Le Havre AC

Football club infobox
clubname = Le Havre Athletic Club


fullname = Le Havre Athletic Club FA
nickname = Le H.A.C.
founded = 1872
ground = Stade Jules Deschaseaux
capacity = 16 454
chairman = Jean-Pierre Louvel
manager = Jean Marc Nobilo
league = Ligue 1
season = 2007-08
position = Ligue 2, 1st (Champions)
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Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association or Havre Athletic Club, is a French football club based in Le Havre, founded in 1872 making it the oldest football and rugby club registered in France. Football began being played on a regular basis in 1894, so technically FC Mulhouse could be considered the first French football team being established in 1893 (however, they were a German team at the time). Le Havre currently play in Ligue 1 of the French league and their home stadium is Stade Jules Deschaseaux.

In 1899, Le Havre became the first club from outside Paris to become French football champions. At the time the championship was organised by the USFSA. After defeating Iris Club Lillois in the semi-final, they were awarded the title after receiving a walkover in the final [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesf/franchamp.html www.rsssf.com] ] .

The club is famous for its notable youth investment program which develops and nurtures young (often local) talent, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise. A vast amount of good young talent has gone on to make an impact at international level including Ibrahim Ba, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Lassana Diarra and Vikash Dhorasoo.

Le Havre is known as 'les ciel et marine' in France, which translates as 'the sky and navy blues'. These colours were chosen by the club's English founders as they were those of their alma maters, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Current squad

"As of July 16, 2008"

Junior Squad

Honours

*French Champions
**"Winners": 1899, 1900, 1919 3
*French Second Division
**"Winners": 1938, 1959, 1985, 1991, 2008 5
**"Runners Up": 1950 1
*Coupe de France
**"Winners": 1959 1
**"Runners Up": 1920 1
*Challenge international du Nord
**"Winners": 1900 1
*Coupe Nationale
**"Winners": 1918, 1919 2
*Normandy Champions
**"Winners": 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1926 13
*Challenge des Champions
**"Winners": 1959 1

Notable former players

See also:

Managerial history

[cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html#l |title=France - Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs on RSSSF | accessdate=2007-07-23]

References

External links

* [http://www.hac-foot.com/ Official site] fr icon
* [http://www.infohac.com/site.php3?page=accueil Official supporter's site] fr icon
* [http://www.lehac.fr/ Unofficial site] fr icon