The 2022/23 season will feel awkward for Hércules CF. It may be hard to ignite the enthusiasm of a devoted fan base tired of watching one setback after another. Since the introduction of Intercity, La Nucía, and Eldense, no provincial derby will feature Hércules in league play within the Alicante region. Hércules finds itself isolated in a sixth-tier RFEF group, a situation that lacks the appeal the Blue and White supporters once expected. The last time Hércules did not host a derby in the league was the 2013-14 season in the Second Division. Since then, the club has shared the spotlight with at least one neighboring team. With the exception of Orihuela, most Alicante clubs have climbed to higher levels. Remaining in the league’s sixth tier is a sobering reality for a club that once stood as a benchmark and now seems to drift without a clear path forward.
Historically, Elche, Hércules’ major rival, dominated the early balance of power, and by 2010-11 Hércules had played in the First Division. Yet within a dozen years the positions reversed, and Elche closed the gap by moving up additional levels, while Hércules watched as the hierarchy widened—echoing a broader trend where mid-table teams in Spanish football surpassed them in historical rankings.
Over 20 seasons in the First Division, Hércules collected two promotions to the top flight, one promotion to the second division, and four seasons at Spain’s elite level within those twelve years. In contrast, Elche will near 24 seasons in the top division in the forthcoming year.
Deportivo Alcoyano, a provincial standard since the 1950s, has been competing in the Primera RFEF in recent years. Added to Hércules’ traditional rivalries are teams once far from Hércules’ orbit, such as Deportivo Eldense and La Nucía, which long contested with the club’s reserve sides.
Toscano and César are the only names associated with a current contract within the club.
Intercity has emerged as a striking challenger. In just five years, the Alicante club has established a level and quality of football that even Hércules could hardly ignore. The traditional city rival Alicante has clashed with Hércules across several divisions, including Second B’s Part Two and B groups, yet Intercity has already achieved a level Hércules once pursued. Supporters are wrestling with what comes next, especially as Enrique Ortiz’s presence continues to stir debate—blue and white fans sounded off about him last Sunday. At present, clarity about the next sporting project is scarce. What remains certain is the continuity of Toscano and César Moreno, both under contract. The club’s largest shareholder is pursuing a sports director to begin shaping the new coach after Carmelo del Pozo’s departure.
Ortiz is expected to prioritize the core Hércules squad in an effort to rebuild the project’s spine and restore confidence among the fans.
In the midst of these developments, the club is navigating the challenge of consolidating support while plotting a sustainable path forward. The emphasis is on stabilizing the core group, revisiting recruitment priorities, and aligning leadership with a clear, long-term plan for competitiveness and community identity. The aim is to recapture the club’s historic presence in Alicante football and to renew the connection with fans who have watched the Blue and White rise, slip, and now seek a renewed sense of purpose. [Attribution: local sports archive]