the Alicante City Council, a coalition of the Partido Popular and Ciudadanos, announced on Monday that all municipal political groups offered their unanimous support and paid tribute to Hercules Football Club. The council praised the club and its professionals for celebrating a centennial that marks the city with pride and serves as a beacon of community spirit for Alicante.
You may be interested in:
Hercules CF legends and the centennial celebrations draw attention to a club whose roots go deep in Alicante’s sports culture. The centenary is framed as a citywide milestone and a source of local heritage that resonates with residents and supporters alike.
Two formal agreements were made to invite the public to attend the full general assembly commemorating the club’s 100 years. The blue-and-white squad is described as a legacy of the city that gave it its birth. The statement also extended recognition to all people and professionals connected with the club over the decades.
Mayor Luis Barcala recalled the early history, highlighting the enthusiasm and persistence of local youngsters led by Vicente Llosa Alfosea, better known as Anchor. The mayor noted that those early games were played around the old Plaza de Calvo Sotelo, underscoring the humble beginnings of a team that would grow into a local icon.
Although Hercules Club de Fútbol became a formal organization in 1922, evidence suggests activity dating back to 1919 when it participated in the Excelsior Cup organized by the local Sports Association. A group of friends, led by Vicente Pastor, trained in the Montañeta district and in the open spaces near Plaza de Los Luceros, deciding to form a club under the emblem of Hercules, symbolizing strength and resilience. The initial uniform featured a red and white shirt with black trousers, colors that reflected the founding insignia. The jersey later evolved to blue and white stripes with black trousers in 1928, a combination that endures today.
► People and professionals
The early leadership, including figures such as Angel Perez, Jose Masia Enebra, Alberto Miso Ferrandiz, Jose Olmos, Juan Carratala, Enrique Arlandiz, Heliodoro Garcia, and Eduardo Campos, is recognized for laying the foundation of Hercules. Their dedication in the club’s formative years established a durable legacy that continues to be celebrated and studied by fans and historians alike. The city offers gratitude and congratulations to all who contributed to the club’s enduring success.
The mayor noted that Hercules began as a modest outfit without its own ground, yet the skill of its players drew attention from larger Alicante clubs. In the early 1920s, the strongest teams in the area included Fine Arts Circle Sports Group and the Swimming Club, with Hercules gradually organizing as a formal society. A 1922 commission, led by Jose Masiá, prepared statutes that were approved later that year, charting the path toward federation and greater organizational stability.
► Bardín Stadium
From those early mornings, sporting success followed quickly. By 1930 Hercules claimed the Spanish amateur football championship, and the construction of a landmark stadium began to take shape. The Bardín stadium, opened in 1932, positioned Alicante at the forefront of national sport. Its architectural significance and facilities were widely admired.
Hercules earned promotion to the top tier in 1935 and achieved notable results in the following season, including a strong league finish and a cup semi-final showing. The blue and white club hosted major matches at Bardín through 1954, cementing its place in Alicante’s sporting narrative.
► A Primera and Rico Pérez
Over ongoing decades, Hercules played many seasons in the top national division, marking a long and storied era that culminated in the distinctive development of the Rico Pérez Stadium. Opened on August 3, 1974, the venue hosted a friendly between Hercules and FC Barcelona and was named in honor of a key club leader who oversaw the project’s realization. The stadium became a symbol of local pride and a home for generations of fans.
► World Cup center
The prominence of the arena helped Alicante be chosen as a football hub in a major international event staged in Spain. The city hosted the World Cup in 1982, offering an extensive stage for global football and welcoming teams from across the world, including legendary players who defined the sport for a generation. This period highlighted Alicante on the world map of football and underscored Hercules’ place within the city’s broader sporting ecosystem.
► Sports milestones
Throughout its history, Hercules achieved thirteen promotions, including eight to the First Division and five to the Second. The club collected multiple national titles in different divisions and earned several runner-up finishes. Its journey also featured wins in friendly tournaments and regional competitions that reinforced Alicante’s identity as a football-loving community.
Hercules is celebrated as a century-long symbol of local passion, perseverance, and communal pride. The centennial narrative emphasizes the city’s deep connection to the club and its ongoing influence on Alicante’s sports culture. It acknowledges the enthusiasm of those who built the club from a modest beginning into a lighthouse for generations of supporters and players alike. The story remains a living testament to the bond between Hercules and the city of Alicante. Attribution: Alicante City Council.