Hércules prepares for a demanding summer schedule that spans roughly nine or ten months, aiming to reach the First RFEF. The plan includes a long travel itinerary with 17 league opponents, totaling more than 12,000 kilometers of road trips. Most journeys are by bus, with four matches scheduled in the Balearic Islands adding to the travel load.
“Hércules is a club where it shouldn’t be”
Caesar Hernandez
Hércules faces an adventure that features a large share of games on artificial turf. In reality, 12 of the 17 league opponents use synthetic surfaces. Consequently, Hércules will play about 35 percent of the league matches this season, including those at Rico Pérez, on artificial turf. Adapting to these varied conditions will be crucial, especially since Rubén Torrecilla encountered challenges during the preseason planning.
Hércules’ rivals
The Alicante province clubs see 10 teams repeating opponents from the 2022/23 season: Atlético Saguntino, Alzira, Badalona Futur, Espanyol B, Formentera, Lleida Esportiu, Manresa, Peña Deportiva, Terrassa, and Valencia Mestalla. This familiarity means there should be few surprises on the schedule.
Andrach, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Europa, and Penya Independent are four clubs Hércules has not faced in formal competition in its centennial history. Looking ahead, the season will bring a return meeting with La Nucía and a derby with Sant Andreu, eight years later with Sant Andreu, and a clash with Torrent after more than thirty years since a previous encounter in 1991/92 when the blue and white colors last aligned against the rival.
“Everything including Hércules hits hard, it’s a big club”
Caesar Hernandez
The long-standing presence of classic rivals, including the Valencia subsidiary with a notable number of duels, stands out in Hércules’ history. The team has endured losses in every away trip to Peña Deportiva and La Nucía, and against Terrassa they have not recorded a win in five attempts since 1999/00, with two draws and two losses. The overall pattern reflects the tough matches that mark this club’s journey away from home.
Excursions
Across the season, the total travel distance reaches 12,068 kilometers as Hércules makes its way through the second RFEF. Five opponents come from the Valencian Community, eight from Catalonia, and four trips head to the Balearic Islands to face Andrach, Formentera, Penya Independent, and Peña Deportiva. The longest voyage is a 540-kilometer trip to Manresa.
The substantial number of visits to teams that play on artificial turf requires careful planning. For the Alicante club, adapting to both grass and field dimensions will be essential, as most stadia feature synthetic surfaces. Only a few subsidiaries, Espanyol, Valencia, La Nucía, and Lleida, play on natural grass. This season will demand flexibility across venues and playing surfaces.
The 2023/24 odometer for Hércules begins in early September, and a full league slate awaits. Supporters hope that the points tally will rise steadily, inching toward the promotion target that has eluded the club for years.