Challenge International du Sud de la France ("Coupe des Pyrenées - Copa Pirineos")


This football competition was created by the Comitè des Pyrénées, which was part of the USFSA (Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques).
The initial championship in 1910 was only for teams that were members of three USFSA regional committees (Pyrénées, Languedoc, and Guyenne et Gascogne) and for teams from the cities of San Sebastián, Irún and Barcelona in Spain. In 1911 participation expanded to all regional committees in the South of France (Littoral and Côte d'Azur). In the fifth and last edition a team from Catalonia (Sabadell) also registered.
The final of the championship had to be held in the region's capital, Toulouse. However, the last two finals took place in Barcelona. The competition was played for 5 years, from 1910 to 1914, before disappearing due to the first World War. In Spain it was commonly known as Copa Pirineos.


Palmares

1910 FC Barcelona
1911 FC Barcelona
1912 FC Barcelona
1913 FC Barcelona
1914 FC Espanya (Barcelona)


Clubwise list of winners

FC Barcelona              4
FC Espanya (Barcelona)    1

Regionwise list of winners

Catalonia                 5


Finals

Year   Venue       Result
1910   Toulouse    FC Barcelona            2-1 Real Sociedad (San Sebastián)
1911   Toulouse    FC Barcelona            4-2 Stade Bordelais Université Club  [aet]
1912   Toulouse    FC Barcelona            5-3 Stade Bordelais Université Club
1913   Barcelona   FC Barcelona            7-2 Comète et Simiot (Bordeaux)
1914   Barcelona   FC Espanya (Barcelona)  3-1 Comète et Simiot (Bordeaux)

Clubwise list of finalists

Club                         Champion  Runners-up

FC Barcelona                     4           
FC Espanya (Barcelona)           1          
 
Comète et Simiot (Bordeaux)                  2
Stade Bordelais UC                           2
Real Sociedad (San Sebastián)                1

All-Time Participants Overview

Club                         Participations  Champion  Runners-up

FC Barcelona                         5           4           
Stade Toulousain                     5
Olympique de Cette                   4
Comète et Simiot (Bordeaux)          3                       2
SC de Nîmes                          3
FC Espanya (Barcelona)               2           1           
Stade Bordelais UC                   2                       2
Real Sociedad (San Sebastián)        2                       1
RCD Espanyol (Barcelona)             2
Olympique de Marseille               2
US Calvissonnaisse                   1
Biarritz Stade                       1
Stade Etoile Bleue (Marseille)       1
Stade Helvétique (Marseille)         1
Sporting Club Irún                   1
SC Toulousain                        1
Casual SC (Barcelona)                1
Universitari SC (Barcelona)          1
CS Sabadell                          1
US Albigeoise                        1

First edition (1910)

Participants (6):
  Pyrénées region:            Stade Toulousain, Sporting Club Toulousain
  Languedoc region:           Olympique de Cette, Sporting Club de Nîmes
  San Sebastián:              Real Sociedad de Football
  Barcelona:                  Football Club Barcelona

NB: the city of Cette was renamed Sète in 1927; Olympique de Cette is currently
      known as FC de Sète 34 (since 1989);
    Sociedad de Football were renamed Real Sociedad de Football on 11 Feb 1910
      after King Alfons XII had granted the club the title Real.

Competition:

Knockout stage France

Olympique de Cette            3-0 SC Nîmois                     
Stade Toulousain              w/o SC Toulousain

Semifinals

Real Sociedad                 8-0 Stade Toulousain
Olympique de Cette            1-1 FC Barcelona                  [Olympique abandoned]

Final

FC Barcelona                  2-1 Real Sociedad                 


Available Match Details:

27 Feb 1910, stadium Croix Bonhome, Montpellier;
             kick-off: 14.30; ref: Labat (Comité des Pyrénées)
Olympique de Cette            3-0 SC de Nîmes                     
Olympique: Diffre - Garnier, Gascard - Runel, Bayrou (c), Encontré -
           Ain, Lorrain, Rambaud, Vernet, Allias 
SC de Nîmes: Teissier - Borgne, Brugière - Couderc, Augade, Farde -
             Bagnol (c), Charrier, Fénouillet, Jean, Picquemal
scorers: n/a

27 Feb 1910, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse;
             kick-off: 13.30; ref: Maffre (Comité des Pyrénées)
Stade Toulousain              w/o SC Toulousain

17 Apr 1910, stadium Ondarreta, San Sebastián;
             kick-off: 16.30; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
Real Sociedad                 8-0 Stade Toulousain
Sociedad: Bea - Arocena, Loinaz - Arrillaga, Echevarría, Leturia -
          MacGuinnes, Goitisolo, Lacort, Simmons, Prast 
Stade Toulousain: Thouverez - Ger, Roumengou - Roger, Dalleau, Durac -
                  Souparis, Cadeac, Struxiano (c), Puel, Marquís
scorers: Lacort 4, Goitisolo 2, Simmons, MacGuinnes
NB: on 24 Apr 1910, Sociedad played Stade Bordelais UC in a friendly match
    unconnected to this competition.

24 Apr 1910, stadium Casernes, Cette;
             kick-off: 15.00; ref: Labat (Comité des Pyrénées)
Olympique de Cette            1-1 FC Barcelona                  [Olympique abandoned]
Olympique: Diffre - Gascard, Bayrou (c) - Encontré, Garnier, Lorrain -
           Ain, Artaud, Rambaud, Vernet, Allias 
Barcelona: Solà - Bru, Amechazurra - Sanz, Peris, C. Wallace -
           Forns, Graells, C. Comamala, Steinberg, LLonch 
scorers: Allias - Graells
NB: after the match had finished 1-1, extra time was to be played, but Olympique
    refused to do so due to tiredness; Barcelona thus qualified.

 1 May 1910, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse;
             kick-off: 15.00; ref: Labat (Comité des Pyrénées);
             linesmen: Struxiano and Durac (Stade Toulousain)
FC Barcelona                  2-1 Real Sociedad                 
Barcelona: Solà - Bru, Amechazurra - Peris, Aguirreche, Grau -
           Forns, Graells, C. Comamala, Rodríguez, C. Wallace 
Sociedad: Bea - Loinaz, Arocena - Arrillaga, Echevarria, Belauste -
          MacGuinnes, Goitisolo, Lacort, Simmons, Prast 
scorers: Graells, Rodríguez - Prast

Second edition (1911)

Participants (11):
  Pyrénées region:            Stade Toulousain
  Languedoc region:           Olympique de Cette, Sporting Club de Nîmes
                              and Union Sportif Calvissonnaisse
  Côte d'Argent region:       Stade Bordelais UC
  Côte Basque region:         Biarritz Stade
  Littoral region:            Olympique de Marseille, Stade Etoile Bleue de
                              Marseille and Stade Helvétique de Marseille
  Irún:                       Sporting Club Irún
  Barcelona:                  Football Club Barcelona

NB: some sources indicated Bon Gars de Bordeaux as losing finalists; however, as
      this club was not registered with the USFSA and played in another competition,
      this is not possible.
    Competition expands to all regions in the South of France: Côte d'Argent,
      Côte Basque (previously these two were Guyenne et Gascogne), Languedoc,
      Littoral, Côte d'Azur (no participating teams) and Pyrénnées as the organizer.

Competition:

Knockout

Sporting Club de Nîmes        ?-? US Calvissonnaisse
Olympique de Marseille        ?-? Etoile Bleue de Marseille
Sporting Club Irún            ?-? Biarritz Stade
Olympique de Cette            ?-? Sporting Club de Nîmes
Stade Helvétique              ?-? Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Cette            1-0 Olympique de Marseille
Stade Bordelais UC            3-3 Sporting Club Irún

Semifinals

FC Barcelona                  2-1 Olympique Cette
Stade Bordelais UC            2-1 Stade Toulousain

Final

FC Barcelona                  4-2 Stade Bordelais UC            [aet; 2-2 after regulation time]


Available Match Details:

12th Feb 1911 (?)
Sporting Club Nîmois          ?-? US Calvissonnaisse
NB: no further details available. Qualified Sporting Club de Nîmes

12th Mar 1911 (?)
Olympique de Marseille        ?-? Etolie Bleue de Marseille
NB: no further details available. Olympique de Marseille

26th Mar 1911
Sporting Club Irún            ?-? Biarritz Stade
NB: no further details available. Qualified Sporting Club Irún

2nd Apr 1911
Olympique de Cette            ?-? Sporting Club de Nîmes
Postponed due to rain. No further details available. Qualified Olympique de Cette

2nd Apr 1911
Stade Helvétique de Marseille ?-? Olympique de Marseille
NB: no further details available. Qualified Olympique de Marseille

23t hApr 1911, stadium Parcs des Sports (Sporting Club de Nîmes)
			
Olympique de Cette            1-0 Olympique de Marseille
O Cette: Diffre - Garcard, Bayrou (c) - Galesne, Artaud, Lorrain - 
         Vernet, Piquemal, Roussel, Bagnols, Bégot
O Marseille: MacQueen - Marin, Rouquet - Rondony, Joubert (c),
             Walsch - Gerinelli, Lion, Daun, Bernard, Moureu
Scorer: N.N.

23th April 1911, Dax
Stade Bordelais UC            3-3 Sporting Club Irún
Note: match ended in a tie, Stade asks for extra time but Irún disagrees and players
      left the field. Stade is declared the winner. The organizing committee decides
      to play another match on April 30th at Stade stadium  (Route du Médoc). No
      further details available. Qualified Stade Bordelais

 7 May 1911, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.45; ref: Labat (Comité des Pyrénées)
FC Barcelona                  2-1 Olympique Cette
Barcelona: Reñé - Bru, Amechazurra - Quirante, Peris, Grau -
           Forns, P. Wallace, C. Comamala, C. Wallace, A. Comamala
Olympique: Razias - Gascard, Villarde - Lorrain, Artaud, Galesne -
           Bégot, Bagnols, Roussel, Picquemal, Vernet
scorers: C. Comamala 2 - N.N.

 7 May 1911, stadium Route du Médoc, Bordeaux
Stade Bordelais UC            2-1 Stade Toulousain
scorers: Lassalle, Bedey - Marquis
NB: no further details available

14 May 1911, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse;
             ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées);
             assistants: Duran and Puel (Stade Toulousain)
FC Barcelona                  4-2 Stade Bordelais UC           [aet; 2-2 after regulation time]
Barcelona: Reñé - Bru, Amechazurra - Quirante, Peris, Grau -
           Forns, P. Wallace, C. Comamala, C. Wallace, Espelta
Stade Bordelais UC: Bollac - Balier, Lucas - Binot, Harders (c), Minaud -
                    Cazeaux, Bedey, Gros, Hauret, Lassalle 
scorers: P. Wallace 2, C. Wallace, C. Comamala - Hauret, N.N.

Third edition (1912)

Participants (9):
  Pyrénées region:            Stade Toulousain
  Languedoc region:           Olympique de Cette, Sporting Club de Nîmes
  Littoral region:            Olympique de Marseille
  Côte d'Argent region:       Stade Bordelais Université Club, Comète et Simiot
  San Sebastián:              Real Sociedad de Football
  Barcelona:                  Football Club Barcelona, Club Deportiu Espanyol

Competition:

Knockout stage Catalonia

FC Barcelona                  3-2 CD Espanyol                   [aet; 2-2 after regulation time]

Knockout stage France

Olympique de Cette            2-3 SC de Nîmes             
Stade Bordelais UC            3-1 Comète et Simiot

SC de Nîmes                   6-2 Olympique de Marseille
Stade Toulousain UC           0-1 Stade Bordelais               

Semifinals

FC Barcelona                  w/o SC de Nîmes                
Stade Bordelais UC           w/o Real Sociedad

Final

FC Barcelona                  5-3 Stade Bordelais UC


Available Match Details:

10 Mar 1912, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.45; ref: Hamilton (Catalunya)
FC Barcelona                  3-2 CD Espanyol                   [aet; 2-2 after regulation time]
Barcelona: Reñé - Irizar. Amechazurra - Rozitsky, Lambe, Wilson -
           Rodriguez, Steel, Pattullo, Summer, Peris 
Espanyol: Gibert - C. Wallace, S. Massana - La Riva, Gibson, Sanpere -
          Allack, P. Wallace, Hodge, Burnett, C. Comamala
scorers: Pattullo 2, Steel - Burnett 2
NB: a protest by Espanyol on the refereeing was thrown out.

17 Mar 1912, stadium Casernes, Cette
Olympique de Cette            2-3 SC de Nîmes             
NB: no further details available

17 Mar 1912, stadium Route du Médoc, Bordeaux
Stade Bordelais UC            3-1 Comète et Simiot
NB: no further details available

21 Apr 1912, stadium Parc de Sports, Nîmes; kick-off: 15:00; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
SC de Nîmes                   6-2 Olympique de Marseille
Nîmes: Bruguière - Augade, Couder - Villaret, Abbal (c), Comte -
       Rambaud, Tixador, Chasangne, Giless, Prevost, Coustou
scorers: Coustou, Prévost, Tixador, Giless, 2 unknown, - N.N.
NB: no further details available

21 Apr 1912, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse; kick-off: 15:00
Stade Toulousain              0-1 Stade Bordelais UC 
Toulouse: Roumengou - Delort, Ger - Laffat, Jauze, Durac - J. Ginesty, Fre (?),
          Tourneux, Doutressoulle, Marquis (c)
NB: no further details available

28 Apr 1912, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona
FC Barcelona                  w/o SC de Nîmes                     
NB: SC de Nîmes could not find enough players to make the trip and forfeited.

28 Apr 1912, stadium Route du Médoc, Bordeaux
Stade Bordelais               w/o Real Sociedad
NB: Sociedad were unwilling to pay for the cost of transportation and forfeited.

 5 May 1912, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse;
             ref: Ginesty (Stade Toulousain)
FC Barcelona                  5-3 Stade Bordelais
Barcelona: L. Peris - Irizar, Amechazurra - Berdié, A. Massana, Wilson -
           F. Armet, Rodriguez, Steel, Morales, L. Peris
Stade Bordelais: Gleuck - Hauret, Lucas - Blummer, Mimaud, Plau -
                 Lassalle, Gregi, Gros, Fuentes, Cazeaux 
scorers: Morales 3, Massana, Rodriguez - N.N.

Fourth edition (1913)

Participants (7):
  Pyrénées region:            Stade Toulousain
  Languedoc region:           Olympique de Cette
  Côte d'Argent region:       Comète et Simiot
  Barcelona:                  Football Club Barcelona, Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol,
                              Casual Sporting Club, Football Club Espanya

NB: Club Deportiu Espanyol were renamed Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol on 25 Apr 1912
      after King Alfons XII had granted the club the title Real;
    in the 1912/13 season, there was a double split in Spanish football.  In Catalonia,
      several teams led by FC Barcelona separated from the Federació Catalana de Clubs
      de Futbol and created the Associació Catalana de Futbol.  Both institutions held
      a championship.  On the other hand, several Spanish teams, also led by Barcelona
      and Real Sociedad de Football de San Sebastián, separated from the Federación
      Española de Clubs de Fútbol and created a new institution, the Unión Española de
      Clubs de Fútbol.  Both organized a competition.  Of the Catalan clubs registered 
      at the Challenge, RCD Espanyol, FC Espanya and Casual SC were loyal to the
      original institutions, questioning whether teams from different federations could
      participate in the same international competition.  The three Catalonian qualifying
      matches (RCD Espanyol–FC Espanya, FC Barcelona-Casual SC, and the final between the
      winners) were originally scheduled for March 2, 9 and 30, but postposed to Mar 16,
      30 and Apr 6; eventually, FC Espanya did not accept the entry of FC Barcelona and
      forfeited the match against RCD Espanyol, who together with Casual SC decided to
      participate in spite of Barcelona's entry.  Interestingly, the Federació Catalana
      de Clubs de Futbol penalized Casual SC for playing against FC Barcelona, but not 
      RCD Espanyol; the fine was eventually waived.

Competition:

Knockout stage Catalonia

RCD Espanyol                  w/o FC Espanya
FC Barcelona                  7-0 Casual SC

FC Barcelona                  1-3 RCD Espanyol                  [Espanyol disqualified]

Knockout stage France

Comète et Simiot              4-3 Stade Toulousain

Comète et Simiot              bt  Olympique de Cette

Final

FC Barcelona                  7-2 Comète et Simiot


Available Match Details:

 2 Mar 1913, stadium Chemin des Ecus, Bordeaux; kick-off: 14.30
Comète et Simiot              4-3 Stade Toulousain
NB: no further details available

16 Mar 1913, stadium Velòdrom Parc de Sports
RCD Espanyol                  w/o FC Espanya
NB: Espanya forfeited (see above)

30 Mar 1913, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.30; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
FC Barcelona                  7-0 Casual SC
Barcelona: Reñé - Irizar, Amechazurra - Rozitsky, A. Massana, Greenwell -
           Forns, Allack, Steel, Apolinario, E. Peris
Casual SC: Solà - C. Comamala, Quirante - Janer, A. Comamala, Ponsà -
           Mensa, Tormo, Wallace, LLonch, Ramirez 
scorers: Steel 3, Allack 2, Apolinario 2

 6 Apr 1913, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse
Comète et Simiot              bt  Olympique de Cette
NB: no further details available

 6 Apr 1913, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.30; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
FC Barcelona                  1-3 RCD Espanyol                  [Espanyol disqualified]
Barcelona: Reñé - Irizar, Amechazurra - Rozitsky, A. Massana, Bori -
           Forns, Allack, Steel, Apolinario, Greenwell
Espanyol: Gibert - Carruana, S. Massana - Baonza, Hodge, Sanpere -
          Barrett, Darley, Harrison, A, Morales, R. Morales
scorers: Greenwell - A. Morales 3
NB: Barcelona protested against the fact that Espanyol fielded three British players
    who came from the United Kingdom only to play the match; their protest was upheld
    and Espanyol disqualified; Barcelona qualified for the final.

 8 Jun 1913, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 16.30; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
FC Barcelona                  7-2 Comète et Simiot
Barcelona: Reñé - Berrondo, Amechazurra - Rozitsky, Massana, Greenwell -
           Forns, Allack, Berdié, Alcantara, Peris
Comète et Simiot: Noellen - Pepion, Cayre - Serre, Damazan, Donadieu (c) -
                  Sanwald, Rundge, Kieffer, Soulie, Dablanc 
scorers: Alcantara 2, Berdié 2, Forns, Allack, Massana - Dablanc, N.N.

NB: for the first time, it was allowed that the final was not played in Toulouse.

Fifth edition (1914)

Participants (7):
  Pyrénées region:            Stade Toulousain, Union Sportive Albigeoise
  Côte d'Argent region:       Comète et Simiot
  Barcelona:                  Football Club Barcelona, Universitari Sporting Club,
                              Football Club Espanya
  Other cities in Catalonia:  Centre Sports Sabadell

Competition:

Knockout stage Catalonia

FC Espanya                    1-0 Universitari SC
FC Barcelona                  5-0 CS Sabadell

FC Barcelona                  2-5 FC Espanya

Knockout stage France

US Albigeoise                 bt  Stade Toulousain

Comète et Simiot              5-0 US Albigeoise                

Final

FC Espanya                    3-1 Comète et Simiot


Available Match Details:

 1 Mar 1914, stadium Carrer Casanova, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.30; ref: Amechazurra (FC Barcelona)
FC Espanya                    1-0 Universitari SC
Espanya: Reñe - Reguera, Mariné - Salvó, Casellas, Prat -
         Bellavista, Baró, Passani, Osanz, N. Salvó 
Universitari: Cuervo - Batlle, J. Varela - Puntas, Alemany, Malo -
              Ozores, Armet, Jané, F. Varela, Falguera
scorer: Passani

15 Mar 1914, Albi
US Albigeoise                 bt  Stade Toulousain
NB: no further details available

15 Mar 1914, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 15.30; ref: Greenwell (FC Barcelona)
FC Barcelona                  5-0 CS Sabadell
Barcelona: Bru - Molins, Amechazurra - Berdié, Massana, Carlier -
           Mallorquí, P. Wallace, Bau, Alcántara, Peris
Sabadell: Fíguls - Luis, Casas - Moix, Monistrol, Comas -
          Llonch, Gonzalez, G. Aragay, Retana, Gallech 
scorers: P. Wallace 2, Bau 2, Alcántara

29 Mar 1914, stadium Carrer Indústria, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 16.00; ref: Naudy (Comité des Pyrénées)
FC Barcelona                  2-5 FC Espanya
Barcelona: Bru - Molins, Amechazurra - Berdié, Massana, Castejon -
           Mallorquí, Wallace, Bau, Morales, Peris 
Espanya: Puig - Farriols, Mariné - Prats, Casellas, Salvó -
         Villena, Baró, Bellavista, Passani, Coleta 
scorers: Peris, Bau - Baró, Bellavista 4

19 Apr 1914, stadium Ponts-Jumeaux, Toulouse
Comète et Simiot              5-0 US Albigeoise                 
NB: no further details available

24 May 1914, stadium Carrer Casanova, Barcelona;
             kick-off: 16.30; ref: Durand (Stade Toulousain)
FC Espanya                    3-1 Comète et Simiot
Espanya: Puig - Ribera, Mariné - Prat, Casellas, Salvo II -
         Salvó I, Passani, Bellavista, Baró, Villena 
Comète et Simiot: Noellen - Darrieussec, Cayre - Damazan, Soulié, Attane -
                  Cassaux, Sanwald, Lemele, Dablanc, Maurice
scorers: Salvo II 2, Bellavista - Sandwal

NB: for the second time, it was allowed that the final was not played in Toulouse.


About this document

Thanks to Carles Lozano Ferrer for an earlier version of this file

Prepared and maintained by Josep Puey for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Author: Josep Puey (peppuey@icloud.com)
Last updated: 4 May 2017

(C) Copyright Josep Puey and RSSSF 1999/2017
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.