Draft:History of UD Las Palmas

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Foundation[edit]

A decade after the Spanish Civil War, football in Las Palmas faced numerous challenges and difficulties. The financial situations of Las Palmas’ five biggest clubs, Real Club Victoria, Marino FC, CD Gran Canaria, Atlético Club, and Arenas Club, were deteriorating rapidly due to their financial strength of being able to compete for players against Spain’s top clubs.[1][2] A new registration law by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which limited players to a maximum of a two-year contract, resulted in the clubs in Las Palmas being unable to retain their academy players for extended periods. Consequently, many players relocated to the Spanish mainland to continue their football careers in national competitions. As a result, Eufemiano Fuentes Díaz, president of Marino CF, went to a meeting in Madrid to change the legislation of contracts to a minimum of four years. A different proposal was also presented, stating that all Spanish clubs were prohibited from signing players in the Canary region with the exception if they were first-team players who had already passed the stage of being academy players. These proposals were delayed and denied by the RFEF.[1]

During this time, clubs continued to see their debts increase, leading to the possibility of defunction. The Vice President of the Las Palmas Football Federation, Manuel Rodríguez Monroy, proposed a merger of the five teams comprising the regional competition, aiming to compete in national competitions and resolve the economic situation as a result. The purpose of this proposal was to present a compelling case to the RFEF for allowing the Canary Islands to participate in national competitions, enabling Canarian footballers to compete without relocating to the Spanish mainland.[1][2][3] This proposal was presented towards the president, Adolfo Miranda Ortega, who among other board members agreed. On 4 February 1949, a letter was sent to the presidents of the five clubs, proposing a potential merger to compete in the national competitions. The first meeting was held on 28 February 1949 in Alameda de Colón, Las Palmas with the representatives of the five merging clubs attending. Gran Canaria, Atlético and Arenas promptly agreed to the proposal due to their finances whilst Marino and Victoria remained wary of the repercussions it could have on the club and its fans. From there, the representatives agreed to meet every Monday and create a collaborative group that would be known as the Fusion Presentation.[1][2][3]

Don José Del Río Amor, of legal age and from this neighborhood, acting as President of the Management Commission of the Club "Unión Deportiva Las Palmas" to that Excma. Corporation that allows exhibiting: That by agreement of the five teams that make up the First Regional Category, dependent on the Regional Football Federation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, it has been done with permission to merge them with the objective that, grouped in one only all their potential economically and sportingly, incorporate this powerful Club into national football competitions.

Likewise, and by unanimous agreement of the merged teams, its name is "Unión Deportiva Las Palmas" and that both the colors and the shield of the teams resulting from this merger are those of this city; but for the latter to be legally carried out, it is necessary that the Hon. Corporation gives its approval in this regard, that is why it begs that Excma. Corporation that, having presented this document, deigns to authorize the aforementioned Club "Unión Deportiva Las Palmas" to use the shield of this city, orlando with the name of this Club and the emblems of the five merged teams.

It is grace that you expect from that Excma. Corporation, whose life God save many years.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, September 1, 1949.

Letter by José Del Río Amor, President of UD Las Palmas.[1]

After more than a month of deliberations, Miranda and Monroy were delegated the role of requesting a transfer into the Spanish Second Division via a letter to the RFEF.[2] The letter was sent on 4 April 1949 but the proposition was rejected for being to detriment for the other teams and that it would alter the regulation of promotions.[1] However, Ricardo Cabot, a secretary in the RFEF, resumed the proposition towards the board members and, on 6 June 1949, following a meeting in Madrid that Miranda and Monroy attended, it was announced by telegram that Canary Islands football was accepted into the third division of Spanish football.[2] The acceptance allowed the merger of Arenas Club and CD Gran Canaria, both of whom gave up their headquarters and trophies, to form under the name Unión Deportiva Las Palmas as the first phase for total integration.[1][2]

On 16 August 1949, the Fusion Presentation had their last meeting where after coming in contact with Marino and Victoria stated the clubs would not merge as of yet due to difficult financial situation. This led to refusals to financially support the lease of the Las Palmas Stadium for UD Las Palmas to play its games in the 1949–50 season.[2] As a result, a "Magna Assembly" was held by Monroy on 22 August 1949 at Real Club Náutico. After a successful meeting in which all five clubs unanimously agreed towards the final proposition presented by Monroy, Unión Deportiva Las Palmas was officially established at 8 p.m. on 22 August 1949.[1][2][3][4] A committee was established with José del Río Amor as the club’s first president and Monroy appointed as the club's first vice president.[1][5] The headquarters of Las Palmas was located in the Plazoleta Luis Antunez.[2][3]

Las Palmas’ first training session was held on 16 September 1949 with new manager, Pancho Arencibia.[2] Juan Santana Macías, a winger from Atlético, was the first player signed by the club and was present during the training session.[6][7] On 9 October 1949, Las Palmas played their first match against Marino with Antoñito Jorge scoring the first goal in their history of a 2–1 win at Las Palmas stadium.[8][9] Antoñito played three seasons for Las Palmas, scoring 11 goals in their promotion campaign towards the Second Division.[10][11]

Early years (1949–1963)[edit]

In their debut competitive season, the club secured 2nd place in a group that included CD Tenerife, Imperial de Murcia, SD Ceuta, CD Toledo, and UD Melilla, earning promotion to the Second Division.[1] Las Palmas played their first derby match against Tenerife on 30 April 1950, at the Santa Cruz Stadium, winning 2–1. Their first away match outside the islands was on 21 May 1950, against Toledo at the Palomarejos Stadium, resulting in a 5–2 victory.[12] However, on 25 June 1950, Las Palmas suffered a 2–0 defeat in their last league match against Melilla, which initially threatened their chances of promotion. Fortunately, Imperial de Murcia, who sat third in the table, also faced defeat, securing Las Palmas' certified promotion to the Second Division.[13] Tragically, one of Las Palmas' first signed players and starter, Antonio Vieira, died from illness on 4 April 1951. His funeral was held in the Church of San Pablo and a tribute match was held with locals in which Las Palmas won 3–1.[14] In the club’s participation in the 1950–51 Second Division, the club achieved a second consecutive promotion to the First Division, following a 4–1 victory over Málaga on 8 July 1951 that sent the club to first place of the table.[1][12] Las Palmas became the first club in Spanish football to gain promotion twice consecutively to the First Division despite being two years old at the time.[15] By the end of the season, Las Palmas’ first goalkeeper, Manolo Montes, was sold to Atletico Madrid in 1951 for a fee of 375,000 Pt. Nicknamed "El Patrón", Montes made 55 official appearances for Los Amarillos and became the first player to be sold by the club.[16][17]

The following season saw Las Palmas relegated down to the Second Division after coming 15th with 9 wins, 4 draws and 17 losses.[18] In the club's first match of the season, Las Palmas would lose 4–1 to Real Madrid at the newly inaugurated Insular Stadium on 9 September 1951.[1] A hat-trick from Pahiño and a goal from Luis Molowny sealed Madrid's win whilst Juan Cedrés scored the first goal in the division for Las Palmas.[19] The following games saw defeat to Celta (5–2), Sevilla (5–0) and Deportivo La Coruña (3–1) before the club earned their first point to Racing Santandar after a 1–1 draw on 23 September 1951.[20] The poor run of form convinced the club's personnel to sign more experienced players with Manolo Torres and Beneyto, both signing from Málaga on 14 October 1951 for a combined total of 1,000,000 Pt. The club achieved their first win of the season two days later, defeating Atlético Tetuán 4–1 with two goals from Torres on his debut and another two from Tacoronte.[21] Additionally, the first foreign player for Las Palmas, Jean Luciano, who signed from Real Madrid, made his debut on 16 December 1951 in a 6–0 defeat to Real Zaragoza at Torrero Stadium.[22][23]

In January 1952, goalkeeper José “Pepín” Casas Gris was signed as a replacement for Montes and for a starting position after goalkeepers Viera and González were having poor perfomances in recent matches. Born in Valencia, Pepín became the first player from the Peninsular region to represent Las Palmas. He arrived at the Hotel of Santa Brígida, Las Palmas from Alicante on 5 January 1952.[24][25] On 26 March 1952, Las Palmas played Millonarios de Bogotá in a match that contained the likes of Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Colombian team at the time was considered the best in South America and had remained undefeated against the likes of Porto, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia during their tour in Europe. Las Palmas triumphed 3–2 over Millonarios with Di Stéfano scoring his first goal in Spain whilst Las Palmas became the only European team to have defeated Millonarios.[26] In the 1952–53 season, manager Luis Valle Benítez, who managed Las Palmas in their promotion campaign to the First Division, resigned on 6 October 1952.[27] The club remained in the Second Division until the 1953–1954 season when they achieved promotion back to the First Division.[1] The club won their first title in their history under Satur Grech after finishing first in the table, jointly becoming winners with Alavés.[28][29] On 27 December 1953, Las Palmas played their first derby match against Tenerife in a national competition.[30] Los Amarillos drew both matches they played against Tenerife, the last being on 25 April 1954 where a goalless draw led to Las Palmas' promotion at the Santa Cruz Stadium.[31]

Las Palmas would stay in the First Division for the first time during the 1954–55 season after placing 12th on the table. During the season, Las Palmas won their first game against Barcelona on 9 February 1955 with a final score of 2–1 at the Insular Stadium.[32] The club ensured survival with 27 points on 10 April 1955, defeating Celta 3–1 at home and overcoming Espanyol who sat below with 26 points on the table.[33] The 1955–56 season saw Las Palmas reaching a peak of 3rd place in the first half of the season before succumbing towards a relegation battle in the second half of the season.[34] According to Marcial Sánchez, a player who signed from Real Murcia in the 1954–55 season,[35] the club briefly shared a spot in the top three of the league table with Barcelona at one point. However, due to the losses of key players, including captain Juan Beltrán and Marcial himself, the club's form deteriorated as the season progressed. Beltrán suffered a two-year knee injury, eventually recovering, but Marcial recalled that the player was never the same again and the injury led him to retirement.[36] Beltrán, in particular, was a highly respected captain and nicknamed by the fans as "El del pañuelo en la frente" (The one with the handkerchief on his forehead). He was the first player selected from Las Palmas Atlético's side and also the first from the club to represent the Spanish national football team. On 16 January 1957, Beltrán was appointed as the first designated youth coach of Las Palmas during his recovery from injury.[37][38][39] During the 1956–57 season, Las Palmas claimed their 100th point in their First Divison history on 28 October 1956 after a 2–2 draw with Valencia.[20] Two Canarian-born players, Alfonso Silva and Rafael Mújica, both of whom were considered to be the best players from the Canary Islands, made their return to Las Palmas to play for Los Amarillos.[40] Mújica made his league debut on 9 September 1956 in a 2–0 victory against Real Jaén at home while Silva made his debut midway through the season on 13 January 1957 when the club won 2–0 against Deportivo La Coruña at Estadio Riazor.[41][42]

The 1957–58 season saw the appointment of Luis Molowny as a player-coach following the departure of the previous coach, José Urbieta after unsatisfactory results. Prior to his appointment, Las Palmas suffered from poor form in the first half of the season, including a 7–0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou, a 6–1 defeat at home against Celta, and their largest-ever loss in the club's history, a 9–0 drubbing by Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.[43] Molowny was signed on 5 December 1957, returning from Real Madrid, and scored 3 goals in 3 appearances for the club during that same season.[44] The most notable match under Molowny's management was on 9 February 1958 when Las Palmas held a clash against Atletico Madrid at the Insular Stadium. With two former Atletico players, Silva and Mújica, Las Palmas triumphed 3–0 over Atletico Madrid in a match that was described for its “beauty and quality.”[42] The club secured safety from relegation by defeating Real Valladolid 3–1 at home on 4 May 1958, which also resulted in Valladolid's relegation.[45][46] For the first time in the club's history, Las Palmas resorted to the signings of more foreign players, Paraguayan player José Parodi[47] and Argentine players, Pierutz, Ianizzotto and Puche, being the few that arrived at the club.[34][48] Molowny was dropped at the end of the season and was replaced by Baltasar Albéniz for the subsequent season.[44][49] Las Palmas avoided relegation once more, finishing in the relation playoff of the 1958–59 season. They played two home-away legs against Levante, who placed second in their league table during the season. The first leg was played on 10 May 1959 with Las Palmas winning 2–1 at Valencia before a week later, a 1–1 second leg draw at home ensured their survival.[50]

Within the same season, Damián Massanet Plomer, the chairman of the Las Palmas Regional Football Federation, dismissed all board of directors of UD Las Palmas, alleging it to the debts that had been accumulating from previous seasons.[51] In the 1959–60 season, Las Palmas eventually succumbed to relegation after six seasons in the First Division, with a total of 13 points gained from five wins and three draws by the end of the campaign. The club conceded the most goals out of the league, with 77 and garnered 22 league defeats, leading it to be Las Palmas's worst season at the time.[52] During the season, Vicente Gonzalez Sosa became the first international youth player for Las Palmas, making four appearances for the Spain national under-18 team between March and April 1960.[53] He would register three goals in six league appearances before departing, like most of his teammates,[51] for Barcelona following the club's relegation.[53] Las Palmas relegation was attributed to the over-reliance on foreign players, rather than trusting in the club's youth players, and increasing financial instability which by the end of the season had reached "an extreme situation."[51]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Historia de la UD Las Palmas". UD Las Palmas.net (in Spanish). 7 April 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "22 de agosto de 1949, cuando nació el sentimiento amarillo". El Diario (in Spanish). Deportes Canarias Ahora. 22 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Origen y nacimiento de la UD Las Palmas". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  4. ^ "The UD Las palmas celebrates 66 anniversary returning back to the First National Division". UD Las Palmas. 22 August 2018.
  5. ^ Canellada, Fernando (1 December 2018). "El primer ovetense de la UD". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  6. ^ Santana, José Miguel (7 July 2013). "Fallece Macías, primer jugador de la UD Las Palmas". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  7. ^ "El adiós a Macías, primer jugador de la UD en 1949". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 7 July 2013.
  8. ^ "La UD Las Palmas cumple 64 años de su fundación". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 22 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Fallece Antoñito Jorge, primer goleador en la historia de la UD Las Palmas". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 8 August 2018.
  10. ^ "El adiós de Antoñito Jorge, primer goleador de la UD Las Palmas". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 7 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Fallece Antoñito Jorge, primer goleador en la historia de la UD Las Palmas". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). 7 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b "¿Sabías que...?". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  13. ^ "70 años del histórico ascenso de la UD Las Palmas a categorías nacionales". El Diario (in Spanish). 25 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Antonio Vieira Delgado (Vieira), primer jugador de la UD Las Palmas fallecido en activo". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 21 October 2014.
  15. ^ "History". UD Las Palmas.
  16. ^ Cabrera, Paco (14 June 2021). "Manolo Montes, el número uno". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  17. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Fallece el ex guardamenta rojiblanco Manuel Montes". Club Atlético de Madrid. 16 January 2016.
  18. ^ Checa, Pablo (21 August 2019). "1951: el ascenso a Primera que trajo un Romance". Diario AS (in Spanish).
  19. ^ Morera, Rafael González (31 August 2015). "La vuelta de la UD a Primera División". El Diario (in Spanish).
  20. ^ a b "La UD Las Palmas alcanza los 1.000 puntos en Primera en su partido 1.071". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 29 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Manolo Torres, el primer crack repatriado". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 13 October 2011.
  22. ^ Borrego, Manuel (6 September 2010). "La UD abre el mercado cafetero". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  23. ^ "Zaragoza, escenario del debut de un extranjero en la UD Las Palmas". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 24 September 2020.
  24. ^ "José Casas Gris (Pepín)". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 2 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Fallece Pepín, legendario portero de la UD Las Palmas". El Diario (in Spanish). 13 October 2010.
  26. ^ Alonso, Martín (8 July 2014). "Y Millonarios cayó ante la UD". La Provincia - Diario de Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  27. ^ "La dimisión de D. Luis Valle". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 24 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Mallorquines con sello canario". Ultima Hora (in Spanish). 13 January 2002.
  29. ^ "Los héroes del Heliodoro en los derbis". Vibra (in Spanish). 18 March 2023.
  30. ^ Mendoza, José (24 April 2009). "Un repaso a la historia del derbi". UD Las Palmas.net (in Spanish).
  31. ^ "25-04-1954: "¡Alirón, alirón, a Primera División!"". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 25 April 2021.
  32. ^ Morera, Rafael González (12 January 2017). "Aquellos 'globitos' de Manolo Torres a Ramallets". El Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  33. ^ "10-04-1955: La primera permanencia de la UD en la élite". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 10 April 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Historia". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish).
  35. ^ "Fallece Marcial Sánchez de Egea, exjugador de la UD Las Palmas". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 20 September 2022.
  36. ^ "El bravo defensa Marcial y el partido de las langostas". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 17 May 2014.
  37. ^ "La Federación de Fútbol de Las Palmas presidida por Damián Massanet Plomer designa a Juanito Beltrán primer seleccionador juvenil". Juan Guedes Rodríguez: Referente Sociológico de una Época (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas.
  38. ^ Ojeda, David (1 January 1970). "A la memoria del capitán del pañuelo". Canarias7 (in Spanish).
  39. ^ "La huella de un gran capitán". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 16 May 2014.
  40. ^ González Morera, Rafael (6 August 2017). "Silva, Mújica, Molowny y Cabrera, el cuarteto que marcó el camino de vuelta a Valerón y Vitolo". El Diario.
  41. ^ "Alfonso Silva: el matemático del balón (1949-1951)". El Diario (in Spanish). Deportes Canarias Ahora. 2 April 2020.
  42. ^ a b Morera, Rafael González (15 December 2016). "Cuando Silva y Mujica vistiendo de amarillo derrotaron al Atlético de Madrid". El Diario (in Spanish).
  43. ^ "44. Con Molowny se salva la categoría" (PDF). Historia del Futbol Canario. 11 January 2017. p. 11–12.
  44. ^ a b "Fallece Luis Molowny a los 84 años de edad". UD Las Palmas.net (in Spanish). 13 February 2010.
  45. ^ "4-05-1958: Permanencia en Primera en una emotiva jornada final". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 4 May 2021.
  46. ^ "44. Con Molowny se salva la categoría" (PDF). Historia del Futbol Canario. 11 January 2017. p. 16.
  47. ^ "Parodi, primer rastro mundialista en la UD". UD Las Palmas (in Spanish). 30 August 2020.
  48. ^ "Los primeros fútbolistas suramericanos" (PDF). Historia del Futbol Canario. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  49. ^ "45.Los primeros fútbolistas suramericanos" (PDF). Historia del Futbol Canario. p. 5. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  50. ^ "1959: UD-Levante, a vida o muerte". Tinta Amarilla (in Spanish). 25 August 2015.
  51. ^ a b c "1958–59: HISTORIA SIN PRECEDENTES EN LA INSTITUCIÓN AMARILLA". Juan Guedes Rodríguez: Referente Sociológico de una Época. UD Las Palmas. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  52. ^ "Tiempo de Canarias - El digital de las islas". Tiempo de Canarias (in Spanish). 20 April 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  53. ^ a b Domínguez García, Javier (2006). "VICENTE, primer canario internacional juvenil". Historia del Futbol Canario (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2024.
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