#OL70years one day, one season : 1951-52

Published on 28 May 2020 at 7:00 AM by sc

In 2020, Olympique Lyonnais is celebrating its 70th anniversary. On this occasion, the club's media will, from May 26, the date of the official announcement of the creation, look back on the history of a season every day of the week and thus go backwards in time to August 27, the date of the club's first official match.

The men of the season

Squad : Bonvin, Calligaris, Ditto, Dupraz, Flamion, Friederich, Genet, Grillon, Heisserer, Juillard, Jurilli, Lergenmuller, Lerond, Marin, Mattei, Ninel, A.Rodriguez, S.Rodriguez, Rolland, Sarrin, Tichy, Woehl.

Manager : Oscar Heisserer.

President : Armand Groslevin.

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The history of the season

After a successful first season capped with promotion to the top flight, reaching the top division the following campaign was bound to be complicated. However, the start of the season came with much hope, as the team remained unbeaten until the 5th matchday, a strong start for the French second division champion. But the euphoria of being promoted passed, and the challenge of facing more clinical teams became stronger and the defeats stacked up, despite the emergence of Gilbert Bonvin, a defender and a great of the French game.

The inexperience of the team and the prospect of relegation pushed the 38-year-old coach, Oscar Heisserer, to return to the pitch as a last resort. The two games he played and the goal he scored were not enough. The standard was too high this time; OL had to return to the second tier to continue their education.

The match of the season : OL - HAC

On September 2, 1951, the Stade de Gerland hosted, for the first time, an OL match in the top flight. Against one of the most historic clubs in French football, Le Havre AC, OL won (3-0) thanks to goals from Flamion, Woehl and Dupraz. More than 11,000 supporters packed the stands, making for a start full of fanfare.

The players of the season : Pierre Flamion and André Grillon

Flamion

Grillon

On October 3, 1951, the French team drew (2-2) at Highbury against England. Pierre Flamion and André Grillon, new recruits from Lyon and in the eleven on that day, are the first two OL players to have played a match with the French team. Many have followed…