K Lyra-Lierse Berlaar
Wikipedia - K. Lyra-Lierse Berlaar
K. Lyra-Lierse (full official name at the Royal Belgian Football Association: K. Lyra-Lierse Berlaar), formerly known as K. Lyra T.S.V., is a Belgian association football club team from Lier and set to play in Belgian National Division 1 from 2024–25 after promotion from Belgian Division 2 in 2023–24. That was created in 1972 to continue the former team Koninklijke Lyra that merged in the same year with another team (Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring). The team colours are yellow-black at home and red-white for away games.
History
In 2018, K. Lierse S.K. went bankrupt and negotiations between Lyra and fans of Lierse took place to create a club where the soul and spirit of both Lierse and Lyra would be represented. Also the youth teams of Lierse were integrated into the structure of K. Lyra-Lierse. To highlight this collaboration the name was changed to K. Lyra-Lierse, adding the mandatory "Berlaar" to refer to the place where the matches are currently being played.
The club has a strong community focus and fan-driven culture by having 2 supporters, who are democratically elected, represented on the Board. Next to that, fans of the club have a veto on the club's "identity elements" (such as the name, the colours, the location of the stadium, etc.) and pre-emption rights on shares of the club.
Lyra is the Latin name for Lier.
In 2023–24, Lyra-Lierse secure promotion to Belgian National Division 1 from 2024–25 after finishing third place in Belgian Division 2 VV B.