Even though they won the 2nd division play-off, after winning the Southern Zone in the 1939/40 season, due to original Portuguese league restrictions only allowing teams from the Lisbon and Porto districts into the top division, they remained in the 2nd division. This rule was changed for the 1941/42 season.  Having been denied for so long Farense finally made it to the top division in 1970 after two successive promotions. In their first season they only managed to score 15 goals in 26 games but managed to avoid relegation winning 7 games(6 home 1 away) including notable home wins against champions Benfica and Porto who finished 3rd. They lasted six seasons in the top division until dropping down again in 1976. Their cup runs in the 1970′s were consistent with Farense reaching the semi finals once and the quarter finals on three other occasions.

They remained in the 2nd division for the next 7 years. After finishing 2nd in 1982 the following season they went up again as champions and for the next ten years they became a yo-yo club being promoted three times and relegated twice.

The most successful club in the Algarve region of Portugal, the day most Farense supporters will remember most will be May 27 1995 when they met CF Estrela Amadora in the Portuguese cup final. They drew 1-1 after extra time and unfortunately lost the replay 2-0 a week later. They had beaten Belenenses 2-1 away from home  to reached the final and also won the 2nd division championship securing promotion to the top division starting their most successful period in Portuguese football. 

Following up on their cup final and promotion they consolidated their position in the top division. A year after going up they finished 6th and again(6th) in 1993 before finishing 5th in 1995(which is their best finish ever) thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup. They played Olympic Lyon from France but unfortunately lost both the home and away ties 1-0. Had Nuno Amaro’s shot gone in off the bar in the first leg it could have been a lot different.

Unfortunately by 2002 things had changed drastically, the club was imploding due to financial constraints and the club suffered three consecutive relegations.

2002 was a black year for Portuguese football. All three teams relegated from the top top division that year(Farense, Salgueiros and Alverca) all suffered similar fates over the following few years. Alverca also folded in 2005 and reformed in 2006. Salgueiros like the other two folded in 2005 and came back under the new name Salgueiros 08 three years later(like i need to tell you that!). Of the teams that played in Division Two in 2002 no less that 6 teams have suffered similar fates. Boavista champions in 2001 were relegated two seasons(2008 and 2009) in a row because of money problems. This year Estrela Amadora who played Farense on those fateful cup final days in 1995 suffered a similar fate were demoted from the top division, by two divisions due to financial irregularities.  In 2005 after failing to appear in three games they were declassified and thrown unceremoniously from the football league.

It was a shame as the football federation had built Estadio Algarve(Capacity-30,305) for Euro2004, hoping that a team from the region would use it in the top division. The stadium is jointly used by Farense and Louletano DC.  What should have been, or could have been, ceased to be. A year later they appeared in the District Leagues(6th tier) in the 2nd division of the Algarve region. They won the league at a canter only losing one game. The following year another promotion and another league win bringing them back to the National leagues in the form of Division 3F. Amazingly from May 2002 until September 2007 Farense had played in 5 different divisions including a season in which they didn’t compete!!!!(because of their declassification) It must be some sort of record. Unusual, but I doubt there are many(if any) clubs that could claim the same thing.  Last season became a season of consolidation finishing 5th in the league. This season they’ve started unbeaten. Three matches in and two draws sees them lie 4th in the table. Three more promotions? Who knows. One thing is for sure. Farense will see their centenary anniversary through.

In 2007 they decided to sell their historic Estadio de Sao Luis(their old stadium) for anything upwards of 10 million. As far as I’m aware its still for sale. 35,000 metres squared of prime residential land. Only the price now is closer to 15 million euro. In May they had  couple of offers but neither met the asking price. If a sale goes through it will hopefully guarantee the foreseeable future of the club.

One notable player who returned this season is Idalecio,36, who played for many years in the top division for both Braga and Rio Ave. Estrela Amadora played in the Estadio Algarve three weeks ago against Loulatano and today their Under 19 squad go to Faro to play Farense in a game counting for the South Junior Zone to repeat the 95 cup final tie, all be it, with a few less present to watch. Farense will remember their last game in the top division, a 3-2 win at home to Gil Vicente(who got demoted in 2006 for not inscribing a player correctly!!!!!!) Anybody who goes to the Algarve should check them out. The last game the opposing team had 5 red(YES RED!!!) cards. 2 players, 2 subs and the manager! 

Sometimes you’ve got to see the funny side of football.  Here’s a link to all the team taking shots from the half way line. It’s in Portuguese but very funny all the same. http://www.videos.iol.pt/consola.php?projecto=27&mul_id=13167873&v_sort=&v_order=&tipo_conteud;3o=1&tipo=2&id_conteudo=&referer=1&query=&pagina=

I wish SC Farense a speedy return to the top division. When they celebrate their centenary next year I might just book a flight and pay homage to a team who will always be in the history books of Portuguese football.

Karl Donnelly

The media in Portugal suffers from verbal diarrhea. There are three big teams(Benfica, Porto and Sporting) and then there are the rest. Rarely does a team outside the so called ‘Big 3′ (Tres Grandes) get a meaningful mention other than the odd sideline. The ‘Special Two’ has jumped from the lower classes to the higher classes and the benfits are plain to see. Not a day goes by without a mention of his name. Mourinho may not be forgotten but due to Benfica’s meteoric return to the echelons of greatness The ‘Special Two’ has become the media’s favourite son. Headlines such as “Nobody will stop ‘Benfica” have hyped the nation into believing that Porto’s twenty year dominance may be at an end.

There is no doubt that Benfica are the biggest team in Portugal, the team with the most supporters, the team with most league wins, the team with the most ‘associate’ supporters in the world and there is no doubt that they’ve started this season with a bang. They’ve only dropped two points and have scored twenty four goals in seven games. It’s clear for all to see that they have taken this league by storm and already raced three points ahead of Porto and an incredible seven points up on their city rivals Sporting. They have one of the highest goals per game ratios in Europe. They have won one game 8-1 only conceeding a goal in the last minute. The powerhouse that is Benfica has returned to take the crown that has elluded them for many years but is soon to be returned to it’s rightful owner.

But, hold on a second(second being the correct word). The lower classes, or ‘small clubs’(pequenas), are also shouting. The media ignore the cries. They fall on deaf ears. Benfica’s five penalties in the first six games may seem over the top. After all, the referees have to do their jobs. That’s what they are paid for. The steamroller that is Benfica takes no prisoners. It crushes all those who oppose its dominance. The ‘Special Two’ wants to take Mourinho’s crown and become the new ‘Special One’. If he stays more that 12 months it will be special indeed. Benfica go through managers so fast that the media have to mention each one 50 times a day so people can rmember who the current manager is. Benfica have had 10 managers in the last ten years.

But, hold on a second(Second is definitely the correct word). Benfica are 2nd in the league. 2nd? yes! 2nd! Sporting Clube de Braga are in 1st place. They are not only in 1st place. They have been there since day 1 when they were were the only team to win(incredibly the other seven games were all draws). Braga have the best defensive record in the league and have won all their seven games so far. They have beaten Sporting (away) and Porto (home), neither of whom Benfica have faced to date. The new rules, created by the football federation, dictated that none of the ‘Big 3′ (Grandes) could meet in the first three weeks of the season. Porto played Sporting in week six and won 1-0. Benfica will meet Sporting in week 11 and Porto in week 14 of the season. Week 15 marks the halfway point in the season.

So, The ‘Special Two’ play against his old foe Manuel Machado in the next game and then go to his former employers in Braga. Will Braga continue to surprise or will the Benfica steamroller continue to roll? For many it’s no surprise. Braga have consistently improved over the past five years. They have considerably outfought Benfica in term of buying and selling players for profit over the past few years. Benfica had to sell percentages of many of their players this season to pay for their 25 million euro influx of stars(which does not include Barcelona’s 14 million euro signing who was loaned to Benfica). Braga record by comparison is Mossoro, a €700,000 signing from Maritimo last year.
 
The ‘Special Two’ declared after Braga were uncerimoniously dumped from the new Europa League that no blame was to be assigned to him due to Braga’s failure in Europe and his extended negotiations between himself, Benfica and Braga in June. But after Braga won their first six games he had to say that the majority of the team were his from the previous season. Such humilty!
 
Braga, if they manage to win their next game (away to Rio Ave), will equal the third greatest start in the history of the Portuguese league. After that it’s Benfica and possibly an attempt on Sporting’s record 11 wins at the start of a season. Will the steamroller crush the small club? Will the rabbit beat the tortoise? Or will the Pequenas(small ones) show that they have grown up and are ready to fight the big boys? Children who bully are usually bigger than their victims. Football teams who bully are usually richer than their adversaries. But when children grow up, just as football clubs grow, they end the bullying and start fighting back. The end is nigh?
 
Braga have beaten two title condenders in Porto and Sporting(who finished 1st and 2nd for the last three years). Benfica have yet to face up to any team of strength. Braga are two points clear of Benfica, five in front of Porto and ten in front of fourth placed Sporting. You make up your mind.

 
I’m sure the ‘Special Two’ has made up his mind. The rise to the top is long and difficult. The fall form grace is short and sharp. With already three managers having packed their bags already there are surely more to follow. Braga’s manager Domingos Pacienca was under pressure after failing in the Europa League but his amazing run in the league has already secured his place in the history of the club. He’s not ‘too special’ and is very humble in his approach. He manages from afar and leaves coaching to the coaches. He’s a disciplinarian as Man Utd’s on loan Rodrigo Possebom found out (He hasn’t played since an outburst in the Europa League). And obviously he’s a decent manager. Otherwise they wouldnt be unbeaten and top of the league after seven games. And so the story continues…

There is no better time than now. The time to live is now. The time to dream is now. The time to imagine and forget the past is now. The time to shine is now. The time to bleed, sweat, and determine yourself for the things you want most is now.