CA Excursionistas


Club Atlético Excursionistas is an Argentine football club based in the Belgrano neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. The squad currently plays in the Primera C Metropolitana, the fourth level of the Argentine football league system.

History

The beginning

The club was founded in 1910 in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires. The name "Excursionistas" was chosen due to the founders' constant trips to the Paraná River and Isla Maciel to compete in athletic tournaments. They initially named the club "Club Unión Excursionistas".
The first jersey worn was green with a horizontal white stripe.

Entering the football league

Excursionistas disputed its first tournament in 1911, playing its home games at "Club Florida", an institution of Florida neighborhood in Greater Buenos Aires. Before the 1912 season, the club acquired a land in Belgrano neighborhood, where its stadium was built, more precisely on the corner of streets La Pampa and Miñones.
In 1916, the team was promoted to the second division after defeating Palermo by 1–0. In 1919 the club changed its name to the current "Club Atlético Excursionistas", also modifying its jersey, which vertical stripes of white and green.

Promotion to the first division - 20s to 50s

In 1924, in the old San Lorenzo de Almagro stadium, Excursionistas defeated Talleres de Remedios de Escalada 2–1, thus proclaiming themselves champion and earning the promotion to Primera División. More than 10,000 spectators attended the match.
In 1931 goalkeeper Fortunato Grimoldi was called up to the Argentina national team. He also appeared on the cover of El Gráfico in 1930.
In 1934 the Argentine Football Association merged with dissident Liga Argentina de Football in a unified league. This restructuring sent Excursionistas to the second division along with many other teams that decided to continue as amateurs. Since then, the club has remained in the lower divisions of Argentine football.
In 1942 Excursionistas finished 2nd after Rosario Central. That team, coached by Pedro Tilhet, is regarded by fans as the best Excursionistas team of all-time. In 1957 Excursionistas had to play a playoff series against Argentino de Quilmes in order to define which team would be relegated to second division. After a 2–2 draw in the first game, Excursionistas achieved a great 6–1 win in the second match, so the team kept its place in Primera División and sent off Argentino to Primera B.

The 1970s - 2010

In 1972 Excursionistas was relegated to Primera C, where they remained until 1995 when the team was promoted to Primera B, although they lasted there for just one season. During the 1998–99 season Excursionistas made a great campaign, putting together a 16 match unbeaten streak. The following season, the squad, coached by Néstor Rapa, achieved a historic landmark of 10 consecutive wins, finishing in 1st place and thus earning promotion. Nevertheless, the institution was punished with a 21-point deduction due to the riot caused by a portion of its fans during the match against Club Comunicaciones, in which the fans invaded the pitch and attacked the Comunicaciones players. As a result, Excursionistas missed the opportunity to earn promotion.
In 2001, Excursionistas won the Clausura tournament, although the team was not promoted due to the restructuring of the tournament format. That titled only earned Excursionistas the right to play a two-leg semi-final for the right to earn promotion. Their rival on the occasion was Deportivo Laferrere, who proceeded to eliminate Excursionistas on goal differential. The results were 2-0 for Laferrere in the first leg and 3-2 for Excursionistas in the second.

2010 onward

In the 2010-11 season, Excursio finished 8th in the division, thus qualifying for the second phase of the tournament. They then qualified for a subsequent round against Talleres de Remedios de Escalada after winning 3-1 at home and 0-1 away, before being eliminated by Argentino de Merlo due to a 1-2 home defeat and a 0-0 away draw. Excursionistas' defense remained the most invulnerable in the division that season, with only 27 goals scored against in 38 matches.
In the 2016 "Campeonato Transición Primera C," Excursionistas was crowned Champion after beating Sacachispas 1-0, thus earning the only spot for promotion to Primera B in the season. The team reached 41 points in the season on a record of 12 victories, 5 draws, 2 defeats, 36 goals for and 24 against. Their standout player for the season was Leonardo Ruiz, who finished the season as top scorer with 16 goals.

Presidents

Composed by Professor Luis Ortigoza, in 1930 decade:
Es el nuevo Excursionistas que queremos/
el que empuja toda garra y corazón/
en el Bajo de Belgrano hay otro guapo/
y ese guapo es el cuadrito de mi amor/
Si la suerte se le niega el primer tiempo/
no da tregua, en el segundo ha de arrollar/
es el ritmo de ese nuevo Excursionistas/
el anhelo fabuloso de triunfar/
Palabra de orden es nunca aflojar/
jugar con fe y con valor/
Excursionistas con tu gran tesón/
¡ataquen, más goles, hay que ganar!/

Stadium

The Stadium does not have official name, it is informally known as "El Coliseo del Bajo Belgrano " or "Pampa y Miñones". It has capacity for 8,000 spectators.

Cultural activities

Excursionistas Institute

This is the "Instituto Excursionistas "Oscar Piñera"", a cultural digital space that have virtual classrooms with many information, for reading and learning topics as Sports and Nutrition.

Virtual Museum

The club founded the "Museo "Julio Ferraris"", that have the history of the club in pictures and films.

Digital Library

In 2013, was born the "Biblioteca digital de Excursionistas "Raúl Gantes"", where users can read in Internet digital books.

Famous fans

René Houseman- Ex-player of Excursionistas, Huracán, River Plate, Independiente and Colo-Colo. World Champion with Selección nacional Argentina 1978.
Emir Kusturica- Musician and filmmaker.
Javier Pedro Saviola- Jugador de Fútbol, actualmente en River Plate y ex-player of F.C. Barcelona, Real Madrid C.F., Sevilla F.C., Málaga C.F., A.S. Mónaco, S.L. Benfica, Olympiacos, Hellas Verona y de la Selección Argentina.
Victor Bo- Actor.
Ignacio Copani – Músician.

Sports

Academy and former players

Children between 3 and 18 years old learn and play representing the club in championships organized by AFA.

Indoor football or "Futsal"

The "Fútbol de Salón o Fútbol Sala " is very important in club. Is affiliated to AFA and Liga Argentina Futsal Afista in full categories: 1.°, 3.°, 4.°, 5.°, 6.°, 7.°, 8.° y 9.°.

Female Football

Called "Fut Fem" of Excursio is affiliated to AFA, and plays the championship: Campeonato de Fútbol Femenino de Argentina.

Box

The Club organizes many tournaments and is affiliated to Federación Argentina de Box.

Artistic Skating

Affiliated to Lipac, el skaters female team of the club have achieved several tournaments.

Tennis

Traditional in the club for several decades.

Projects: Chess/ Athletism

New projects in the Club includes de development of Chess and the practice of Athletism.

Honours