Paterna CF (Spain)

Paterna Club de Fútbol is a football club founded in 1934, who are based in the Spanish town of the same name; which is located in the suburbs of the east coast city of Valencia. The club played football in the regional Comunidad Valenciana for several decades.

Paterna found themselves in the fourth tier Preferente de la Comunidad Valenciana in the 1970-71 campaign; where they remained until the end of the 1976-77 season, when there was a re-organisation of Spanish football.

The club remained at the same level; only playing in the Tercera División and then competing at that level until 1983-84 when the side returned to the fifth tier Preferente Regional. Twelve months later Paterna dropped down yet another level.

The team returned to the fifth level in 1989-90 after winning a divisional Primera Regional title. The momentum continued as one of the Preferente Regional group championships was collected at the first attempt, with Paterna returning to the Tercera División.

However, relegation followed after just one season. Paterna suffered a further demotion in 1993-94 to pile on further misery to the Estadio Gerardo Salvador regulars. The 1997-98 season saw the club return to the fifth tier following a runners-up finish.

The team won their Preferente Regional title in 2003-04, but were relegated after just one season of Tercera División football. It wouldn’t be until the conclusion of the 2012-13 season before the club regained their fourth tier status.

The 2013-14 campaign saw Paterna reach the promotion play-offs with a fourth place finish; where they lost out in the first round to CF Montañesa. Gerardo Reyes topped the scoring charts the following season.

Paterna CF ended the 2015-16 campaign in fourteenth spot, before ending the following season one place lower.

Paterna CF will play in Tercera División Grup VI in the 2017-18 season.


My visit

Tuesday 9th January 2018

I’d arrived in Valencia for a two night stay to include matches at Mestalla and then a few miles north at Villarreal the following evening. I was already underway with a proper look at the venue of Tercera División club Torre Levante.

The ride from Machado to Paterna meant changing from Metro line 3 to 2 at Ángel Guimerá; from where I got out at Beniferri to take a look at the impressive, but half finished Nou Mestalla; which was a stand out feature as we came in to land.

I continued on; with the actual train journeys taking just under half an hour. On alighting I followed the track north along Calle Vias del Ferrocarril before arriving at Estadio Gerardo Salvador.

The nearest end appeared to be occupied by a small open terrace backed by a swimming pool according to Google Maps. However, the whole end was a construction site. I decided not to try and explain myself to gain access.

The rest of the stadium was locked; but not all was lost. One corner offered a view on a raised block by the level crossing by the main entrance to the stadium. Further pictures were taken by standing on the wall offering protection from the railway. I received a few puzzled looks!

Paterna’s home was impressive; even in mid transition. A covered stand ran the full length of the far side, with seating in the centre blocks. The entrance end had a decent sized open terracing; while the railway side was open and flat; but looked like it was awaiting development.

Delighted with my work, I walked back to the station to take a train to Estació de Túria; from where I set out on a fantastic walk through the old town of a really beautiful city. I ended up by the old Estació del Nord before enjoying some well earned brews in Blue Moon Craft Beer.