Барселонаның «Европа» клубы: Тарихы мен жетістіктері

Club Esportiu Europa is a Catalan football team based in the city of Barcelona, with close links to the Vila de Gràcia, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1907, its first men's team plays in the , the fourth category of Spanish football. The first women's team is active in the Primera Federación, the second category of Spanish football. Moreover, the first U 19 team participates in the División de Honor, the highest category in Spain. Europa's home games are played at the Nou Sardenya, with a capacity of 4,000 seats. In 2021, Europa became the first club in Catalonia to declare itself formally against racism, fascism, sexism, and homophobia after a voting by the club members to change the statutes. Later, the club started initiatives and actions to realize its ideals. Europa lived its glory period in the 1920s. In 1918 19, the club achieved promotion to the highest division of Catalan football, the Campionat de Catalunya. In 1922 23, Europa was crowned champions of Catalonia after beating FC Barcelona in a tiebreaker in Girona. This triumph gave the club the right to participate in the Copa del Rey, where Europa ended as the runner up after losing to Athletic Club in the final. The club is best known for its football team who in 1929, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were among the 10 founder members of La Liga. Europa participated in La Liga in 1929, 1929 30, and 1930 31. The following glory era would be the 1960s, when Europa played five consecutive seasons in the Segunda División. On three occasions, Europa won the Copa Catalunya: in 1997 and 1998 by beating FC Barcelona in the final and in 2015 by doing the same with Girona FC. Europa's good reputation, especially in the 1920s, made it attractive for many international teams to play against the club. For example, Europa has competed in friendlies with teams like FC Bayern Munich, Birmingham City FC, FC Porto, NAC Breda, Hamburger SV, Estudiantes de La Plata, Montpellier HSC, Udinese Calcio, Legia Warsaw, and AC Sparta Prague. The club also has one of the oldest basketball teams in Spain, and on the 8th of December 1922, Europa played Laietà BC in the first ever organised basketball game played in Spain (won 8 2 by Europa). During the 1920s, the basketball team of Europa won the Catalan championship on two occasions (1924 and 1926). Other sports sections that the club has had are athletics, hockey, rugby, and baseball.

From the foundation in 1907 to 1918, Europa's players were dressed in a shirt with white and blue vertical stripes and blue shorts. In 1918, the shirt became fully white, except for a blue collar. In 1926, Europa started playing with a white shirt and a blue chevron, which has become one of the primary symbols of the club. Even though the motive is unsure, the most accepted theory is that the shirt has been inspired by that of Birmingham City FC, a team that had visited Barcelona some years earlier. During the 2007 08 season, the season of the club's centenary, the shirt design changed to one that included the blue chevron and the blue collar. The socks used to be black or another dark colour until 1955 (all teams used to do this until this year), after which white socks were alternated with black/dark ones. Between 1961 and 2007, Europa's socks were white, and since the year of the centenary, the socks have always been blue.

The current crest, which has been modernised over the decades, appeared for the first time in 1915. It substituted a crest that had been the club's symbol since 1907. The author of the new logo was Jacint Olivé Font, a local artist and a player for Europa. The crest reflects two of the most characteristic objects in football: a ball and a goal. In the superior area, blue and white stripes still remind us of the first shirt design of Europa. In the middle, the initials of the club can be read.

Europa plays its home matches in the Nou Sardenya, opened on the 1st of December 1940 and completely rebuilt in 1995. The building is located in the Vila de Gràcia, between the streets of Sardenya (from which it has its name), Camèlies, and Pau Alsina. It has a capacity of 4,000, artificial grass, and dimensions 100x63 meters.

Since 2001, Europa manages the Camp de l'Àliga, a municipality owned stadium built in 1991 in the District of Gràcia, in the neighborhood of Vallcarca i els Penitents. This allowed the club to expand the football school and increase the number of teams in the youth academy. The field used to be made out of dirt, but has artificial grass since 2004.

Throughout the years, Europa has played its home matches in many different fields in Barcelona. Out of all of them, the Camp del Guinardó was the most important and representative one. Between 1907 and 1909, Europa played on a very modest field between the streets of Indústria, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, Trinxant, and Guinardó, in the neighborhood of Camp de l'Arpa del Clot. The incompliance with the stadium requirements of the FCF impeded the club to participate in official competitions. In 1909, Europa rented a field between the streets of Mallorca, Sicília, Provença, and Nàpols, very close to the Sagrada Família. The club had to leave the stadium in 1912 due to the expansion of l'Eixample. In 1912, the club moved to a stadium between the streets of Lepant, Còrsega, Padilla, and Rosselló, still not far removed from the Sagrada Família. Five years later, Europa was forced out again, this time because of the construction of the Avinguda de Gaudí. In 1917, Europa inaugurated its fourth field: the Camp del Carrer de la Marina, based between the streets of La Marina, Rosselló, Còrsega, and Sardenya. The move was stimulated by Joan Matas Ramis, the then president of Europa, who had the ambition to convert the club into one of the most potent ones in Catalonia. This was the last stadium located in the neighborhood of the Sagrada Família. In 1920, the club opened a stadium in the neighborhood of El Camp d'En Grassot, between the streets of Indústria, Sardenya, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, and Sicília. This field had stands with a capacity for 3,000 spectators and was the home stadium of Europa during the successful 1922 23 season of the Catalan Championship. Moreover, it was the setting of the first ever organised basketball match in Spain between Europa and Laietà BC. In 1923, Europa moved into the historic Camp del Guinardó, also known as the Camp dels Cuartells because of its location next to the Lepant barracks. It was based between the streets of l'Encarnació, Lepant, Taxdirt, and Alcalde de Mostolés. In 1932, after the disappearance of the first team and in a severe crisis, Europa moved to the modest Camp dels Quinze, along the Avinguda dels Quinze in Vilapicina, far away from Gràcia. In 1935, the club was able to move into a field located bordering the streets of Providència, Sardenya, and Pau Alsina, next to the location of the current stadium. The Camp del Carrer de la Providència could not be used anymore after the damage from the Civil War. Between 1939 and 1940, Europa did not dispose of a stadium, given that the reconstruction of the old stadium would take long. Directors and club members volunteered to take down the forest next to the old stadium, where they built the Camp del Carrer de Sardenya, opened on the 1st of December 1940. On the 4th of May 1995, the Nou Sardenya was opened after a three year long rebuilding of the 'old' Sardenya, located at the same place as the stadium from 1940.

In 1931, Europa merged with Gràcia FC, formerly known as FC Espanya de Barcelona, in order to survive economically. This crisis was caused by the high costs of participation in La Liga and the rise of professionalism. The fusion club received the name of Catalunya FC. However, the merger was not a success. During the 1931/32 season, Catalunya FC, with three games to go, was unable to complete their fixture list due to an accumulation of debts. Moreover, the club finished last in the Catalan Championship. As a result, the 15 games they had played in the Segunda División were cancelled, and the team was put back to the Tercera División. In the summer of 1932, this team ceased to exist. During the same 1931 32 season, some members of Europa who did not support the fusion maintained an amateur team under the same identity as the Europa from before. This way, the spirit of the club managed to survive after the disappearance of Catalunya FC. Slowly and carefully, the club was rebuilt in the lowest division of Catalan football. The directors acquired a stadium, were able to compose a team, and, most importantly, secured the continuance of the club. In 1935 36, Europa almost achieved promotion to the first division of the Catalan Championship. After the outbreak of the Civil War, football in Catalonia continued, despite the difficulties. During this period, the club reached the first division of Catalan football. In 1939, its stadium suffered too much damage and could not be used anymore. After the war, the new authorities cancelled all the results of the competitions played during the war, meaning that Europa returned to the second division. In 1939 40, the club ended 2nd in the second tier but had no option to compete for promotion to the first tier, as the regional championships were dissolved to create regional divisions within the Spanish football pyramid. Until 1940, the regional and national championships functioned independently. Between 1939 and 1940, Europa played its home games in the stadiums of other local teams, like FC Martinenc, UE Sant Andreu, and UE Sants.

After the disappearance of the Catalan Championship, Europa was placed in the Primera A for the 1940 41 season, a competition directly inferior to the Tercera División. The team's results were not good enough and led to relegation. However, there were also positive developments, such as the opening of the Sardenya stadium in 1940. After two seasons in the Primera B, Europa returned to the Primera A, maintaining their place in this competition between 1943 and 1951.

In 1950 51, Europa played a marvellous season and achieved promotion to the Tercera División, the third tier of Spanish football at the time. Between 1951 and 1961, the club stayed up without too much trouble, even attempting to achieve promotion to the Segunda División on some occasions.

After ten seasons in the middle of the table, Europa was crowned champions in 1961 62. However, the club missed out on promotion after losing the playoffs final to UP Langreo. In 1962 63, the luck was on Europa's side, and the team went up to the second division after beating UD Mahón (4 0 and 2 2) and Caudal Deportivo (1 1 and 6 2). Europa participated for five consecutive seasons in the Segunda División, between 1963 and 1968. During these years, considered the second golden era of the club, Europa's best season was 1963 64 when they finished third, very close to promotion to the Primera División. Another remarkable feat was beating Real Zaragoza with los Cinco Magníficos in the 1966 67 Copa del Rey, even though the Aragonese team was the defending champion. During the same season, Europa ended on a notable 6th place in the Segunda División. A league restructuring in 1967 68, reducing the number of groups in the Segunda División from two to one, put Europa back in the Tercera División.

After the relegation, Europa played some good seasons in the Tercera División and was close to returning to the second tier. Nevertheless, from 1971 72 onwards, the results worsened significantly, and in 1973 74, the club was even relegated to the Regional Preferent. These were tough times for the club, only returning to the Tercera División in 1977. After the promotion, Europa finished many seasons in the lower part of the classification and could not avoid a second relegation to the highest regional league in 1986. Again, it would take three years to go up to the Tercera División. During the 1985 86 season, Europa changed its official name from the Spanish Club Deportivo Europa to the Catalan Club Esportiu Europa.

Upon returning to the Tercera División in 1989 90, Europa played a promising season and even competed for promotion to the Segunda División B, which had become the third category of Spanish football in 1977. However, during following seasons, the club finished in lower places on the table. Moreover, between 1992 and 1995, Europa had to play its home matches outside of its stadium. The Municipality of Barcelona, owner of the ground on which the stadium was built, decided to completely reconstruct the building. The renovation started with the construction of an underground parking lot, after which the installation of stands, a field, a swimming pool, and a sports complex next to the football field was realized. Moreover, the stadium disposes of artificial grass and all facilities that modern stadiums require. In the meanwhile, Europa played its home games at the stadiums of FC Martinenc and UA Horta. Despite the difficulties, Europa's results during the construction period improved. In 1993 94, the club finished 4th and participated in the playoffs for promotion to the Segunda División B, in which they achieved that goal after a close battle with CD Roldán from Murcia, CD Montuïri from Mallorca, and Pinoso CF from Valencia. The 1994 95 season in the bronze category was, from a purely results based perspective, horrible. Europa could not compete with other teams with a higher budget and did not dispose of its own stadium. The club was relegated to the Tercera División. On the other hand, the supporters of Europa celebrated the (re)opening of the Sardenya stadium, renamed to Nou Sardenya, on the 4th of May 1995. It was too late to contribute to the battle against relegation (as a matter of fact, Europa would only start to use the new stadium in the next season), but it turned out to be a boost for the club in the following years. On the 15th of August 1995, coinciding with the Festa Major de Gràcia, Europa made its debut in the new stadium. The friendly match against UE Lleida turned out to be the first edition of the Trofeu Vila de Gràcia. After the inauguration of the Nou Sardenya, the club qualified for the promotion playoffs in the Tercera División in 1995 96, 1996 97, 1998 99, and 2000 01, without achieving its goal. In the meanwhile, more editions of the Trofeu Vila de Gràcia were organised, which turned into an annual tradition. Furthermore, the football school of Europa was established during these years, a school that would grow every year. The most remarkable feat of this decade is, without a doubt, the amazing results in the Copa Catalunya in 1997 and 1998, in which Europa beat teams like CE Sabadell FC, RCD Espanyol, and FC Barcelona to conquer two trophies. In the 1996 97 season, Europa knocked out Sabadell (1 0) and Espanyol (0 0) in the semifinals played at the Nova Creu Alta (the draw between Sabadell and Espanyol placed Europa for the final). In the final, played in the stadium of CE L'Hospitalet, Europa defeated the first team of FC Barcelona by 3 1 in a historic match. At that moment, FC Barcelona was the champion of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1997 98 season, Europa repeated something that was deemed irrepetible. In the semifinal, played at the Nou Sardenya, the team won against Espanyol (2 0). In the final, disputed in FC Barcelona's Mini Estadi, Europa faced Barça yet again and drew 1 1, winning the penalty series (3 4). FC Barcelona had won the national double that season, but could not beat Europa.

During the first decade of the new century, Europa finished in discrete places in the Tercera División, close to relegation. In 2003 04, the team suffered a dropdown, but returned to the Tercera División one year later, after which the team finished in some mid table positions. Since 2001, Europa has witnessed a growth on many levels. The youth academy kept on growing until reaching a number of over 30 teams, facilitated by the opening of a second stadium: the Camp de l'Àliga. Also in 2001, the women's team was created, as well as many new fan groups. Moreover, Europa presented its own website (2001), television channel (2003), radio channel (2008), and newspaper (2010). Meanwhile, the club recovered its basketball and futsal sections, even though these would disappear rapidly. During the 2007 08 season, Europa celebrated its centenary. One of the many festivities was the celebration of a friendly game against CA Osasuna in the Nou Sardenya, which ended 1 2 in favor of the Navarrese.

By 2012, Europa started playing strong seasons in the Tercera División, after many years of mediocre results. The club qualified four times in a row for the playoffs for promotion to the Segunda División B, which could be achieved after surviving three rounds against teams from other groups. In 2012 13, Europa ended 3rd in the league. In the first round of the playoffs, Europa was paired with Arandina CF from Castile and León. Europa lost 0 1 at home and 2 0 away, being knocked out. In 2013 14, Europa ended 3rd again. In the first round of the playoffs, the club beat UD Mutilvera from Navarre (1 0 and 0 0), but was defeated in the second round by UD Socuéllamos from Castile La Mancha (0 0 and 2 0). In 2014 15, the club finished 3rd again, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Jerez CF from Extremadura (1 0 and 2 0). In 2015 16, Europa ended 3rd for the fourth time in a row. In the first round of the playoffs, Europa was beaten by San Fernando CD from Andalusia (1 1 and 2 3). However, there was also good news. Europa won a third edition of the Copa Catalunya in 2014–15, after beating Girona FC in the final by 2 1. This final was won in the Nou Sardenya, which allowed many supporters to witness this historic night. After four similar seasons, Europa's results worsened in the following years, alternating high and low classifications. The 2019 20 season started promising, as Europa was one of the contenders for the title, but was interrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic. The regular season was suspended and the fourth highest placed teams, including Europa, were placed in a small tournament for promotion. Europa lost 1 0 to Terrassa FC. In 2020 21, Europa was more successful. The unusual season (still affected by the pandemic) resulted in a title for the club. The team achieved direct promotion to the new Segunda División RFEF, the new fourth tier of Spanish football. 2021 22 did not transpire as Europa hoped. It turned out to be a tough competition and resulted in relegation for the club. The next season, however, finished positively. The first men's team returned to the Segunda Federación, the first women's team achieved promotion to the Primera Federación, the men's reserve team achieved promotion to the Lliga Elit, and the first U 19 team achieved promotion to the División de Honor. Moreover, in 2023, Europa announced more than a doubling of the number of club members (to 1,800) and broke the attendance record.

Since 2001, Europa has a women's team, and during later years, more and more girl's teams have been created in the club's youth academy. The first women's team is active in the Primera Federación, the second division of national football. This way, the women's team is Europa's highest placed senior team.

The first steps in the development of the youth academy were taken in 1991 when a football school independent form the club was created. Given the good results (both in the league and economically speaking), the school was incorporated in the club three years later. The opening of the Nou Sardenya, the Camp de l'Àliga, and the implementation of artificial grass in the latter stimulated the growth of the youth academy. Currently, Europa manages a total of 46 teams, 16 of which are registered under the Private Sports Foundation Europa, an entity linked to the club, without any difference in functioning.

In 2002, Europa reached an agreement with UE Caprabo in the Primera Regional, converting this club in the reserve team of Europa. The club's name changed to UE Caprabo Europa B, but maintained its distinctive identity. The first notable success was the promotion to the Primera Catalana in 2006. Even though it seemed that the club would be integrated entirely in the structure of Europa, the collaboration stopped in 2007, coinciding with a relegation. Later, UE Caprabo was absorbed by AE Josep Maria Gené. In 2012 13, CE Europa B was born, a reserve team that formed part of Europa from the beginning. The team started to compete in the Quarta Catalana, the lowest competition possible. In 2022 23, Europa B achieved promotion to the Lliga Elit. In 2023–24 the team achieved promotion to Tercera Federación.

The biggest success of the youth academy was the promotion of the first U 19 team to the highest division possible: the División de Honor. Ever since, this team has alternated this competition and the Liga Nacional, the second division of youth football.

In the 1920s, Europa was a multi sports club, as everything was still amateur of nature and the sportsmen were able to practice different sports. In this era, there was the section of athletics (around 1920), basketball (1922), hockey (1925), and baseball. The most noteworthy section was the first one, especially in Cross, which won a Catalan title. Moreover, Europa disposed over a rugby section (1930), the section with the shortest life. The crisis in 1931 caused the dissolution of all the others sections besides football, leaving Europa to be exclusively dedicated to this sport. In the 1990s, the club recovered the basketball section and created one for futsal, but both disappeared quickly. Currently, Europa disposes of a football section, a futsal section, and an Esports section.

Europa played the first ever organised basketball match in Spain, on the 8th of December 1922 in the Camp del Carrer de Sicília, beating Laietà BC by 8 2. It was a successful era for the basketball team, winning the Catalan Championship on two occasions (1924 and 1926).

The Trofeu Vila de Gràcia is a friendly football tournament organised annually by Europa since 1995, which coincided with the inauguration of the Nou Sardenya. The tournament consists of one match between Europa's first men's team and an invited team. Generally, the friendly is played on the 15th of August, coinciding with the celebrations of the Festa Major de Gràcia and serving as the start of the footballing season of the club. In 2003, the fan group Caliu Gracienc organised a similar trophy for the first women's team: the Trofeu Caliu Gracienc. The tradition was lost in 2013 and recovered four years later, revived as the homonymous Trofeu Vila de Gràcia. This friendly tournament is usually held in the end of August or the beginning of September.

Throughout the years, Europa has known many official publications, principally in the form of paper magazines, published since the 1950s. Since 2001, Europa created many digital media outlets.

The club's official website has been active since the 11th of November 2001, and publishes at least one post per day since 2003. Europa's official website was the first one in Spain to broadcast a live match, being considered one of the pioneers among official website of Spanish football clubs.

L'Escapvlat is the official newspaper of the club. It has been published since February 2010, and in December 2023, it became a trimestral magazine. It only discusses club related content and is distributed for free among members and supporters at many places throughout Barcelona. Its name derived from the nickname for Europa's players, escapulats, a nickname based on the shirt of Europa (chevron is escapulari in Catalan).

Europa has known other online media outlets, such as Europa TV (started in 2003) and Europa Ràdio (2008). However, these channels disappeared after the growth in popularity of social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and X, on which the club is currently also active.

Europa's supporters are known as europeistes or escapulats. This last nickname refers to the club's shirt, concretely to the blue chevron (escapulari in Catalan) that has become one of the main symbols of the club. Moreover, the players are colloquially called graciencs, the demonym of Gràcia. Europa is often presented as a neighborhood club, a club with relatively low ticket fees, a club that facilitates close contact between players and supporters, and a club owned by its members. These characteristics have attracted dozens of new local and foreign members. Other territories that are considered to have ties to Europa are the Baix Guinardó, the Camp d'en Grassot, Sant Gervasi, la Salut, Vallcarca i els Penitents, and Can Baró.