Excursionistas

Excursionistas
Full name Club Atlético Excursionistas
Nickname(s) Excursio, Verde, Villeros
Founded 1 February 1910
Ground Belgrano, Buenos Aires
Capacity 8,000
Chairman Angel Lozano
Manager Néstor Rapa
League Primera C
2013-14 10th
Website Club home page

Club Atlético Excursionistas (familiarly called Excursio by fans) is an Argentine football club based in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires. The squad currently plays in the Primera C, the fourth division of the Argentine football league system.

History

The beginning

The club was founded in 1910 in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The name "Excursionistas" (which could roughly be translated as "Voyagers" in Spanish) was given due to the founders used to make trips (voyages) to Paraná River and Isla Maciel to compete in athletic tournaments. They initially named the club as "Club Unión Excursionistas".

The first jersey worn was green (the color of the grass) with a horizontal white stripe (white referred to the table clothes used in the picnic they usually did).

Entering to football league

Excursionistas disputed its first tournament in 1911, playing its home games at "Club Florida", an institution of Florida neighborhood in Greater Buenos Aires. Before the 1912 season, the club acquired a land in Belgrano neighborhood, where its stadium was built, more precisely on the corner of La Pampa and Miñones streets.

The team won the 1916 Segunda División title after defeating Sportivo Palermo 1-0, and therefore promoted to División Intermedia. In 1919 the club changed its name to current Club Atlético Excursionistas, also modifying its jersey, which became white and green in vertical stripes.

Promotion to first division

The 1924 team that promoted to Primera during the amateur era.

In 1924, in the San Lorenzo de Almagro old stadium, Excursionistas defeated Talleres de Remedios de Escalada 2-1 proclaiming champion and promoting to Argentine Primera División. More than 10,000 attended the match.

In 1931 goalkeeper Fortunato Grimoldi was called up to Argentina national football team. He also appeared on the cover of El Gráfico (the most important sports magazine in Latin America) in 1930.

In 1934 the Asociación Argentina de Fútbol (which Excursionistas was affiliated to) merged with Liga Profesional de Fútbol, forming the Argentine Football Association. This restructuring sent Excursionistas to the second division along with many other teams that decided to continue as amateurs. Since then, the club has disputed the lower divisions tournaments.

In 1942 Excursionistas finished 2nd after Rosario Central. That team, coached by Pedro Tilhet, is regarded by fans as the best Excursionistas team of all-time. In 1957 Excursionistas had to play a playoff series against Argentino de Quilmes in order to define which team would be relegated to second division. After a 2-2 draw in the first game, Excursionistas achieved a great 6-1 win in the second match, so the team kept its place in Primera División and sent off Argentino to Primera B.

The dark years

In 1972 Excursionistas was relegated to Primera C, where remained until 1995 when the team promoted to Primera B, although its lasted there just for a season, being relegated again one year later. During the 1998-99 season Excursionistas made a great campaign, remaining 16 fixtures unbeaten. The following season (1999–2000) the squad, coached by Néstor Rapa, achieved a historic landmark of 10 consecutive wins, placing 1st and near to be promoted. Nevertheless, the institution was punished with a 21 points loss due to the riot caused by some part of its fans during the match against Club Comunicaciones. The hooligans jumped into the field to attack Comunicaciones players.[1] As a result, Excursionistas missed the chance to promote.

In 2001, Excursionistas won the Clausura tournament, although the team did not promote due to it was not established by the rules. That championship only allowed the squad to play a semi-final of a small tournament. The rival was Deportivo Laferrere which eliminated Excursionistas due to goal average, after losing the first game 2-0 and winning the second 3-2.

The Centennial Decade

In 2010, Excursionistas became a centennial Club. The Club now is growing fast and since the beginning of 2015, the stadium have the first synthetic grass ground of all direct AFA affiliated clubs.

Presidents

1910 / 1912 Oscar Piñera

1913 / 1914 Raúl Gantes

1915 / 1916 Eusebio Gorostidi

1917 / 1919 Amadeo Aldini

1920 / 1926 Julio Ferraris

1927 José David

1928 Francisco Greco

1929 / 1930 Julio Ferraris

1931 / 1935 Eusebio Gorostidi

1936 / 1943 Armando Policella

1944 / 1951 José David

1952 / 1953 Pedro Guerra

1954 José Giordano

1955 / 1956 Dr. Anselmo Bidoglio

1957 Dr. Germán Wernicke

1958 Antonio Lleira

1959 / 1960 Dr. Anselmo Bidoglio

1961 / 1963 Luis Martín

1964 Rogelio Fortunato

1965 / 1967 Jorge de Santo Monasterio

1968 Dr. Anselmo Bidoglio

1969 / 1973 Rogelio Fortunato

1974 / 1981 Carlos Ianowski

1982 / 1985 Dr. Guillermo Black

1986 / 1987 Enrique Viva

1988 / 1991 Antonio Gorsd

1992 Raúl Padró

1993 / 1998 Rogelio Pita

1998 / 2002 Camilo Scorpaniti

2002 / 2010 Armando Mainoli

2010 Angel Lozano

Hymn

Composed by Professor Luis Ortigoza, in 1930 decade:

Es el nuevo Excursionistas que queremos/ el que empuja toda garra y corazón/ en el Bajo de Belgrano hay otro guapo/ y ese guapo es el cuadrito de mi amor/ Si la suerte se le niega el primer tiempo/ no da tregua, en el segundo ha de arrollar/ es el ritmo de ese nuevo Excursionistas/ el anhelo fabuloso de triunfar/ Palabra de orden es nunca aflojar/ jugar con fe y con valor/ Excursionistas con tu gran tesón/ ¡ataquen, más goles, hay que ganar!/

Stadium

The Stadium does not have oficial name, it is informally known as "El Coliseo del Bajo Belgrano " o "Pampa y Miñones". Has a capacity for 8.000 spectators.

Cultural activities

Excursionistas Institute

This is the "Instituto Excursionistas "Oscar Piñera"",a cultural digital space that have virtual classrooms with many information, for reading and learning topics as Sports and Nutrition.

Virtual Museum

The club founded the "Museo "Julio Ferraris"", that have the History of the Club in pictures and films.

Digital Library

In 2013, was born the "Biblioteca digital de Excursionistas "Raúl Gantes"", where users can read in internet digital books.

Famous fans

René Houseman- Ex-player of Excursionistas y de Huracán y River Plate, Independiente y Colo-Colo. World Champion with Selección nacional Argentina 1978.

Emir Kusturica- Musician.

Javier Pedro Saviola- Jugador de Fútbol, actualmente en Hellas Verona FC (Italia) y ex-player of River Plate, F.C. Barcelona, Real Madrid C.F., Sevilla F.C., Málaga C.F., A.S. Mónaco, SL Benfica, Olympiacos F.C. y de la Selección Argentina.

Victor Bo- Actor.

Ignacio Copani - Músician.

Sports

Academy and former players

Children between 3 and 18 years old learn and play representing the club in champinoships organized by AFA.

Indoor football or "Futsal"

The "Fútbol de Salón o Fútbol Sala (Futsal)" is very important in club. Is affiliated to AFA and Liga Argentina Futsal Afista in full categories: 1.°, 3.°, 4.°, 5.°, 6.°, 7.°, 8.° y 9.°.

Female Football

Called "Fut Fem" of Excursio is affiliated to AFA, and plays the championship: Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino de Argentina.

Box

The Club organize many tournements and is affiliated to Federación Argentina de Box.

Artistic Skating

Afiliated to Lipac, el skaters famale team of te club have achieved several tornements.

Tennis

Tradicional in the club desde since several decades.

Projects: Chess/ Athletism

New projects in the Club includes de development of Chess and the practice of Athletism.

Honours

1924 AAm [lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ The "Asociación Amateurs Argentina de Football" (AAm) was an amateur league which organized its own championships from 1919 to 1926 when merging with rival Argentine Football Association.

References

  1. ↑ "La AFA atendió los reclamos y tomó una decisión histórica", La Nación, 2000-05-05

External links