Benfica Football Field

On 25/03/1919, Benfica has reached to a rental agreement which has allowed to keep using the facilities. In exchange, however, was forced to give room to the students and teachers of Escola Normal. Thanks to the club’s initiative spirit, the Benfica’s field was the stage of the first game at night, in our country.

There were, along the field, 18 spotlights of 1000 candles each, and, a large number of red and white bulbs alternately set through the stands and in the private boxes, in order to produce an amazing combined visual impact. The match took place on 10/09/1919 (a Wednesday) and put together Benfica and a mixed team, composed by players from Império, Internacional and V.Setúbal.

The lands problem and the relations between the club’s board and the School’s government got worst, later, at the beginning of the 20’s. In a meeting, on 10/04/1921, the Cosme Damião’s proposal to move the community to Amoreiras was approved. However, Benfica was trying to keep that area for other sports, just like Field Hockey. The Escola Normal, on the 03/10/1921 meeting, did not demand for an immediate dropping out, which has allowed Benfica to take the benefits of its rights as a tenant (headquarter and field). Consequently, the club could remain at Benfica’s field for a little bit longer.

The first sporting fields being sacrificed were the tennis courts, remaining just one, in the headquarter. But, in 1923, Benfica was really forced to leave the field, as it was decided to make a connection street between Estrada de Benfica and Estrada Nacional, crossing the spot where the field was situated (the street would only be done in... 1997 (!), the same is to say 74 years later...) In 1923/24, the lack of fields in the city, (offering good conditions) led to the solution of just playing at two sporting areas in the Regional: the Campo Grande (from Sporting Lisbon) and the Palhavã’s field (from Império Lisboa Clube). During the 1924/25 season, Benfica was playing its “home” matches in Palhavã, while the works of its future stronghold were not concluded: the Estádio das Amoreiras.

At Benfica’s field, our club has played 27 matches, obtaining 11 victories, 6 draws, 10 losses and a 56-45 goals total. While was using the field, Benfica has won 2 Campeonatos Regionais (17/18 and 19/20), 2 Taças de Honra (19/20 and 21/22) and 1 Taça da Associação (21/22). The last match took place on 11/03/1923, against Império LC, for the Regional de Lisboa. (Nevertheless, the field would be used until 1926, for training sessions and other sports activities). The club was leaving the city area which had given its definitive name. The club would only return to Benfica in 1954, after staying for 30 years in other locations, in Lisboa.

At Benfica’s field, our club has played 27 matches, obtaining 11 victories, 6 draws, 10 losses and a 56-45 goals total.