Clube Futebol Benfica is a sports club from the northern suburb of Benfica in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, who are more commonly known as Futebol Benfica or Fófó. The origins of the club dates back to 1895 when Grupo Foot-ball Benfica were formed, but the club was reformed to its current model on the 23rd March 1933.
The
club has departments for hockey, roller hockey, figure skating, camping,
walking, acrobatic gymnastics, cycling, rugby, tennis, handball, karate, tai
chi and yoga amongst other activities, but they are best known for the high
level ladies football team as well the men’s side who are concentrated on
below.
CFB
moved into Estádio Francisco Lázaro on formation. It was named in tribute to
the Portuguese Olympic marathon runner Francisco Lázaro who died during the
race at the 1912 Stockholm games.
The
football team competed in the regional Associação de Futebol de Lisboa for most
of their history. The second division was won in 1977-78 following by the
lifting of the first division in 1987-88 to progress to the Divisão de Honra.
In
1990-91 the side had moved up to the national fourth tier Terceira Divisão, but
went back down a year later. However, promotion was secured once again in
1994-94 as the Lisbon Honra title was collected.
Futebol
Benfica enjoyed eight seasons in the fourth tier playing in Série E and F,
before being relegated in 2002-03. After two seasons in Distrital Divisão Honra,
Fófó regained their national status for just one season before returning to
regional football.
Another
promotion was achieved in 2007-08, but once again the team’s spell in the
higher grade lasted just one season. It would be another two seasons of
regional football before CFB would play in the fourth tier once again.
On
this occasion the run continued as the club found themselves winning Série E and
being promoted to the third tier of national football to play in Segunda
Divisão. In 2013–14 the same league became known as Campeonato Nacional de
Seniores, with CFB finishing in the relegation group of Serie G after the
regular season.
The
team ended bottom of the pile after the relegation rounds and were consequently
relegated back to the Distritais where Luís Matias took his side to seventh
place in the 2015-16 Divisão de Honra season before racing to the title in
2016-17.
The
team wasn’t promoted, and then finished fifth in 2017-18 in the fourth tier AF
Lisboa Pro-Nacional, which was improved upon by one place twelve months later
prior to Nuno Lopes being appointed as the new coach.
His
team would end in eleventh place when the 2019-20 season was aborted owing to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
CF
Benfica will play in AF Lisboa Pro-Nacional in the 2020-21 season.
My
visit
Saturday
13th February 2016
My
first morning of a long weekend in Lisbon was going well. I had already visited
Casa Pia AC and had seen an old venue of character before jumping back on the
number 711 bus. The weather was gloomy, but my enthusiasm was high as I felt
like I was in the heart of the city.
My
plan had been to visit the home of CD Estrela and then return to CF Benfica
before heading to Sporting CP for their stadium tour at 11.30. However, as I
looked out from the bus window I saw a raised cover and floodlights. It was
only when we turned into R Oliverio Silva that we went past the entrance that
it registered where we were.
As
I’d noticed that the gates to the ground were open, I jumped off the bus at the
next stop and went back past local street traders peddling their wares such as
socks and washing products.
I passed an indoor and street market on the way to
the entrance. This was proper Lisbon, and walking distance from Estádio da Luz
where I’d seen the match the evening before at the home of CF Benfica’s more
illustrious but totally unconnected neighbours.
The
ramp up to the entrance took me to the forecourt with small sided artificial
surfaced pitches built into the hill with Parque Silva Porto beyond. I
continued past the club restaurant and offices into the excellent Estádio
Francisco Lázaro.
This
venue really did impress me. It would have been a ground towards the higher end
of non-league football back in the UK. Youngsters were taking part in a match
on a small sided marked out artificial pitch, with parents watching from the
side.
The
road end was flat open standing. The far side had a few rows of seating with
parts under a low roof. The entrance side had raised club buildings and then a
lovely raised covered seated stand straddling the half way line. Further up
were the changing rooms built into the hill with open whitewashed terracing
continuing around the corner and behind the far goal.
It
really was tempting to try and find out the fixtures over the weekend to return
to watch a game and enjoy the facilities as well as going local around the
markets. However, I had plans in place, so I stuck by them. I headed off getting
slightly lost before getting back on track towards CD Estrela.
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