100 years ago, a French priest founded “Alouette Sportive”, which later became Les Herbiers. 99 years after its founding Les Herbiers reached heights which could never have been dreamed of by the 15,000 people based in the small town in the west of France. Last season the club were relegated into the 4th tier of French football (Championnat National 2) the same league in which 13 Ligue 1 reserve sides, including PSG, play their trade. Despite the fact that Les Herbiers play in the same level as PSG reserves, last season they lined up against the likes of Cavani, Di Maria, Silva and Mbappe in the 101st iteration of the 'Coupe De France' Final! (The major domestic cup in France)
Not enjoying life in Championnat Nation (3rd tier) Les Herbiers began their impossible dream on the 11th November 2017 away against 5 tier side, Balma SC. After a 5 hour trip down south, It took only 30 minuets for Herbiers to take a 3 – 0 lead in front of a home crowd of 558. They maintained that lead and got themselves into the next round.
Into round 8 (Should add before round 7 there are 6 prelims which Hebiers took part in 3, 8000 teams take part in this cup!) Herbiers got themselves a home draw against lower league opposition once again, SO Romorantin from the division which Les Herbiers now play. What should have been an easy game was anything but, despite dominating the game it took 69 minutes for the deadlock to be broken but it was by the away side. With 10 minutes to go Les Herbiers’ cup journey looked to be over, that was until the one non-French player in the Les Herbiers team Louis Bongongui of Cameroon came on and scored an 85th minute equaliser, firing into the roof of the net from the back post from a corner. Ten minutes later in the 95th minute of the game and the final minute of added time Les Herbiers won a freekick from just outside the area which Herbiers star Rocheteau fired into the top corner of the goal. The just under 1000 capacity went ballistic, want to see it for yourself? Check the video below.
Not enjoying life in Championnat Nation (3rd tier) Les Herbiers began their impossible dream on the 11th November 2017 away against 5 tier side, Balma SC. After a 5 hour trip down south, It took only 30 minuets for Herbiers to take a 3 – 0 lead in front of a home crowd of 558. They maintained that lead and got themselves into the next round.
Into round 8 (Should add before round 7 there are 6 prelims which Hebiers took part in 3, 8000 teams take part in this cup!) Herbiers got themselves a home draw against lower league opposition once again, SO Romorantin from the division which Les Herbiers now play. What should have been an easy game was anything but, despite dominating the game it took 69 minutes for the deadlock to be broken but it was by the away side. With 10 minutes to go Les Herbiers’ cup journey looked to be over, that was until the one non-French player in the Les Herbiers team Louis Bongongui of Cameroon came on and scored an 85th minute equaliser, firing into the roof of the net from the back post from a corner. Ten minutes later in the 95th minute of the game and the final minute of added time Les Herbiers won a freekick from just outside the area which Herbiers star Rocheteau fired into the top corner of the goal. The just under 1000 capacity went ballistic, want to see it for yourself? Check the video below.
6th of January 2018, and onto the round or 64 and once again Les Herbiers were drawn away at lower league opposition. This time they faced there first City, Angouleme CFC from the 5th tier. But once again their 5th tier status was not to be underestimated. Once again goals were hard to come by for Les Herbiers that was until the 86th minute where once again Bongongui looked to have saved the day. But ten minutes later Herbiers faced a taste of their own medicine when in the 6th minute of added time Angouleme equalised from a header off a freekick and took the tie to extra time. The minutes counted down and the rain with it. The tie looked to be heading to penalties that was until Togolese national Koutob Naoto scored headed in a cross in the 115th minute, despite calls for an earlier handball, the crowd of 2,500 were distraught, but Les Herbiers journey went on. Once again the highlights for this game can be found here:
In the round of 32 draw, with all top division sides now in the draw Herbiers couldn’t have asked for a luckier opposition. They were drawn against one of the 3 lowest ranked teams left in the tournament. This time they were to play away at 5th tier FC Saint-lo Manche, this proved to be a much simpler task than the last two rounds but it was a familiar name on the scoresheet, Bongongui scored twice in a relatively simple 2 -1 win over the opposition. Couldn’t find any highlights for this one?
The round of 16 draw would finally go against Les Herbiers as they got drawn against 1995-96 French champions Auxerre. This should have been one of their hardest games of the season never mind the cup. The snow was coming down but town team did not freeze under the pressure instead the home crowd of 6,200 in a stadium big enough for 18,000 found themselves gobsmacked as they witnessed their team collapse to an astonishing 3-0 loss to Les Herbiers! At 2-0 up Herbiers were cruising but had it not been for the heroics of Matthew Pichot in goal by saving a penalty the tie could have gone very differently. 3-0 at full time and the journey continued. Highlights of this stunning giant killing below.
The round of 16 draw would finally go against Les Herbiers as they got drawn against 1995-96 French champions Auxerre. This should have been one of their hardest games of the season never mind the cup. The snow was coming down but town team did not freeze under the pressure instead the home crowd of 6,200 in a stadium big enough for 18,000 found themselves gobsmacked as they witnessed their team collapse to an astonishing 3-0 loss to Les Herbiers! At 2-0 up Herbiers were cruising but had it not been for the heroics of Matthew Pichot in goal by saving a penalty the tie could have gone very differently. 3-0 at full time and the journey continued. Highlights of this stunning giant killing below.
The next round saw Les Herbiers drawn at home against RC Lens of the second tier. This would be one of the biggest games in the club’s history. To exemplify this the club were given special dispensation to play at Nates’ Stade de la Beaujoire due to the high demand for tickets. Over 21,000 people got themselves into the ground and I can only imagine the streets of Les Herbiers were very quiet that day. Half time 0-0, Full time 0-0, A.E.T 0-0 the tension could not be higher as teams were pushed to penalties. Pichot was the hero once again! After 2 penalties each Les Herbiers were behind 2-1 after star striker Rocheteau saw his penalty saved. But 2 brilliant saves from Pichot saw Herbiers advance into the semi-final! Penalties here:
Into semi-finals and there only 4 teams left, unbelievably Les Herbiers were joined by fellow 3rd division side FC Chambly. The other 2? PSG and Caen. The draw couldn’t have been better, Les Herbiers v FC Chambly for a shot of the final and a chance to make history! Once again it would be the Stade de la Beaujoire would play host to the game. Over 34,500 fans found their way to the ground to witness this piece of history! The tie in reality could have gone either way with FC Chambly hitting the woodwork twice and VAR having a hand in Herbiers second goal. But in the end Les Herbiers came out 2-0 victors and set up a final in what was called the biggest mis-match in the history of cup finals! Highlights:
Impossible? Maybe. But phenomenal? Absolutely. The team have been criticised over their achievement because they didn’t play a single top tier side on route to the final but what has to be remembered is that a phenomenal 8000 teams started in the earliest stages of this tournament in round 1 from both France and overseas territories. Les Herbiers had to win nine games to reach that final and the considering the fact that this team were relegated in the same season it makes every victory even more phenomenal, even more so when you realise that the same team only managed to win nine games in their division that season! To win as many games in a cup competition as they did in the league, that must be a record of some kind (Even as unwanted as that record is). They became only the third, third division team in France’s history to reach that final and that cannot be overlooked. It is a season, despite it’s downs, that will always be remembered by the fans of the team. This year is their 100th season as a club and hopefully the fans of the team that achieved this astonishing feet can one day see their team beating 2nd division sides and facing global giants once again.
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