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| Foto: Ultras Avanti |
Few supporter groups are as closely connected to the identity of their region as the Red Tigers of RC Lens. Founded in 1994, the group transformed the atmosphere at Stade Bollaert-Delelis by introducing a more organised, independent and visibly ultra approach to a fanbase already famous throughout France. From a handful of young supporters on the edge of the Kop, the Red Tigers developed into the main driving force of the Tony-Marek stand.
Their history cannot be separated from Lens itself. RC Lens represents a former mining region shaped by hard work, solidarity and strong local pride. The Red Tigers inherited those values, but expressed them through banners, tifos, flags, pyrotechnics, organised away travel and continuous vocal support. In doing so, they helped connect the traditional culture of Bollaert with the modern French ultras movement.
Supporter Culture in Lens Before the Red Tigers
Organised support in Lens existed long before the appearance of the ultras. The club’s first official supporters’ organisation, Allez Lens, was founded in 1926. It later became the Supporter Club Lensois, then Supp’R Lens and eventually the 12 Lensois, an association with sections spread across northern France, other parts of the country and Belgium.
This traditional form of support was highly visible inside Bollaert. Scarves, mining helmets, trumpets, drums and large numbers of supporters arriving on organised coaches formed part of the familiar matchday image. The atmosphere could be powerful, but it was based mainly on the established French supporters’ club model rather than the independent ultras culture developing elsewhere in Europe.
By the beginning of the 1990s, younger Lens supporters were looking for something different. The Kop Sang et Or 1993, commonly known as KSO ’93, became the first recognisably ultra group at the club. The North Warriors also represented part of the independent scene, although they were associated more closely with hooligan culture. The foundations had therefore been laid for a new generation to challenge the traditional habits of the Lens terraces.
The Birth of the Red Tigers
The origins of the Red Tigers can be traced to February 1994. A young supporter known as Coco distributed leaflets in the popular Seconde section of Bollaert, calling on supporters to help organise tifos and create a more coordinated atmosphere. One of the first attempts was prepared for a match against Paris Saint-Germain, although the display did not work as planned. The initiative overlapped with a newly formed section of Supp’R Lens based around Estaires, which adopted the name Red Tigers. For several months, the two projects operated together. This means the group did not begin with a dramatic rebellion against the traditional supporters’ organisation. Its original purpose was to introduce new methods of support and bring visual animation into a stand where such displays were still uncommon.
The first structure proved fragile. In July 1994, the Supp’R Lens section withdrew and only five members of the original project remained. Instead of abandoning the idea, they continued independently. From that small core, the Red Tigers 1994 began to build their own identity, organisation and place inside Bollaert. Their objective was clear. They wanted to support RC Lens without relying on the established accessories and rituals of the traditional Lens fan. The group embraced the central principles of ultras culture: independence, collective organisation, loyalty to the colours, constant support, handmade displays and a strong presence at away matches.
Difficult Beginnings in the Tony-Marek Stand
Acceptance did not come immediately. The traditional supporter culture at Lens was deeply established, while both the club and parts of the existing fanbase initially viewed the new group with suspicion. Relations with Supp’R Lens were sometimes tense, and the Red Tigers had to change their position in the stand on several occasions. The group initially occupied an area on the right-hand side of the Kop. During the 1996/97 season, an assistant referee was struck by a bottle thrown from the area in front of the Red Tigers banner. Although the incident was not attributed to a member of the group, the Red Tigers moved to avoid being permanently associated with it.
These early years were important because the group gained recognition through activity rather than numbers. Its members produced flags and banners, organised away trips and attempted increasingly ambitious displays. They also placed great importance on protecting and displaying the group banner, one of the central symbols of identity within ultras culture. The location of the Lens fanbase created an additional organisational challenge. Red Tigers members did not come only from the city or its immediate suburbs. They were scattered across a large part of northern France, from the areas around Dunkirk and Calais to towns closer to the Belgian border. Preparing tifos and arranging regular meetings was therefore more difficult than for groups whose members lived within one large urban area.
Growth During Lens’ Greatest Period
The development of the Red Tigers coincided with the most successful period in the history of RC Lens. The French championship won in 1998 introduced a new generation to the club and gave the young group an opportunity to grow. Thousands travelled to Auxerre for the decisive match, while Lens and the surrounding mining basin celebrated throughout the night after the title was secured.
The following years brought a Coupe de la Ligue victory, Champions League football and memorable European journeys. The victory over Arsenal at Wembley in November 1998 became one of the defining nights for the travelling Lens support. The club’s run to the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2000 provided further opportunities for the Red Tigers to establish their banner and reputation outside France.
By around 2000, the group’s active following had grown rapidly from approximately one hundred people to several hundred. The Red Tigers were no longer a small alternative positioned at the edge of the Kop. Their capos, repertoire of chants, away presence and visual displays increasingly influenced the atmosphere throughout the Tony-Marek stand.
Moving to the Centre of the Kop
A decisive step came during the 2003/04 period. The Red Tigers had always intended to become a central force in the Marek, but moving into the heart of an established Kop carried risks. Some members feared that expansion would weaken the group’s mentality, while others believed remaining on the side would limit their ability to improve the atmosphere throughout the stand. After internal discussion and an initially difficult attempt to relocate during a match against Auxerre, the Red Tigers eventually established themselves in the centre. Together with other Lens supporter associations, they contributed to a wider reorganisation of the Tony-Marek stand. Capo platforms, improved coordination, common chants and freer movement within the popular section helped turn the Marek into a more unified Kop.
The setting makes the Lens ultras scene unusual. Unlike most major groups, which occupy a stand behind one of the goals, the Red Tigers are based along the side of the pitch in the lower Tony-Marek stand. Above them stands the Xercès-Louis section. This lateral position gives Bollaert a distinctive appearance and allows the main singing section to project its voice across the stadium. From the centre of the Marek, the Red Tigers became responsible for much of the rhythm of the Lens support. Capos directed the chants, large flags remained in motion and tifos extended beyond the group’s immediate block. Their influence gradually attracted younger supporters, ensuring that the group continued to renew itself across generations.
Tifos, Chants and Terrace Identity
The Red Tigers are best known for their handmade choreographies. Their displays regularly combine painted banners, coloured cards, flags, scarves, messages and pyrotechnics. Preparation can take several months, with members meeting away from the stadium to draw, paint, sew and test the different parts of a tifo.
Their approach reflects an important principle of traditional ultras culture: the value of a display comes not only from its final appearance but also from the collective work behind it. The process strengthens the group and allows knowledge to pass from experienced members to younger generations. For the Red Tigers, tifo preparation is therefore as much an internal activity as a public performance.
The group also developed chants that gradually became part of the wider Bollaert repertoire. However, the Red Tigers exist within a stadium that already possesses powerful traditions. La Lensoise is sung before matches, while Pierre Bachelet’s Les Corons is performed by the entire stadium around the beginning of the second half. The group does not replace these customs but places its own ultra identity alongside them.
Anniversaries and Generational Continuity
The tenth anniversary in 2004 represented an important turning point. By then, the Red Tigers had gained the confidence to organise large-scale activities and had become central to the future of the Marek. Their decision to move towards the heart of the Kop reflected how far the group had progressed since its difficult beginnings.
The twentieth anniversary was celebrated against Le Havre on 17 February 2014. Following a large procession through Lens, the group presented several displays during the match. The main choreography was designed like the pages of a book, revealing different periods and symbols from the group’s history. After the final whistle, fireworks, pyrotechnics and illuminated letters brought the celebrations to an end.
Five years later, the Red Tigers marked their twenty-fifth anniversary against Auxerre. The thirtieth anniversary followed against Monaco in February 2024, with another ambitious visual programme across the Marek and Xercès sections. These celebrations were not simply nostalgic occasions. They demonstrated that a group created by five determined supporters had survived long enough to pass its mentality through several generations.
Relegations, Crisis and a Temporary Suspension
The Red Tigers experienced Lens at their strongest, but much of their history has been defined by difficult seasons. Relegations in 2008, 2011 and 2015, financial uncertainty and repeated disappointments tested the relationship between the club and its supporters. The group continued to organise away travel and display its banner during long periods in Ligue 2, when loyalty was no longer rewarded by success. In April 2012, the Red Tigers announced that the group was being placed on hold for internal reasons. They made it clear that the decision was unrelated to the team’s results. The suspension lasted approximately six months, after which the group returned to activity during the following season.
The episode showed that even a large ultras organisation can suffer from exhaustion, internal disagreements and generational difficulties. Its return also demonstrated that the network built since 1994 was strong enough to survive a serious internal crisis. Another difficult period came during the 2014/15 season, when Lens played home matches in Amiens while Bollaert-Delelis was being renovated. The Red Tigers refused to treat the Stade de la Licorne as a temporary version of their home and did not organise their normal support there. The decision was criticised by some Lens fans, but for the group it represented the belief that a club’s identity cannot simply be transferred to another city.
Conflict, Protest and Independence
The Red Tigers have never understood support as unconditional obedience to players, owners or directors. They back the shirt and the institution of RC Lens, but reserve the right to criticise those temporarily responsible for them. Banners, silence, boycotts and public statements have all been used when the group believed the club was moving away from its identity. In February 2016, the club excluded the Red Tigers from Bollaert until further notice following incidents surrounding a match at Le Havre and concerns about safety inside the Marek. Other Lens supporter groups responded with solidarity actions and calls for a boycott. The dispute illustrated the difficult position of an independent group that must negotiate with the club while resisting collective punishments and restrictions.
During the disastrous 2017/18 campaign, the Red Tigers became increasingly critical of the players and management. Supporters entered the training ground to hold a direct but peaceful discussion with the squad. Following the humiliating Coupe de France defeat against Les Herbiers, the group organised a series of protest actions, including banners, a refusal to travel to Reims and a temporary withdrawal from normal matchday support. These protests underline the distinction between supporting a club and approving everything done in its name. For the Red Tigers, loyalty includes defending the standards, history and popular identity of RC Lens.
Fighting for Supporters’ Rights
The influence of the Red Tigers extends beyond Lens. Pierre Révillon, a prominent member of the group, became president of the Association Nationale des Supporters when the national organisation was formed in 2014. The ANS was created to bring together French supporter associations, defend fan rights and establish dialogue with football authorities and government institutions. The group has campaigned against blanket travel bans, administrative stadium bans and collective punishments. It has also supported the return of standing areas and measures that preserve affordable, popular terraces. Bollaert later became one of the French stadiums involved in trials of regulated standing sections.
A striking example came before the Champions League match against Sevilla in December 2023. After the French authorities attempted to ban travelling Sevilla supporters at short notice, the Red Tigers condemned the decision and offered to help the visitors, even stating that Lens supporters would give up their own seats if necessary. The restriction was eventually suspended by France’s highest administrative court shortly before the match. The incident captured a central contradiction of ultras culture. The Red Tigers can be fiercely partisan inside the stadium while still defending the principle that visiting supporters have the right to travel and support their own club.
The Noël des Enfants Campaign
The social work of the Red Tigers is as important to understanding the group as its tifos and protests. Since 2006, the association has organised the Noël des Enfants, an annual collection of new toys for children receiving treatment in hospitals and rehabilitation centres across the Lens area.
Supporters donate toys before selected home matches at Bollaert-Delelis. Red Tigers volunteers then sort, wrap and distribute the gifts, often accompanied by players from the men’s and women’s teams. The initiative has expanded steadily, with approximately 1,700 presents collected in 2024 alone.
By 2025, the campaign had reached its twentieth edition. It expresses the group’s belief that being an ultra means caring not only about the club but also about the city and region represented by its colours. In a former mining basin where solidarity remains a powerful part of local memory, the project has become one of the most respected activities connected to the Lens supporter movement.
Friendship with the Ultras of Mantova
The most clearly documented international friendship of the Red Tigers is with the ultras of Mantova in Italy. The first contacts developed during the 2008 European Championship, when members of the two supporter scenes met and established personal relationships.
From 2010 onwards, visits between Lens and Mantova became increasingly regular. Red Tigers representatives travelled to Italy, while members of the Curva Te attended matches and group celebrations in Lens. Banners of solidarity have appeared in both stadiums, and the relationship developed into a recognised twinning between the two groups.
The connection is based on more than shared colours or occasional meetings. Both groups identify strongly with a provincial, working-class environment and emphasise independence, local pride and collective terrace culture. The friendship has continued through changes of generation and through periods when the two clubs competed far from the European spotlight.
Rivalries and Northern Identity
The principal rivalry for the entire Lens fanbase is with Lille, contested through the Derby du Nord. The fixture represents regional competition, contrasting identities and the struggle for supremacy in northern French football. For the Red Tigers, matches against Lille are among the most important occasions for banners, tifos and vocal mobilisation.
Relations with Valenciennes have also become tense. The two clubs belong to the wider northern football landscape, and their encounters carry a strong territorial element. Older members have recalled a period when supporters from the two cities could meet more peacefully, but repeated competitive meetings and changes within terrace culture gradually increased the hostility.
The Red Tigers should not be reduced to a fixed party-political identity. Their public activity is defined more clearly by independence, local attachment, defence of popular football and resistance to excessive restrictions. The mining history of Lens is central to their imagery, but regional and working-class pride does not automatically translate into one uniform political position among all members.
Red Tigers Today
More than thirty years after their formation, the Red Tigers remain the main ultras force of RC Lens. Their capos direct the Tony-Marek stand, their banners follow the team across France and Europe, and their choreographies continue to define the visual identity of Bollaert-Delelis. The group has also helped decorate the interior of the Marek with murals dedicated to the history of the club, the region and its supporters. Such projects show that independence does not prevent cooperation with RC Lens when both sides share the aim of protecting the stadium’s identity.
What makes the Red Tigers significant is not simply their size. Their importance lies in the transformation they produced. In 1994, ultras culture was still viewed with scepticism by much of the traditional Lens public. Over time, the group earned its position through consistency, away travel, visual creativity, protest and work within the community. The Red Tigers did not create the passion of Lens. That passion had existed for generations. What they did was give it a new language, combining the history of the mining basin with the methods of the European ultras movement. From five supporters struggling to organise a tifo to the centre of one of France’s most recognisable stands, RT94 have become inseparable from the modern identity of RC Lens.