Real Sociedad
may have used three stadiums since its formation on 7 September 1909, but some 20 years after closing, it is Atotxa that is still viewed as the club's spiritual home. Life may have
started out at the Campo Hípico de Ondarreta, the city’s old racecourse, but it was
in 1913 that Sociedad put down its roots at the mythical Campo de Futbol Atotxa.
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A newspaper article from 1913 covering the opening of Atotxa |
Atotxa, was cramped,
crumbling and hopelessly inadequate. It was also atmospheric, intimidating and
above all, it was home. Wedged between the main railway line, the fruit market
and a 20 storey office block, it was lovable, but ultimately doomed. Opened on 4 October 1913 and inaugurated with a match against perennial rivals Athletic Bilbao,
Atotxa saw its one and only international match on 28 January 1923, when France
popped over the border and politely rolled-over 3-0. On 4 May of the following
year, it hosted the Cup Final. Fittingly, fellow Basques Real Union prevailed with a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.