Lorca Fútbol Club was a Spanish football team based in Lorca, in the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia. Founded in 2003, it last played in Preferente Autonómica de Murcia – Group 1, holding home games at Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco, which has a capacity of 8,120.
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Full name | Lorca Fútbol Club, S.A.D. | ||
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Founded | 1 June 2003; 19 years ago (1 June 2003) as La Hoya Deportiva Club de Fútbol | ||
Dissolved | 2022 | ||
Ground | Francisco Artés Carrasco Lorca, Murcia, Spain | ||
Capacity | 8,120 | ||
League | Preferente Autonómica | ||
2020–21 | 3ª – Group 13 (B), 11th of 11 3ª – Group 13 (E), 10th of 10 (relegated) | ||
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The club was founded in 2003 as La Hoya Deportiva Club de Fútbol by constructor Pedro Rosell, whose enterprise sponsored the team in its first years.
In 2010, the club changes its name to La Hoya Lorca Club de Fútbol in 2010, after the promotion of the club to Tercera División, but continues playing in La Hoya. Rossell resigned as president and Luis Jiménez replaced him. During these years, the team was nicknamed as El Brócoli Mecánico (The Clockwork Broccoli) after the vegetable, a major local export. In 2011, La Hoya Lorca started playing its games at Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco in Lorca.
In 2013, La Hoya Lorca won promotion to Segunda División B via the play-offs, defeating SCR Peña Deportiva on away goals after a 4–4 aggregate draw.[1] The club previously finished the Copa Federación de España as runner-up, in the club's first success in national football.[2]
In successive seasons, the club attracted attention for their kit which had broccoli imprinted over the entire shirt and shorts.[3][4]
On 8 July 2016, the club changed its name to Lorca Fútbol Club when it was bought by former Chinese international player and manager Xu Genbao.[5] When Lorca played FC Jumilla in November 2016 the match was broadcast live over the internet in China as Jumilla are also under Chinese ownership.[6]
On 27 May 2017, the club achieved promotion to Segunda División after a 0–0 away draw against Albacete Balompié in the play-offs (1–1 on aggregate).[7] Three weeks later, rumours about a possible transfer of the club started to appear. Xu Genbao supposedly would sell the club and its place in the second division for €9 million and the owner of Hércules CF would be interested in refounding the club from this one, as his own had serious financial trouble.[8]
In the 2017–18 season, Lorca were relegated with 33 points in 42 matches. During the summer, the Royal Spanish Football Federation announced that the team would be banned for playing in the third tier the following season for not meeting the economic requirements.[9]
In the 2018–19 season the club finished 3rd in Tercera División, Group 18 with 80 points.[10]
Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
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2003–04 | 6 | 1ª Terr. | 13th | |
2004–05 | 6 | 1ª Terr. | 4th | |
2005–06 | 6 | 1ª Terr. | 6th | |
2006–07 | 6 | 1ª Terr. | 3rd | |
2007–08 | 5 | Terr. Pref. | 10th | |
2008–09 | 5 | Terr. Pref. | 15th | |
2009–10 | 5 | Terr. Pref. | 1st |
Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010–11 | 4 | 3ª | 7th | |
2011–12 | 4 | 3ª | 4th | |
2012–13 | 4 | 3ª | 1st | |
2013–14 | 3 | 2ªB | 2nd | First round |
2014–15 | 3 | 2ªB | 13th | First round |
2015–16 | 3 | 2ªB | 6th |
Season | Tier | Division | Place | Copa del Rey |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016–17 | 3 | 2ªB | 1st | Second round |
2017–18 | 2 | 2ª | 21st | Second round |
2018–19 | 4 | 3ª | 3rd | Third round |
2019–20 | 4 | 3ª | 7th | |
2020–21 | 4 | 3ª | 11th / 10th | |
2021–22 | 6 | Pref. Aut. | (R) |