Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad are a Basque football club from San Sebastián/Donostia in Guipúzcoa/Gipuzkoa. Founded on September 17 1909, it currently plays in the Primera División.

History

Football was introduced to Donostia in the early 1900s by students and workers returning from Britain. In 1904 they formed the San Sebastian Recreation Club and in 1905 they competed in the Copa del Rey. In May 1905 the San Sebastian Football Club was formed as a seperate branch of the club. In 1909 they applied to enter the Copa del Rey but complications over registration permits saw them compete as Club Ciclista de San Sebastian. This team beat Club Espanol de Madrid 3-1 in the final. Out of the confusion the Sociedad de Futbol was formed on September 7th 1909. In 1910 Spanish clubs played in two rival cup competitions and Sociedad de Futbol entered the Copa UECF as Vasconia de San Sebastian. In the same year Alfonso XIII, who used San Sebastian as his summer capital, gave the club his patronage. They subsequently became known as Real Sociedad de Futbol. They were founder members of the national Spanish league in 1928-29. The team came fourth with Francisco "Cuqui" Bienzobas finishing as top scorer. The teams name was changed to Donostia Club de Futbol in 1931, with the advent of the Second Spanish Republic, but changed back to Real Sociedad after the Spanish Civil War in 1939.

Related Topics:
Copa del Rey - Alfonso XIII - Summer capital - Francisco "Cuqui" Bienzobas - Second Spanish Republic - Spanish Civil War

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Football In Spain Alex Graham; www.rsssf.com

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