Real Ávila CF

Real Ávila Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Ávila, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in , holding home games at ''Estadio Adolfo Suárez'', with a capacity of 6,000 seats.

History

Early history (1923–1936)

The first football team in Ávila was the Ávila Football Club, founded on 8 August 1923 with the formation of its first board of directors, which elected Pedro Gutiérrez as president. The club adopted red shirts, blue shorts, and black socks with red turnovers as its team colours. In 1924, Jerónimo Tomé Bustillo became the new president, and in May the team inaugurated its first ground, San Francisco, located on rented land in Calleja del Moro (now Virgen de la Soterraña).

One of the most notable matches of this early period was a friendly against Real Madrid, played on 18 October during the festivities of La Santa. On 17 June 1925, the club received a royal order from King Alfonso XIII authorising His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias to accept the honorary presidency of the club. Later that year, the King granted the club the title "Real", and it became Real Ávila Football Club, a name first used officially on 30 August 1925.

From its founding, the club played friendly matches and took part in regional tournaments. In 1936, the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War brought all sporting activity to a halt. The Calleja del Moro ground disappeared, and with it, the team and its supporters. After the war, a new generation of football fans began to re-emerge, and the El Pradillo ground marked the rebirth of football in Ávila.

Modern history (1943–1987)

The current Real Ávila Club de Fútbol was founded on 6 August 1943. In November of the same year, the main issue of securing a football ground was resolved. Thanks to the efforts of the civil governor, Alejandro López Baños, and the mayor, José Tomé Bustillo, the City Council ceded the Campo de los Hoyos, located in San Antonio Park, for the construction of a sports ground later known as Campo de San Antonio. The land covered 12,000 square meters and was located in a central and scenic area. According to official documents, the site could not be removed without being replaced by another of equal or better quality, as it was considered vital for the future of local sports.

In January 1944, work began on the Campo de San Antonio. That same month, following the resignation of president Martínez Piqueras, a new board of directors was formed. The team registered with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and was placed in the Tercera División, Group VI, alongside clubs such as Real Valladolid, Deportiva Fábrica de Armas de Palencia, Gimnástica Burgalesa, Gimnástica Ferroviaria de Madrid, Imperio CF de Madrid, Gimnástica Segoviana, UD Salamanca, Atlético Zamora, and UD Béjar.

Although the official inauguration was reserved for the Santa Teresa festivities, the first match at Campo de San Antonio was played on 10 September 1944 before a large crowd. Over the following decades, Real Ávila moved through the Segunda Regional, Primera Regional, Regional Preferente, and, under coach José María Martínez and president Antonio Álvarez, eventually returned to the Tercera División.

One of the most challenging periods in the club’s history involved frequent changes of playing grounds. Before settling at Campo de San Antonio, the club had played at El Pradillo, Campo del Habanero, and Huerta or Prado "Calleja del Moro". After leaving San Antonio, the club was temporarily exiled to the city’s sports complex. Since 1976, Real Ávila has played its home matches at the Adolfo Suárez Municipal Stadium, inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, who performed the ceremonial kickoff in a match between Real Ávila and Manzanares.

In the 1986–87 season, Real Ávila was moved to the Castilla y León Football Federation group in Tercera División. On 10 May 1987, the team secured promotion to Segunda División B after a match in Herrera de Pisuerga (Palencia), under the management of José Antonio Tejedor and the presidency of Emiliano Arévalo.

Promotion to Segunda División B (1987–1995)

With the 1987 promotion, Real Ávila achieved the greatest sporting success in its history, reaching Segunda División B. The club remained in this division for eight consecutive seasons until 1995, when it was relegated back to Tercera División. At that time, the club was chaired by Anastasio Martín del Río and coached by Antonio Minguella. Four seasons later, the team earned promotion again to Segunda División B, only to be relegated once more two years later. In 1998, the club revived its official anthem, which was performed by the Ávila municipal band prior to a friendly match against La Liga side UD Salamanca, held on 11 October. Real Ávila won the match 1–0.

Recent history (21st century)

In the 2001–02 season, under local manager Miguel Martín del Río, Real Ávila won Group VIII of Tercera División and secured promotion, although the team was relegated again the following season. In the 2003–04 campaign, the club qualified for the promotion playoffs to Segunda División B, where it was eliminated by Real Oviedo.

In the 2015–16 season, after being relegated to the Regional Preferente, the club returned to Group VIII of Tercera División for the 2016–17 season.

In March 2020, the 2019–20 season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 6 May, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) approved measures to conclude the regular season, including confirmation of the current league standings, holding promotion playoffs in a shortened format, and cancelling relegations.

On 14 September 2020, the RFEF approved a restructuring of its national divisions, renaming them Primera RFEF, Segunda RFEF, and Tercera RFEF. Real Ávila was placed in the newly designated Tercera RFEF.

In the 2023–24 season, under the management of Miguel de la Fuente, Real Ávila won Group VIII of the Tercera Federación and achieved promotion to Segunda RFEF.

Season to season

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*11 seasons in Segunda División B
*1 season in Segunda Federación
*45 seasons in Tercera División
*3 seasons in Tercera Federación/Tercera División RFEF

Current squad

''Updated as of 29 August 2024

Famous players

* Rony Beard
* Benji Núñez
* Rui
* Martin Wolfswinkel
* Bruno Tiago
* Ricardo
* Feliciano Rivilla
* Juan Viyuela
* Jose "Chino" Zapatera
* Rubén Peña

References

External links

*
Futbolme team profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Avila
Football clubs in Castile and León
Association football clubs established in 1923
1923 establishments in Spain
Sport in Ávila, Spain
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