FC Torrevieja

Football club infobox
clubname = Torrevieja


fullname = Fútbol Club Torrevieja
nickname =
founded = 1993
ground = Vicente García,
Torrevieja,
Valencian Community,
Spain
capacity = 8,000
chairman = flagicon|Spain Restituto Marroquí
manager = flagicon|Spain Francisco Pliego
league = 3ª - Group 6
season = 2007-08
position = 3ª - Group 6, 15th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=ffffff|body1=ffffff|rightarm1=ffffff|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=ffffff
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFF00|body2=FFFF00|rightarm2=FFFF00|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000

Fútbol Club Torrevieja is a football team based in Torrevieja in the autonomous community of Valencian Community. Founded in 1993, it plays in the Tercera División - Group 6. Its stadium is "Vicente García" with a capacity of 8,000 seats.

History

FC TORREVIEJA – A BRIEF HISTORY

In Torrevieja, football started to become popular during the time of the First World War. Although there were no official clubs, local men would clear a field, set up goalposts and play a match. The first official ground was inaugurated in 1920 on a field in what is today called colonia de San Esteban very near to what is now the town’s bus station. In the small plaza behind the station we can see a statue of a footballer to commemorate this fact.

The first reference to Torrevieja Club de Futbol is in 1923 and although there was no official league for them to play in, friendlies and summer cup competitions were arranged against other teams in the Vega Baja region.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) football, like most things, came to a standstill. It was not until the mid 1950’s that Torrevieja again had an official team, or teams, as Two sides – Espanol Frente de Juventudes (known as el Hueso) and Club Deportivo Torrevejense (known as el Remiendo) were formed.

Both the Torrevieja sides continued to play only in friendlies and cup matches and participated in competitions like the “San Pedro Cup” and the “Vega Baja Cup” without any success to mention. Matches from this period are still remembered with affection in the town with the likes of Murcia, Hercules and Orihuela visiting Torrevieja. Another peculiarity of the times was that there was no admission charged for the match, instead “the hat” was passed round the ground for fans to make whatever contribution they could.

Over the next 15 years both of the Torrevejense clubs folded, leaving a void which was filled in 1971 with the foundation of Torrevieja Club de Futbol. This came about after an appeal by the local press for the formation of a new club as well as a new ground. Football fever was now sweeping the town and the Mayor at the time, Sr. Vicente Garcia Garcia and his administration took on the task to build the football ground we have today. The ground was named (and is still named) the Estadio Municipal Vicente Garcia (to give the ground it’s full title) and was inaugurated with a match against Hercules Alicante in 1971.

Torrevieja CF made their league debut in 1971/72 season, playing in the Valencian second regional division (two below their current level) and reached Regional Preferente (the level they are currently playing) in 1976. In 1978 the Club achieved promotion to the 3rd. Division. The whole town threw a massive fiesta as the local club, founded 7 seasons previously had reached the national level within Spanish football.

Before the season could start, it seems the whole town turned up at the Vicente Garcia Stadium and helped to extend the terracing around the whole pitch (up to that point only what is now the covered area was developed).

For ten years the club played in Division 3, but on the 15th of May 1988 Torrevieja CF achieved their greatest success to date by gaining promotion to Division 2B. For 5 seasons the club competed in the 2B Division before the financial obligations of competing at this level began to take their toll. Heavily in debt and unable to pay their players or creditors, the club were relegated at the end of the 1993/94 season back to Division 3. Worse was to come as the Spanish FA relegated them a further division (back to Regional Preferente) for failing to meet their financial commitments.

At the same time (1993), a new football club was set up in the town, Club Deportivo Torrevieja. The club played in 2nd Regional. It is this new club which began to climb the football “ladder” and reached Regional Preferente Division in 1996 at the same time that Torrevieja CF dropped down to 2nd Regional Division. Also in 1996 the new club adopted its current name FC Torrevieja and it is this team that today represents the town. After 1 year in Preferente Division, FC Torrevieja achieved promotion in 1997 to the 3rd Division only to drop back down into Preferente Division 2 years later.

In the 2002/3 season, Restituto (Tuto) Marroqui Ramirez was elected as Club President (Chairman) by the Local Council (FC Torrevieja is a Municipal Club, owned by Torrevieja Council). The new manager would be Vlaho Macan. In his first season a mid table finish was achieved with a squad made up of young local players. It was also at this time that a significant event took place which would affect the Club and the locality in a very positive way.

In January 2003, at a meeting in the “Total Football Bar” in the Urbanisation San Luis, a group of mainly British fans met and agreed to set up a Supporters Club for FC Torrevieja. This group had been following FC Torrevieja “Home and Away” all season and had helped to increase crowds at the ground from 100 or so to 500. The name chosen for their supporters club was “The Torry Army”. The first President was Eduardo (Eddie) Cagigao.

Macan’s side unsuccessfully reached the play offs in the 2003/4, a season which saw crowds rising at the Vicente Garcia with over 3,000 in attendance at the play off match against Paterna.

With Macan stepping down at the end of the 2003/4 season, Juan Manuel Riquelme (ex Novelda and Jumilla manager) was chosen to succeed him for the 2004/5 season. Riquelme said at his first press conference that he was only interested in one thing – “Promotion, Promotion and Promotion”. He was true to his words and after suffering the disappointment of being pipped to the Championship by local rivals, Alone Guardamar, FC Torrevieja took the play off group by storm and were promoted before the last match – a glorious home match against Saguntino, which “"Torry"” (as FC Torrevieja had started to be affectionately known by its now considerable British support), won 4-1 in front of over 6,000 delirious fans.

The 2005/6 saw Riquelme bringing in 12 new players of witch was Englands Craig Anthony Royston Johnson [http://www.alexpenny.co.uk] all this in preparation for Torrys first season. As the Club went full time professional for the first time ever, expectation in and around the Club reached fever pitch, but the season started badly and led to Riquelme being replaced before Christmas, after another disappointing home defeat (Castellon B” 0-1). Antonio Cabezuelo Martinez, known as “Rojo” was appointed as Riquelme’s successor and steered the side to a mid table (12th) finish for the season.

The 2006/7 season has been a major success for the club. Having been in the top four for most of the season, Torry dropped out of the play off places very briefly but long enough for manager Rojo to be replaced. The side were looking tired and lacked self belief. Paco Pliego, was brought in to get the side back into the play offs. His contract was for 3 matches plus any play off matches. The Club have an option to give him a further contract next season if they see fit to do so. He has started magnificently. FC Torrevieja have beaten Utebo by 2-0 in the first leg of their play off semi final in front of a 5000 plus crowd. The winners will meet either Fuertaventura or Zella in the final for the right to play in League 2b next season. There is still plenty of work if FC Torrevieja is to achieve it’s huge potential. It is still the best supported club in the country at their level and with the full backing and support from the Town Council, local businesses and the Torry Army there really should be nothing to stop this Club going all the way to the top.

It’s possible that having given football to Spain and Torrevieja all those years ago, a new generation of Brits could once again give FC Torrevieja the impetus needed to achieve it’s aims.

The next few seasons should be interesting down at the Vicente Garcia Stadium!!!

FC TORREVIEJA Through to PLAY OFF FINALS FC Torrevieja travelled a huge distance up to Zaragoza to play Utebo in the second leg of their play off semi final. Despite playing well -Torry lost 1-0 on the day but that is good enough to see FC Torreviejathrough to the play off final where they will meet Fuerteventura.

PLAY OFF FINAL - 1st Leg. Fuerteventura carry a very slender 1-0 lead to the Vicente Garcia Stadium next Sunday where it is expected a 6000 plus crowd will roar FC Torrevieja into League 2b. A penalty goal was all that separated the sides on the artificial turf in the Canary Island. If that was like playing on a carpet then playing on the tough demanding "bobbly" grass pitch at Torrevieja will be a world of difference. FC Torrevieja have slammed in 44 goals at home this season whilst Fuerteventura, who have lost 7 times on their travels in the league, only managed a total of 15 away goals. It is all set up very nicely for a lively exciting encounter.

FUERTEVENTURA SURPRISE ALL in 2nd Leg DRAW. A last gasp goal by the visitors was enough to secure a draw on the day and their passage through to Promotion to 2b. Congratulations to Fuerteventura and we hope that FC Torrevieja can go one step better with promotion next season.

Seasons

*1998/1999: Tercera División "20th - Relegated"
*2005/2006: Tercera División "12th"
*2006/2007: Tercera División "3rd"
*2007/2008: Tercera División "15th"
*2008/2009: Tercera División----
*5 seasons in "Tercera División"

Famous players

*flagicon|England Kenny Brown

External links

* [http://www.torryarmy.com/] club website
* [http://www.futbolme.com/txt/futbolme_12.html]