Avintes: A real club — Terrace Edition

Words: Marco Teixeira

Images: Marco Teixeira

“What is your real club?”

This is probably the question that I, and so many others who support clubs outside the so-called “big three” or who do not play in Portugal’s top division, hear most often.

Futebol Clube de Avintes, founded on 23 July 1923, is a club based in Vila Nova de Gaia, in the Porto District, one of the most chaotic and divided cities in Portugal, both in footballing and cultural terms.

Gaia is made up of several towns, each of which functions almost like a small city, with its own customs, identities and football clubs.

©Marco Teixeira/ Terrace Edition. Futebol Clube de Avintes.

Unlike in other cities, where one or two local clubs represent almost the entire population, this is not the reality for us, the people of Gaia.

Vila Nova de Gaia has more than 20 clubs, and none has managed, to this day, to reach professional football and represent the city at a higher level.

In my view, one of the main reasons for this is the lack of a strong collective identity.

When you ask someone from Gaia where they are from, the answer is often “Porto” because of the proximity to the city only being divide by a river and a couple of bridges.

This reality is also reflected in football. Gaia is largely dominated by FC Porto supporters, which means that many local clubs are filled with fans of a top division sides.

As a result, these lower-league clubs almost always become people’s second club, never their main one, making it difficult for them to develop a strong and independent identity.

That is why, when I say that my club is Avintes, there is almost always a sense of surprise and even mockery, especially when I add that I do not support any other club.

This reaction often leaves me uncomfortable, not only because Avintes is an important part of my life, but also because of the lack of respect that still exists towards clubs at this level.

Avintes, known as the land of the “broeiros”, a nickname that comes from its association with traditional bread-making, has always been a place of colourful characters and strong personalities, much like the club that represents it.

The famous “Raça Avintense”, which has no direct translation, means never giving up, being resilient, and always competing with determination and courage, regardless of the opponent.

It is this connection to the club of my hometown that makes me love it.

It may not be the most beautiful football, and I may not celebrate many great achievements, but I would rather suffer with the colours of the place where I grew up and where I learned my values as a person than support the colours of another city.

So when people ask me what my real club is, I answer without hesitation: Avintes is a real club. Just like all the clubs of Vila Nova de Gaia.