Calais RUFC
 |
|
| Full name | Calais Racing Union Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
Les Sangs et Ors (The Blood(-Reds) and Golds) Les Canaris (The Canaries) |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Ground | Stade de l'Épopée |
| Capacity | 12,432 |
| Chairman |
 Pascal Joly |
| Manager |
Djézon Boutoille
|
| League | Championnat de France Amateur, Group B |
| 2015–2016 | CFA, 9th (Group A) |
Calais Racing Union FC (Calais RUFC) is a French football club based in Calais, France. It is a currently playing in Group B of the Championnat de France Amateur, the fourth tier of French football.
Calais RUFC was founded in 1974 after a merger of two local clubs and, as an amateur club, reached the 2000 Coupe de France Final which it lost to top-flight FC Nantes Atlantique. The club plays at the 12,342-seater Stade de l'Épopée.
The club was founded in 1902 as Racing Club de Calais. RC Calais had excellent results in the first editions of the Coupe de France, taking part in the quarter-finals of the competition in 1921, the last 8 in 1922 and the last 16 in 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1930. In 1921 Calais even beat CASG Paris in the second round 3–2. The club joined the professional ranks in 1933. Lack of sufficient financial resources, Calais opted to give up its professional status in 1938, which remain the only 5 years of professional football in Calais. RC Calais remained in the amateur divisions, rejoining the CFA in 1962 but the following years were spent oscillating between the CFA and Division d'Honneur.
Union Sportive was founded after the war in 1947, after a merger of two local clubs. Its main successes were reaching the last 32 of Coupe de France and notable appearances in Coupe Gambardella.
Racing Club was merged with Union Sportive in 1974, renamed as Calais Racing Union Football Club to reflect the names of the 2 clubs, and was given both the clubs colours. Before the merger derby matches between the two attracted up to 5000 fans.
Calais RUFC entered the international spotlight during their run to the final of the 2000 Coupe de France, under Spanish coach Ladislas Lozano. Made up of teachers, dock workers and office clerks, Calais' cup run saw the team defeat first division teams Racing Strasbourg and Bordeaux.
...
Wikipedia