Alicante CF

History

Alicante Club de Fútbol, under another denomination, saw the light of day in 1918, joining the Valencian Football Federation five years later, with Joaquín Tomás Terol being its first official president. The team spent the vast majority of its early existence in Tercera División, also having very brief spells in the second division (1939–40 – as Alicante Football Club – 1951–52 and 1956–58). For eight years in the 60's, it also acted as neighbours Hércules CF's feeder club.

In the 2000s, the club firmly established itself as one of the third level's strongest sides, only to consecutively miss promotion in the playoffs. In 2007–08, Alicante returned once again to the second category. Also in that season, it valliantly exited in the fourth round of the Spanish Cup, after a 2–3 aggregate loss against La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid.

Facing severe economic problems, Alicante club produced a respectable first part of the season in the second division campaign, but was eventually relegated back. The financial situation persisted in the following years and, on 1 July 2011, at the end of 2010–11, the team was relegated to the fourth division after failing to pay its players on time.

In June 2014, Alicante CF was dissolved and replaced by CF Independiente Alicante, who adopted its colors and its logo.

Season to season

Stadium

Alicante held home games at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza, with a 4,000-seat capacity. Previously owned by the club, it was then purchased by the City Hall, and the team held their official matches there since 1979.

However, between 2001–10, Alicante played at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, also the home grounds of Hércules. After returning to the third division, Ciudad Deportiva did not possess the required structures to host games in the category, and the municipal authorities refused to renew them.