In 1956, Club Deportivo Llanares was formed a couple of miles or so to the south east, in the suburb of the same name. By the early sixties they had reached the Tercera and were competing head to head with the recently relegated Real Avilés. In 1965, CD Llanares became the works side of Ensidesa, a steel manufacturer that was a big employer in Avilés. Over the next decade, as Real Avilés fortunes waned, so the newly named CD Ensidesa became the town's dominant club. This came to a peak in 1974, with Real Avilés in the regional league, CD Ensidesa won promotion to La Segunda. The stay in the second tier lasted just the one season, but following the reorganisation of the leagues for the 1977-78 season, CD Ensidesa embarked on a five year stay in Segunda B. Meanwhile, Real Avilés was back in the Tercera, but was becalmed in mid-table. The next twist came with the economic downturn in the steel industry in the early 1980's
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| Old style - The original Román Suárez Puerta. |
The 1982-83 season saw both clubs in the Tercera and whilst Real Avilés settled for a lowly 13th place finish, CD Ensidesa was winning the division and promotion to Segunda B. However, the fate had a trick up its sleeve as Ensidesa, the club's main sponsor withdrew its support. Faced with closure and the loss of its place in Segunda B, CD Ensidesa merged with their cross-city rivals to form Real Avilés Industrial and took up the vacant position in the third tier. At this point, the original Román Suárez Puerta was beginning to show its age. Originally built in 1943, the ground featured a short propped stand and open terracing around an oval shaped bowl. CD Ensidesa's Estadio Juan Muro de Zaro however, featured two substantial covered stands, so the club decamped to the south east of the town. The stadium was unusual in that the western side of the stadium was made up of hoardings, due to the close proximity of a stream. Opposite this hoarding stood a large covered terrace, whilst the seating and changing facilities were housed in a substantial covered stand at the southern end. There was no permanent stand at the northern end, although temporary bleachers where used for bigger matches, like this match against Deportivo La Coruna. Initially, the merger proved problematic, with the club dropping back to the Tercera in 1985, but they soon returned to Segunda B and won the championship and promotion to La Segunda in 1989-90.
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| Get close & intimate. The two-sided Juan Muro de Zaro |
The 1990-91 season saw Real Avilés Industrial produce a very balance season of 38 points from 38 games, which earned them ninth place. The following season proved much more problematic and the club was eventually relegated after finishing 19th. The remainder of the 90's saw a gradual decline, but at the end of the decade, Real Avilés had moved back to a rebuilt Román Suárez Puerta. Their new home had a capacity of 8,000 and opened on 6 January 1999 with a friendly against Real Oviedo. The new stadium unfortunately failed to work its magic, and in June 2000 the club was relegated after losing to Novelda in a play-off. Much of the next decade was been spent in the Tercera with the club rarely challenging for promotion. That changed with a second place finish in the 2011-12 season and with it, entry into the play-offs for Segunda B. A first round loss to Coria CF appeared to put an end to any hopes of football at a higher level for at least another 12 months. However, with places up for grabs following the demotion of some clubs, Real Avilés stomped up €200.000 and bought a place in the third tier.
