Editing Lille OSC (section)

===Decline and several spells in lower levels (1955–1978)===
[[File:GuillaumeBieganski1959.jpg|thumb|[[Guillaume Bieganski]], one of the best Lille players in the late 1950s]]
The [[1955–56 French Division 1|1955–56 season]] happened to be highly complicated. The club suffered from internal conflicts, {{ill|Louis Henno|fr|Louis Henno}} was contested and certain players refused to play some matches. In the field, the Northmen were way too irregular and crumbly in defense, and finished in 16th place.<ref name="MemoirePHJV"/> Lille were relegated for the first time in their history in 1956. This relegation is accompanied by aggravating financial consequences. Best players' departure is necessary to cover debts which are becoming substantial. Failing to rebuild a top team due to the increasingly poor financial situation, the club began a series of promotions and relegations. Promoted in [[1956–57 French Division 2|1957]] by beating [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]], Lille initially ended up to an unexpected 6th place. The club then finished in eighteenth place the following season; being relegated a second time. After a few years spent in Division 2, the club became a mid-table side in the late 1960s. From 1964 to 1968, the club managed somehow to avoid relegation to the lower level. After a long drought, the worst occurred when Lille abandoned its professional status on 23 June 1969, lacking facilities and resources.<ref name="MemoirePHJV"/>

A few seasons spent in amateur leagues later, Lille recreated its professional team by entering the second division in [[1970–71 French Division 2|1970]], finished at the top of the division at the end of the season. The club began a new series of promotions and relegations in the 1970s. During this decade, the club's accounts were largely in deficit. In order to cover debts, a support committee was founded and friendly matches were organized to raise funds.<ref name="MemoirePHJV"/> Famous clubs like [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] or [[Feyenoord]] as well as nearby Belgian teams like [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] and [[Standard Liège]] agreed to play against Lille to help the northern team. However, these ticket revenues only temporarily improve the club's financial situation but the Lille city council was again forced to help and intervene.<ref name="PHJV2">{{cite book |last1=Hurseau |first1=Paul |last2=Verhaeghe |first2=Jacques |date=2004 |title=Lille Olympique Sporting Club : 1944-2004, le soixantenaire |language=fr |location=Joué-lès-Tours |publisher=Alan Sutton |isbn=9782849101124}}</ref> At the lower level, Lille missed out on promotion in 1973 by one point but were crowned Division 2 champions the following year. After finishing twice in 13th place, during the [[1974–75 French Division 1|1974–75]] and [[1975–76 French Division 1|1975–76]] seasons, the club was once again relegated in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.losc.fr/histoire/chapitre-2-les-montagnes-russes-1955-1998 |title=Chapitre 2 : Les montagnes Russes (1955 - 1998) |work=LOSC.fr |access-date=22 December 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222081330/https://www.losc.fr/histoire/chapitre-2-les-montagnes-russes-1955-1998 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PHJV2"/>