The foot–ballers of the Ciclista founded the Sociedad de Foot–Ball club
The creation of the Sociedad de Foot–Ball is a consequence of the differences between cyclists and foot–ballers. Those who had joined forces eleven months earlier are now separating, with players and directors of the foot–ball section joining the new society.
All the football players who belonged to the Ciclista Foot–ball Club of San Sebastián have resigned from this Society to form another one which, under the name of San Sebastián Foot–ball Club, will be dedicated exclusively to cultivating this sport, and for this purpose they are finishing the arrangements of the Ondarreta field, whose inauguration will take place on the 7th of next November, with a match being played between the team of the new Club and the Athletic team from Bilbao.
Excerpt from the interview with Eusebio Leturia, “an exceptional witness [and player] of the first Real Sociedad.”
When I was a child —Don Eusebio begins— the games were played on the Ondarreta training ground, with prior permission from the military authorities. Among those who played there I remember Miguel Sena, captain of that team, who approached the directors of the C. Ciclista, who were mostly French. The issue was to find a field to play games behind closed doors. The cyclists agreed and a team was formed, where Perico Bea and his English teacher [George McGuinness] played. I then played in the Sala square with a rag ball. Back then there were no gas balloons, only were gas balls the real ones. In 1908 they let the boys into the Club Ciclista. A lot of us went in and they called us “the flock.” That’s where I started. I played two games in the old team.
The primitive «Sociedad de Fútbol»
After all this —Don Eusebio continues the story— the Club Ciclista won the Spanish championship in Madrid and a tremendous fan base developed, so much so that Sporting and Racing from Irun even divided families. Then, the directors of the C. Ciclista, who were French, insisted on giving supremacy to cycling over football. Of course, both sides were right. But Casa Brunet, owner of the Ondarreta land, gave us a plot of land and the first football stand in Spain was built there, there were even showers. Then the team was called Sociedad de Fútbol. They gave us the title of “Real” in the middle of the 1909–1910 season. So, those who founded Real Sociedad were, along with Miguel Seña, Adolfo Sáenz Alonso, Honorato Sáenz Alonso, Julián Olave and Berrondo.
