The Club

THE HISTORY BETWEEN SEVILLA FC AND THE CÍRCULO MERCANTIL, WHO CELEBRATE THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY

24/10/2018

The Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Sevilla celebrate their 150th anniversary this Thursday. They have had various relations with Sevilla FC throughout their long history

The Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Sevilla, one of the most influential and prestigious social clubs in the Andalusian capital, celebrate their 150th anniversary this Thursday since their foundation in 1868. Since then, there have been various occasions when the Círculo Mercantil and Sevilla FC's paths have crossed. Sevilla FC wish to extend our congratulations to the club and will welcome leading members, led by their president Práxedes Sánchez, to Thursday's UEFA Europa League match against Akhisarspor.

On 25 October 1868, a group of visionaries called all trading professionals to the Casa de la Lonja de Sevilla with the idea to create a centre for the business class. There was a lot of interest right from the off for this initiative, which would end up taking the name of Centro Mercantil under the presidency of its founder, Simón Martínez Martínez.

Sevilla FC played in the Campo del Mercantil between 1913-1918, the first pitch in Andalusia with the correct pitch measurements

The clubs' paths first crossed with Sevilla FC's registration as a member, with Luis Gallegos Arnosa as the president (who was also a director of Círculo Mercantil). They crossed again in 1913, with Sevilla FC playing in the Campo del Mercantil until 1918, which was the first football pitch in Andalusia with the correct pitch measurements.

Likewise, there have been many figures who have been linked to both clubs throughout their history. In addition to the already mentioned José Luis Gallegos Arnosa, there is also Edward Farquharson, Sevilla FC's first president, as well as Juan López Sánchez, who would combine the presidency of both institutes in the 70s, and Hugo MacColl, the team's first captain in 1890 who was also a member of the Círculo Mercantil.

Moving to more recent times, Sevilla FC hosted their Board Meeting in the Círculo Mercantil in 2013.