the lowest level remaining the Promotion (4 leagues of 16 teams each). The Belgium national football team played 6 friendly games (3 wins, 3 losses) and then started their 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with 2 away wins in Finland and Sweden.
  
  ## Overview
  
  At the end of the season, RRC de Gand and Beringen FC were relegated to Division II and were replaced in Division I by 2 clubs from Lier: Division II winner K Lyra and runner-up K Lierse SK. The bottom 2 clubs in Division II (FC Renaisien and Stade Louvain) were relegated to Division III, while both Division III winners (K Tubantia FC and R Uccle Sport) qualified for Division II. The bottom club of each Division III league were relegated to Promotion: Helzold FC, K Mol Sport, RAA Louviéroise and Union Halloise, to be replaced by K Sint-Niklaasse SK, RCS La Forestoise, SRU Verviers and K Willebroekse SV.
  
  ## National team
  
  | Date | Venue | Opponents | Score* | Comp | Belgium scorers |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | October 19, 1952 | Bosuilstadion, Antwerp (H) | The Netherlands | 2-1 | F | Léopold Anoul, Joseph Mermans |
  | November 26, 1952 | Wembley Stadium, London (A) | England | 0-5 | F | |
  | December 25, 1952 | Stade Olympique, Colombes (A) | France | 1-0 | F | Jean Straetmans |
  | March 19, 1953 | Camp de Les Corts, Barcelona (A) | Spain | 1-3 | F | Victor Lemberechts |
  | April 19, 1953 | Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam (A) | The Netherlands | 2-0 | F | Henri Coppens, Augustin Janssens |
  | May 14, 1953 | Heysel Stadium, Brussels (H) | Yugoslavia | 1-3 | F | Léopold Anoul |
  | May 25, 1953 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki (A) | Finland | 4-2 | WCQ | Henri Coppens (3), Léopold Anoul |
  | May 28, 1953 | Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm (A) | Sweden | 3-2 | WCQ | Léopold Anoul, Jean Straetmans, Victor Lemberechts |
  
  * Belgium score given first
  
  Key
  
  * H = Home match
  * A = Away match
  * N = On neutral ground
  * F = Friendly
  * WCQ = World Cup qualification
  * o.g. = own goal
  
  ## Honours
  
  | Competition | Winner |
  | - | - |
  | Division I | RFC Liégeois |
  | Division II | K Lyra |
  | Division III | K Tubantia FC and R Uccle Sport |
  | Promotion | K Sint-Niklaasse SK, RCS La Forestoise, SRU Verviers and K Willebroekse SV |
  
  ## Final league tables
  
  ### Premier Division
  
  Top scorer: Henri Coppens (R Beerschot AC) with 35 goals.
  
  