Terras do Desembargador were a sporting a fundamental area for the Football evolution in Lisbon
and Portugal. As “ benfiquistas” we cannot deny the very special affection we feel about it, because that is
where we began and became... winners!
By the end of XIX century, many of the football matches were being played in Terras do Desembargador, next
to the Convento das Freiras Salésias, in Belém, only after the Praça de Touros inauguration, in 1982, which
was, until that day, the favourite place at the Capital for football matches.
In spite of being sporadic and having no predefined schedule (announced by “challenge” on that time Lisbon
press pages) the football matches were attracting some sportsmen to Salésias, predominantly the kids. On
Sunday matches, the little ones from Belém and the Casapianos from Restelo were “falling into the field of
play” eagerly to watch football, and to see which team would win - if the challenging team our the
challenged. At the end they would act like their “heroes”, in the streets or Casa Pia’s yard.
It was at those lands that, in december 1903, the Grupo de Belém, composed by the three Rosa
Rodrigues brothers (known as Catataus) and their neighbors from Rua de Belém, strengthened with “ bons de
bola” (talented) ex-casapianos, won for 1-0, in the rematch, against the Internacional (CIF), considered by
that time the best portuguese football group (although there were some English players).
During the after victory lunch, it was suggested to found a club... with Portuguese men only! The winning,
which caused a tremendous noise in Belém, led to training intensification, closer relations between the boys
from Belém and the ex-casapianos and, a few months later, to our club’s foundation (28-02-1904). After the
foundation, in the area of Belém, the Terras do Desembargador were one of places where the first training
sessions were completed and where our club’s first match was played (01-01-1905), with a victory against
Grupo Campo de Ourique, 1-0.
We were still playing in Salésias, but, with the club’s growth, in terms of members and popularity, the
necessity of having an own Football field.
One of the 1st Board’s first measures, elected on 22-11-1906 and headed by Dr. Janúario Barreto, came out
during the second meeting, on 07-02-1907, where it was decided to acquire an athletic and private field for
the club.
In a short time, the Benfica’s players were seen as the best in Portugal and the only ones with the
necessary quality to face the invincible masters of Cabo Submarino, the Carcavellos Club.
However, there were no training and playing conditions. The Salésias facilities were very rudimentary. Since
it was a public land, it was being used for many other things, just like the soldiers and the cavalry of the
Belém’s military regiments practicing, which leading the soil to poor conditions.
In addiction, the spectators were disturbing the players a lot, mostly the “soldadesca” (soldiers) who were
used to watch the matches and the training sessions, as the field was the fence of a military barrack. This
scene was very unpleasant , mostly to some players who were also military forces and with higher military
rank... With their football skills development, as well as the professional affirmation, the players were
not satisfied with carrying the equipment on their back and with open field dressing rooms, with no comfort
- as they did not have age and social position for “rapaziadas” (boyishness).
In a short time, the Benfica’s players were seen as the best in Portugal and the only ones with the
necessary quality to face the invincible masters of Cabo Submarino, the Carcavellos Club.
With the kids watching the match, whenever the ball crossed the “four lines”, it was a trouble to bring it
back to the field, because they were used to catch the ball and play with it. There was also the the danger
of some spectators getting into the field and causing an accident between them and the players. António Rosa
Rodrigues got his arm broken once and, consequently, the boy who crossed the field of play got his leg
broken in the crash. The incident led to police intervention, while our player went to the police station,
in Belém, in order to explain the situation, as the field were public and it should be used with “urbanity”,
with no troubles. By occurring accidents they should assume their responsibilities.
With the difficulty of getting an area to play football in Lisbon, our club, during season 1906/07 - our
third season ever - has played, just like the rest of the clubs, in unrelated fields. Among those fields,
there was Quinta Nova, at Carcavelos, which was a part of Cabo Submarino’s facilities, where the Carcavellos
Cricket and Football Club was used to play - utilized for football since the 90’s of XIX century) and the
Cruz Quebrada field, belonging to the Lisbon Cricket Club’s Englishmen, who were also playing football
there.
The club was still seeking for fields in Belém. Nevertheless, as there were no available ones or just
because rentals were very expensive, it was never possible to get the desired own field, not even outside
Belém. The solution would be discovered in Benfica, where there was a club - the Grupo Sport Lisboa -, which
had a nice football field, at Quinta da Feiteira, although they did not have good football players.
Nowadays, these fields are integrated, because of the enlargement of the facilities, at the “parada” of the
Quartel das Oficinas Gerais de Material de Engenharia, of the Army, in the north of Rua do Embaixador,
between Travessa das Zebras and Rua Alexandre de Sá Pinto.
Terras do Desembargador field - Characteristics
Name
Terras do Desembargador field
|
Location
At Terras do Desembargador, between Calçada da Ajuda and Rua Alexandre Sá Pinto
|
Current situation
Parada of Quartel das Oficinas Gerais de Material de Engenharia (Army)
|
Type of property
Public field
|
Top matches
DATE |
RESULT |
OBSERVATIONS |
December of 1903 |
1 - SL Benfica
0 - Grupo Pinto Bastos |
The club’s creation decision was taken after this match (rematch) - between CIF and a combined
team, composed by the palyers of Grupo de Belém (Catataus) and of Associacão do Bem
(ex-casapianos)
|
01/01/1905 |
1 - SL Benfica
0 - Campo de Ourique |
Our club’s 1st match. The Grupo Campo de Ourique was considered one of the best teams. It was
the beginning of Benfica’s popularity. |
28/01/1906 |
2 - SL Benfica
1 - Clube Internacional Futebol |
First match and first victory against Internacional, that was considered the best combined
group (portuguese and english players) playing in Portugal. |