UC Ceares

Ceares

Full name	Unión Club Ceares
Nickname(s)	Ciares Teyeros (Tilers) Brickers
Short name	UCC
Founded	1946; 78 years ago (1946)
Ground	La Cruz, Gijón, Asturias, Spain
Capacity	1,500
Chairman	Alberto Álvarez
Manager	Pablo Busto
League	Tercera Federación – Group 2
2022–23	Tercera Federación – Group 2, 12th of 18
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Unión Club Ceares is a Spanish football team based in the neighbourhood of Ceares, Gijón, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded in 1946, it plays in Tercera Federación – Group 2, holding home games at Campo de La Cruz, which has a capacity of 1,500 spectators.

History

Early years

The club was founded in 1946 as a merger of two clubs: Fortuna and Reconquista. In 1965 and being Mr. José Ramón Elvira Sastre the president, UC Ceares promotes for the first time to Tercera División, but finished in the last position, being subsequently relegated. Ceares continued playing in regional divisions until 1986, year that the team returned to Tercera División and played in it two years.

2000s: Comeback to Tercera División

In the seasons 2001–02 and 2002–03, Ceares achieved two consecutive promotions from Primera Regional to Tercera División with Rogelio García as head coach. He would coach UC Ceares during six consecutive seasons, with a break in 2007, remaining in Tercera starting the longest streak of the club in this division.

In 2007, former Real Sporting footballer José Antonio Redondo replaced him until 2009, when he resigned. With Redondo at the helm, on 5 April 2008, Ceares earned a 1–1 away draw in the last minute against Asturian powerhouse Oviedo^[1] and qualified for the semi-finals of the Asturian tournament of the RFEF Cup, where they were eliminated by Langreo.

Rogelio would take the team again until the end of the 2008–09 season.^[2] After that season, Florentino Angulo was hired as new manager. Angulo managed Ceares until 2012.

2010s: "People's football" project and promotion playoffs

Before the 2011–12 season, a new board takes the control of the club and gives it a new philosophy based on a claim of social and people's sport and criticism the actual business in football.^[3] For this philosophy, Ceares board inspired on English football and clubs like St. Pauli or United of Manchester.

The 2013–14 season was the 14th of the club in this league (the 11th consecutive one) and the second of Nacho Cabo as manager. Ceares started the season with only one defeat in the first fifteen games, earning 34 points, which allowed the club to lead the table during two weeks, after a win at L'Entregu CF by 1–3 in its 500th game in Tercera.^[4]

Finally, Ceares qualified for the promotion playoffs to Segunda División B in the last week, after winning by 0–3 to Luarca CF. The team finished in the third position with 74 points, 21 wins, 54 goals scored and only 31 allowed. All these numbers were records in the history of the club.

In the first round, Ceares dropped Águilas by 2–1 in the aggregate. In the first leg, the brickers earned a draw by 1–1 thanks to a goal of Pablo Martínez in the 87th minute. Martínez also scored the only goal in the second game. This was the second time La Cruz registered an attendance of 1,500 fans. The first one was in 2003, when Oviedo visited the field for the first time.

Ceares faced Trival Valderas, the champion of the group of Madrid, in the second round, but was widely defeated in the first leg, played in Gijón, by 0–3. The team earned a 2–2 draw at Alcorcón, in a game where Borja Noval missed a penalty when the game was 2–1 for the brickers.

Águilas v Ceares

18 May 2014	Águilas	1–1	Ceares	Águilas
17:00 (CEST)	Ginés Meca 65'	Report	Pablo Martínez 87'	Stadium: El Rubial Attendance: 1,300 Referee: Pérez León

Ceares v Águilas

25 May 2014	Ceares	1–0 (2–1 agg.)	Águilas	Gijón
17:00 (CEST)	Pablo Martínez 35'	Report		Stadium: La Cruz Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Martín Pérez

On 30 August 2014, Bryan Jiménez became the first Ceares player who played an international game. He made his debut with the Dominican Republic national team in a lost friendly against El Salvador.^[5]

In 2015, Ceares signed a collaboration agreement with women's football club Gijón FF for sharing La Cruz stadium and to create a youth academy for boys and girls.^[6]

2020–present: Tercera División title and first promotion

In the 2020–21 season, the one with a two-staged format, Ceares ended the first leg of the regular season as champion of one of the two subgroups. On 2 May 2021, Ceares had the option to directly promote to the newly created Segunda División RFEF, currently called Segunda Federación, that would replace the Segunda División B, by defeating San Martín at home. However, they had to wait one more week as they were widely beaten by 1–4. Seven days later, Ceares clinched the Tercera División title and promotion after beating 0–2 in a do-or-die match at L'Entregu.

L'Entregu v Ceares

9 May 2021	L'Entregu	0–2	Ceares	El Entrego
		Report	Aitor Cañedo 14' Juan Carlos 67'	Stadium: Nuevo Nalón Attendance: Limited to 300 Referee: Juan González Suárez

The first win in the new league arrived at round 3, after defeating Arenteiro by 2–0. However, a long streak of losses quickly demoted the team to the last position. On 30 November 2021, Ceares made its debut in the Copa del Rey, by facing local powerhouse Sporting de Gijón. The match was played at El Molinón, as La Cruz did not meet the requirements of the RFEF for hosting matches of this competition, and finished with a 0–1 defeat.

Ceares v Sporting Gijón

30 November 2021	Ceares	0–1	Sporting Gijón	Gijón
20:00		Report	César 38'	Stadium: El Molinón Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva

However, Ceares finally could not avoid relegation and finished in the last position in their first experience in a league with teams out from Asturias.

On 1 May 2024, Ceares qualified again for the promotion playoffs to Segunda Federación with two rounds left.

Stadium

La Cruz

Main entrance to La Cruz
Full name	Campo de La Cruz
Location	Gijón, Spain
Coordinates	43°31′46″N 5°39′19″W / 43.52940°N 5.65536°W / 43.52940; -5.65536
Owner	UC Ceares
Capacity	1,500
Field size	99 × 65 m
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1970s
Opened	8 January 1978; 46 years ago (8 January 1978)
Renovated	2004, 2020
Tenants
UC Ceares Gijón FF (2005–2006; 2018–present)

During the 1960s, UC Ceares played its matches in the old pitch of Los Fresno, in Viesques, neighbourhood of Gijón. This location is today occupied by a school. During some years, due to not having an own stadium, played its matches in several fields until the current Campo de La Cruz was built in the 1970s.

The pitch is made of natural grass and has dimensions of 99 by 65 meters. The stadium has got a lateral tribune, improved in 2004, with 250 seats. It's located in Parque de Los Pericones in Gijón.

The stadium was used also by Gijón FF, for playing the 2005–06 Superliga Femenina, the only season the club played in the top women's league in Spain. It came back to La Cruz in 2018.

In April 2017, Ceares agreed with the Gijón Town Hall the renovation of the facilities and the construction of a second pitch made of artificial turf for Gijón FF and the youth teams of the club.^[7][8] However, due to some controversies in the city, the Town Hall preferred to build the second pitch in other area of the neighbourhood.

One year later, Ceares authorised Gijón FF to play its games in the women's second division at La Cruz.

In July 2019, the Town Hall of Gijón refused to continue with the project of the new pitch mainly for the women's team and only offered Ceares to renovate La Cruz by building a new tribune and changing the pitch of natural grass for one made of artificial turf. This proposal was widely rejected by the club members.^[9]

In 2020, the building of the lockers and club office and the kop, both located behind the goal, were reformed.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Current squad

As of 20 November 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	ESP	Guillermo Fernández
14	DF	ESP	Aitor Elena
15	DF	ESP	Varo Álvarez
16	FW	ESP	Juan Cueto
18	MF	VEN	Manu Medori
19	MF	ESP	Abraham Ferreres
20	DF	ESP	Edu García
21	DF	ESP	Aitor Cañedo (vice-captain)
22	MF	ESP	Noé Fernández

Season to season

Season	Tier	Division	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	Copa del Rey	Copa Federación	Top league scorer(s)
1948–49	5	2ª Reg.	2nd	24	14	6	4	72	27	34
		PG	1st	6	5	0	1	18	7	10
1949–50	4	1ª Reg.	3rd	20	13	2	5			28
1950–51	4	1ª Reg.	7th	26	10	6	10	46	41	26
1951–52	4	1ª Reg.	11th	26	6	5	15	37	66	17
1952–53	Did not participate as result of a protest[10]
1953–54	4	1ª Reg.	12th	22	1	3	18	29	79	5
1954–55	5	2ª Reg.	12th	22	4	1	17	24	62	9
1955–56	5	2ª Reg.	11th	20	5	4	11	33	44	14
1956–57	5	2ª Reg.	1st	12	8	1	3	37	16	17
		PG	8th	14	0	4	10	15	47	4
1957–58	5	2ª Reg.	6th	16	7	2	7	29	31	16
1958–59	Did not enter any competition
1959–60	5	2ª Reg.		24	11	3	10	44	46	25
1960–61	5	2ª Reg.		26	13	3	10	52	42	29
1961–62	4	1ª Reg.	14th	26	5	6	15	33	56	16
1962–63	4	1ª Reg.	9th	28	9	6	13	34	54	24
1963–64	4	1ª Reg.	14th	30	7	9	14	34	47	23
1964–65	4	1ª Reg.	2nd	30	18	7	5	64	31	43
1965–66	3	3ª	16th	30	3	6	21	36	81	12
1966–67	4	1ª Reg.	9th	30	12	3	15	43	52	27
1967–68	4	1ª Reg.	12th	30	11	5	14	42	54	27
1968–69	4	1ª Reg.	13th	36	12	6	18	53	66	30
1969–70	4	1ª Reg.	17th	38	12	5	21	48	83	29
1970–71	5	2ª Reg.	7th	26	10	6	10	75	62	26
1971–72	5	2ª Reg.	2nd	22	18	0	4	83	19	36
		PG	2nd	8	4	2	2	16	8	12
1972–73	5	2ª Pref.	3rd	26	17	4	5			38
1973–74	5	2ª Pref.	16th	38	13	6	19	53	69	32
1974–75	6	2ª Reg.	1st	20	17	1	2			35
		PG	3rd	8	5	0	3	16	9	10
1975–76	6	2ª Reg.	1st	16	12	3	1	47	13	27
		PG	1st	10	5	2	3	14	8	12
1976–77	5	2ª Pref.	18th	38	7	5	26	45	90	19
1977–78	6	2ª Pref.	5th	38	19	7	12	63	64	45
1978–79	6	1ª Reg.	2nd	38	23	10	5	64	27	56
1979–80	5	Reg. Pref.	18th	38	7	14	17	32	60	28
1980–81	5	Reg. Pref.	17th	38	13	5	20	59	49	31
1981–82	5	Reg. Pref.	15th	38	15	6	17	48	62	36
1982–83	5	Reg. Pref.	13th	38	13	11	14	58	46	37
1983–84	5	Reg. Pref.	15th	38	11	11	16	57	70	33
1984–85	5	Reg. Pref.	8th	38	17	8	13	71	50	42			Edu	14
1985–86	5	Reg. Pref.	2nd	38	19	11	8	60	38	49			Edu	17
1986–87	4	3ª	19th	38	5	18	15	27	54	28			Edu	7
		RP	W	2	1	0	1	3	2
1987–88	4	3ª	20th	38	2	9	27	30	95	13			Paulino	13
1988–89	5	Reg. Pref.	17th	38	9	10	19	36	70	28			Fredi	12
1989–90	5	Reg. Pref.	15th	38	14	9	15	38	64	37			Elías	7
1990–91	5	Reg. Pref.	6th	38	16	9	13	50	35	41			Fredi	12
1991–92	5	Reg. Pref.	6th	38	16	8	14	43	34	40			Roberto Colunga	10
1992–93	5	Reg. Pref.	14th	38	11	10	17	44	64	32			Roberto Colunga	11
1993–94	5	Reg. Pref.	8th	38	14	11	13	45	45	39			Roberto Colunga	12
1994–95	5	Reg. Pref.	4th	38	21	6	11	58	33	48			Carlos Felipe Vega-Arango	9
1995–96	5	Reg. Pref.	13th	38	13	7	18	39	53	46			Rafa	7
1996–97	5	Reg. Pref.	13th	38	12	10	16	43	50	46			Alfredo Ceñal	7
1997–98	5	Reg. Pref.	8th	38	14	12	12	38	36	54			Línter	8
1998–99	5	Reg. Pref.	11th	38	11	14	13	37	41	47			Línter	9
1999–2000	5	Reg. Pref.	12th	38	12	11	15	39	45	47			Mingotes	12
2000–01	5	Reg. Pref.	18th	38	10	5	23	47	71	35			Carlos	11
2001–02	6	1ª Reg.	1st	38	25	9	4	72	24	84			Aitor	24
2002–03	5	Reg. Pref.	1st	38	26	9	3	80	16	87			Iván Dueñas	14
2003–04	4	3ª	10th	38	13	13	12	41	45	52			Sergio Melón	10
2004–05	4	3ª	11th	38	15	7	16	49	55	52		Group stage	Chris Rodri	8
2005–06	4	3ª	16th	38	10	10	18	35	49	40		Group stage	David Bouzo José María Luengo	6
2006–07	4	3ª	9th	38	12	12	14	48	58	48			José María Luengo	12
2007–08	4	3ª	12th	38	14	8	16	53	55	50		Group stage	Javi Castaño	10
2008–09	4	3ª	15th	38	10	12	16	45	57	42		Semi-finals	Bogdan Stoica	10
2009–10	4	3ª	13th	38	12	8	18	39	59	44			Jimmy	8
2010–11	4	3ª	15th	38	10	9	19	39	56	39			Pelayo Torre	11
2011–12	4	3ª	16th	38	12	4	22	40	62	40			Jimmy	13
2012–13	4	3ª	12th	38	13	9	16	43	48	48			Jorge Vázquez	17
2013–14	4	3ª	3rd	38	21	11	6	54	31	74			Borja Noval	11
		PO	R2	4	1	2	1	4	6
2014–15	4	3ª	6th	38	16	15	7	51	41	63		Group stage	Álvaro Ponte	11
2015–16	4	3ª	10th	38	13	6	19	42	60	45		Group stage	Marcos Iglesias	20
2016–17	4	3ª	9th	38	14	7	17	47	63	49		Group stage	Marcos Iglesias	12
2017–18	4	3ª	6th	38	15	15	8	46	30	60		Group stage	Juan Menéndez	12
2018–19	4	3ª	13th	38	10	14	14	35	51	44		Group stage	Juan Menéndez Wilmer	7
2019–20	4	3ª	15th	28	6	9	13	28	37	27		Group stage	Zucu	9
2020–21	4	3ª	1st	26	16	6	4	38	25	54			Carlos Madeira	12
2021–22	4	2ª RFEF	18th	34	5	3	26	23	78	18	First round		Óscar Fernández	9
2022–23	5	3ª Fed	12th	30	9	7	14	35	44	34		Group stage	Ferrari David Ferreiro	7
2023–24	5	3ª	4th	34	19	8	7	52	30	65		Group stage	Carlos Madeira	11
		PO

Source^[11]

• 1 season in Segunda División RFEF
• 21 seasons in Tercera División
• 1 season in Tercera Federación

Awards and trophies

• 1 Tercera División: 2020–21

Statistics and records

In Segunda División RFEF

Updated as of the end of the 2021–22 season.

• Best position: 18th (2021–22).
• Record home win: 2–0 vs Arenteiro.
• Consecutive games undefeated: 2.
• Consecutive games without goals against: 2.
• Top scorer: Óscar Fernández (9 goals).
• Most games played: Héctor Zuazua (33 games).
• Coach with more games: Pablo Busto (34 games).

In Tercera División

Updated as of the end of the 2020–21 season.^[12]

• Best position: 1st (2020–21).
• Consecutive season in Tercera División: 17th (2003–04 to 2019–20).
• Record home win: 6–0 vs Condal (2017–18).
• Record away win: 0–4 vs Llanes (2012–13) and vs Barcia (2023–24), 1–5 vs Siero (2019–20) and vs Gijón Industrial (2023–24).
• Consecutive games undefeated: 13 (2020–21).
• Consecutive wins: 7 (2020–21).
• Consecutive games without goals against: 5 (2009–10 and 2020–21).
• Top scorer: Jimmy (47 goals).
• Most games played: Juan Carlos (295 games, including playoffs).
• Coach with more games: In Tercera División: Nacho Cabo (156 games, including playoffs).

Most capped players

Below is a list of the ten players with the most caps for Ceares in national leagues, Copa del Rey and Copa RFEF, as of the end of the 2022–23 season. Players in bold are currently playing at Ceares.

Top goalscorers

Below is a list of the top ten goalscorers for Ceares in national leagues, Copa del Rey and Copa RFEF, as of the 2021–22 season. Players in bold are currently playing at Ceares.

Famous players

• Salvador Capín
• Francisco Javier Castaño
• Adrián Colunga
• Dani Peláez
• Josu Uribe
• Bryan Jiménez

Head coaches

All official games are counted.

Memorial Pepe Ortiz

Since 2011, UC Ceares starts the pre-season playing a friendly trophy called Memorial Pepe Ortiz in hommage of the former player of Sporting de Gijón from 1949 to 1963, considered as the best player of the history of the neighbourhood.^[13]

Agreed and affiliated teams

Aboño

Aboño

Full name	Cultural Deportiva de Aboño
Founded	1929
Ground	Gómez Lozana, Aboño Carreño, Asturias, Spain
Capacity	500
League	Tercera Asturfútbol – Group 1
2022–23	Tercera RFFPA – Group 1, 7th of 14

Since July 2019, Cultural Deportiva de Aboño acts as the reserve team of Ceares.^[14]

The club, founded in 1929 in Aboño, Carrió, Carreño, currently plays in Tercera Asturfútbol – Group 1, eight and last tier, and in its best years reached the Regional Preferente, fifth division.^[15]

Season to season (as reserve team)

Gijón FF

Gijón Fútbol Femenino is the only women's football team of Gijón that played in the Superliga.

In 2015, Gijón FF started to act as de facto's women's section of Ceares and both created the Mixed Football Academy.

Veriña

Veriña Club de Fútbol, located in the namesake parish, is one of the most important youth football teams in the city. The collaboration agreement started in 2020, during the months Ceares had to play at Estadio Lloreda due to the improvement works at La Cruz.^[16]

References

External links

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Futbolme team profile (in Spanish)
• BDFutbol team profile