{{Short description|Argentine sports club}} {{about|the rugby union team|the football team|Club Atlético Belgrano}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{coord|34|34|24.70|S|58|27|47.43|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:NL|display=title}} {{Infobox rugby team | teamname = Belgrano | image = Belgrano ac logo.svg | image_size = 120 | countryflag = Argentina | location = Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina | fullname = Belgrano Athletic Club | union = URBA |nickname = ''Marrón'' | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1896|08|17}} | ground = Estadio Belgrano Athletic | president = Marcelo Ruiz <ref>[http://www.belgranoathletic.club/comision-directiva/ Comisión directiva], retrieved 25 May 2019</ref> | chairman = | coach = Francisco Gradín | league = Top 12 | season = 2025 | position = 2nd.<ref>[https://fixture.urba.org.ar/home?id=2025001 URBA Top 12 2025]</ref> | url = {{url|https://belgranoathletic.club/ |belgranoathletic.club}} <!-- home kit --> | pattern_la1 = _gold hoops2 | pattern_b1 = _goldhoops | pattern_ra1 = _gold hoops2 | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = _hoops_gold | leftarm1 = 601B27 | body1 = 601B27 | rightarm1 = 601B27 | shorts1 = ffffff | socks1 = 601B27 <!-- away kit --> | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _roundneck | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = _goldstripe | leftarm2 = 601B27 | body2 = 601B27 | rightarm2 = 601B27 | shorts2 = 601B27 | socks2 = 601B27 }}

'''Belgrano Athletic Club''' is an Argentine amateur sports club from Belgrano, Buenos Aires. One of Argentina's oldest institutions still in existence, Belgrano was one of the four clubs that founded the Argentine Rugby Union in 1899.<ref name=hechos/> The senior team currently competes at Top 12, the first division of the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires league system.

Belgrano Athletic was one of the most prominent teams during the first years of football in Argentina, having won three domestic league titles, one national cup and two international cups. Belgrano's arch-rival during those years was Alumni, also from Belgrano neighborhood.<ref name=clar2/> Belgrano disaffiliated from the Argentine Association in the late 1910s, focusing on rugby union and other sports. Football is no longer practised at the club.<ref>[https://belgranoathletic.club/historia-marron-la-ultima-conquista-de-belgrano-en-futbol/ Historia Marrón: la última conquista de Belgrano en fútbol] on BAC</ref>

Belgrano's field hockey team currently takes part of Metropolitano championships organised by the Buenos Aires Hockey Association.

The club's facilities are divided between two locations: its main building (Sede Virrey del Pino) sited in Belgrano and another one located in Pilar (Anexo Pinazo).<ref>[http://www.belgranoathletic.club/sedes/ Sedes] on BAC website</ref>

Apart from the sports mentioned above, several activities are practised at the club nowadays, such as bowls, contract bridge, cricket, squash, swimming, and tennis.<ref>[http://www.belgrano-athletic.com.ar/deportes.php Deportes – Belgrano AC official site] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418232146/http://www.belgrano-athletic.com.ar/deportes.php |date=18 April 2012 }}</ref>

==History==

===The beginning: Football=== thumb|left|The 1902 Belgrano football team The club was formed from the merger of Buenos Aires and Rosario Railway A.C. and St. Lawrence Club (a neighbour institution which had been formed shortime ago) on 17 August 1896.<ref>[https://belgranonews.com.ar/noticias/clubes-del-barrio-belgrano-athletic-club-o-bac/ Clubes del barrio. Belgrano Athletic Club o BAC] on ''Belgrano News''</ref> The recently created "Belgrano Athletic Club" took over the land (and field) rented by the BA&RR on Virrey del Pino and Superí to set their headquarters.<ref name=bac>[https://belgranoathletic.club/el-club/ Historia] on BAC</ref>

Belgrano AC participated in the Primera División from 1896 to 1916. The squad won three league titles in 1899, 1904 and 1908, and also won a number of other tournaments including domestic cup Copa de Honor and international competitions Tie Cup (in 1900) and Copa de Honor Cousenier (1907).

Belgrano Athletic played one of the earliest football rivalries against Belgrano neighbours Alumni, the most successful team of Argentine until its dissolution in 1911. Both teams were so strong that they won all of the thirteen league titles contested between 1899 and 1911 (that was the last year of Alumni football team competing in Argentine league, being officially dissolved in 1913).<ref>[http://edant.clarin.com/diario/2003/04/24/d-549894.htm "Alumni: en el nombre del fútbol"], ''Clarín'', 2003-04-24</ref>

Belgrano AC would achieve a historic victory over River Plate, defeating the ''Millonario'' 10–1 in 1912. That was the worst defeat of River Plate in club's history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rivermillonarios.com.ar/wiki/Era_Amateur_1901_1930 |title="River Plate en la era amateur 1901–1930" |access-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009080325/http://www.rivermillonarios.com.ar/wiki/era_amateur_1901_1930 |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Despite being one of the most notable football teams during the first years of that sport in Argentina, Belgrano was relegated from the Argentine Primera División, along with Quilmes in 1916.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg16.html "Asociacion Argentina de Football – 1916", RSSSF] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223202544/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arg16.html |date=23 December 2011 }}</ref>

Belgrano never returned to the first division, and the club later disaffiliated from the Argentine Association, focusing on the practise of other sports, mainly rugby union.<ref>[https://www.elgrafico.com.ar/articulo/%C2%A1habla-memoria!/34865/1946-cincuentenario-del-belgrano-athletic-club 1946. CINCUENTENARIO DEL BELGRANO ATHLETIC CLUB] on ''El Gráfico'' (originally published in 1946)</ref><ref name=clar2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210120231748/https://www.clarin.com/deportes/futbol/belgrano-campeon_0_rJuLMUpJe.html Trece décadas (1891-2016). El otro Belgrano campeón] by Oscar Barnade on ''Clarín'', 26 Oct 2016</ref>

===Rugby union=== [[File:Belgranoatlhetic amateur.jpg|thumb|The Belgrano Athletic rugby union team that won its first championship in 1907]] Belgrano Athletic rugby union team is one of the most successful teams in the Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires, having won a total of 10 provincial titles.<ref>[https://estadisticasmdt3.blogspot.com/2004/10/todos-los-campeones-de-la-urba.html Todos Los Campeones de La URBA] {{in lang|es}}</ref> In 1899, along with club Buenos Aires, Lomas, Flores<ref name=rac>[http://atleticodelrosario.club/fundacion-del-river-plate-rugby-union-championship-1899/ Fundación del River Plate Rugby Union Championship] on Atlético del Rosario website, 10 Apr 2019</ref> and Rosario AC, Belgrano became a founding member of the "River Plate Rugby Championship", the origin of today's Argentine Rugby Union.<ref name=hechos>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130525022641/http://www.uar.org.ar/union/hechos_historicos.asp "Hechos históricos de la Unión" at UAR website]</ref>

The first title obtained in rugby union was in 1907, playing 16 matches with 13 victories, 1 drew and only 2 lost. The team scored 233 points and only received 29 at the end of the tournament. That same year the club built the stadium's grandstands (commonly made of woods by the time) with a capacity of 600. In 1909 the Government of Argentina approved the statute (rules) of the club.<ref>[https://belgrano-rugby.blogspot.com/2010/05/belgrano-y-alumni-en-sus-comienzos.html "Belgrano y Alumni en sus comienzos"]</ref> Its main rivals are Belgrano district's other big club, Alumni. In 2016, Belgrano won its 11° URBA championship after 48 years without league titles. Belgrano defeated former champion Hindú at the final, played in San Isidro.<ref>[http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1947431-belgrano-hindu-final-top-14-urba "Belgrano rompió el maleficio: tras 48 años es campeón del torneo de la URBA al vencer a Hindú"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019162948/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1947431-belgrano-hindu-final-top-14-urba |date=19 October 2016 }}, ''La Nación'', 15 Oct 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.minutouno.com/notas/1515468-historico-belgrano-athletic-vencio-hindu-y-vuelve-ser-campeon-48-anos "Histórico: Belgrano Athletic venció a Hindú y vuelve a ser campeón tras 48 años"], Minuto Uno, 15 Oct 2016</ref>

=== Field hockey === Belgrano is founding member of the Argentine Hockey Association, established in 1908. The club has more than 400 registered female players that are part of 25 teams. Club teams play their home matches at the two artificial turf pitches in Sede Pinazo, while the Virrey del Pino Field is used only for training sessions.<ref>[https://belgranoathletic.club/portfolio-item/hockey/ Hockey overview] on BAC</ref>

== Team image == === Uniform evolution === It is believed that the first Belgrano A.C. football squad wore black (or dark grey) and gold shirts, as they were depicted in early team photos. In 1907 the club adopted the Buenos Aires and Rosario Railway corporate colours (red, green and silver) as most of the club members were employees of that company. In 1919 Belgrano A.C. changed its colours again, adopting the brown (specifying "chocolate" tone according to the statute of that time) and gold of the FC Central Argentino's coaches.<ref name=115anniv>[http://belgrano-rugby.blogspot.com.ar/2011/08/hoy-celebramos-115-anos-de-vida.html "Hoy celebramos 115 años" – Belgrano AC official blog]</ref>

{{col-begin}} {{col-3}}

==== Football ==== {| | {{Football kit box |pattern_la= |pattern_b=_bac1900 |pattern_ra= |leftarm= 000000 |body= 000000 |rightarm=000000 |shorts= 000000 |socks= 000000 |title= 1896–1907 }} | {{Football kit box |pattern_la= _bacfootball |pattern_b= _bacfootball |pattern_ra= _bacfootball |leftarm=efefef |body=efefef |rightarm=efefef |shorts=ffffff |socks=000000 |title= 1907–16 {{refn|This uniform has been worn as the away kit by the rugby team, as a tribute to the football squad of the club|group=note|name=away}} }} |} {{col-3}}

==== Rugby ==== {| |{{Football kit box |pattern_la=_belgranoac rugby 1900|pattern_b=_belgranoath rugby1900|pattern_ra=_belgranoac rugby 1900|leftarm=efefef|body=efefef|rightarm=efefef|shorts=ffffff|socks=000000|title= 1896–1919}} |{{Football kit box |pattern_la=_maroon_hoops|pattern_b=_maroonhoops|pattern_ra=_maroon_hoops|leftarm=FFCC00|body=FFCC00|rightarm=FFCC00|shorts=FFFFFF|pattern_so=_hoops_maroon|socks=FFCC00|title= 1919–present}} |} {{col-3}} {{col-end}}

;'''Notes:''' {{reflist|group=note}}

== Venue == {{main|Estadio Belgrano Athletic}} Belgrano's home venue (popularly known as "Virrey del Pino" because of its location on Virrey del Pino and Superí streets in Belgrano) host rugby and cricket match. After some time playing on Pampa and Melián streets, the club acquired that land in 1902 to two of its members, Charles Dickinson (who was also a notable footballer of the club)<ref>''Caras y Caretas'', 31 Aug 1912</ref> and Roberts.

The first grandstands were built with wood from surplus railway material. By 1910, the field had an official grandstand, with roof,<ref name=viejos>"Belgrano" on Viejos Estadios</ref> named "Donald Forester", which has remained up to present days.<ref>[https://www.estadiosdeargentina.com.ar/cancha-de-belgrano-athletic-club/ Estadio de Belgrano Athletic] on Estadios de Argentina</ref>

==Honours== ===Cricket=== * '''Primera División (45):''' 1902–03, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1914–15, 1918–19, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 <ref>[https://cricketargentina.com/primera-division/ Primera División (campeones)] on Cricket Argentina website</ref>

===Football=== ====National==== {{multiple image |total_width = 400 |image1 = Belgrano athl 1908.jpg |image2 = Bac rugby 1909.jpg |footer = '''(Left)''': the football squad that won the 1908 Primera División title; '''(right)''': the rugby team of 1909, posing with their trophies }} * '''Primera División (3):''' 1899, 1904, 1908<ref>[http://www.afa.org.ar/institucional/campeones-primera-division.php Campeones del Fútbol Argentino] on AFA website, 13 Jul 2015</ref> * '''Copa Honor MCBA (1):''' 1907

====International==== * '''Tie Cup (1):''' 1900 * '''Copa de Honor Cousenier (1):''' 1907

===Rugby union=== * '''Torneo de la URBA (11):''' 1907, 1910, 1914, 1921, 1936, 1940, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 2016

===Field hockey=== ;Women's * '''Metropolitano Primera División (4):''' 1942, 1946, 1949, 1974

==Notable athletes== * Charles Edgard Dickinson, former football captain that scored the first Argentina national team goal ever in an official match. It was against Uruguay on 20 July 1902. Argentina won 6–0.<ref>''Colección 100 años de fútbol – Historia ilustrada del fútbol uruguayo'', Franklin Morales</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Iwanczuk |first=Jorge |title=Historia del Fútbol Amateur en la Argentina |title-link=Historia del Fútbol Amateur en la Argentina |date=1992 |publisher=Centro para la Investigación de la Historia del Fútbol |isbn=978-950-43-4384-4 |edition=1st |language=es |trans-title=History of amateur football in Argentina}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sócrates |date=2023-09-15 |title=Carlos Edgard Dickinson |url=https://www.porlapelota.com/en/jugadores/carlos-edgard-dickinson/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125211443/https://www.porlapelota.com/en/jugadores/carlos-edgard-dickinson/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 January 2024 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Por la Pelota |language=en-US}}</ref> * Arturo Forrester, the first Argentine footballer to score against a British team. It was in the match v Southampton FC, when the English side toured on South America in 1904.<ref>[https://www.clarin.com/deportes/futbol-curioso_0_ryaWUzy83x.html El fútbol curioso], ''Clarín'', 26 Dec 1998</ref><ref>[https://www.elgrafico.com.ar/articulo/1088/33486/1959-se-fue-arturo-forrester-aqui-queda-un-taponazo Se fue Arturo Forrester], ''El Gráfico'', 1959</ref> * A.C. Addecott, former football captain.<ref>[http://belgrano-rugby.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/belgrano-y-alumni-en-sus-comienzos.html "Belgrano y Alumni en sus comienzos"]</ref> * Arnold Watson Hutton (1911–14),<ref>[https://www.historiadeboca.com.ar/partido/belgrano-ath-1-boca-1-campeonato-1914/3199.html Belgrano Athletic 1 – Boca Juniors 1] (match chronicle) on Historia de Boca</ref><ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/arg5pm.html Argentina - Five or More Goals Scored by One Player in a Match ] on the RSSSF</ref> forward, previously in Alumni,<ref>[https://www.scotsfootballworldwide.scot/alumni Alumni] on Scots Football Worldwide</ref> also international with Argentina. * Jeannette Campbell, silver medalist swimmer at the 1936 Olympics.<ref>[https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/natacion/de-la-pileta-del-belgrano-athletic-a-la-alemania-nazi-la-hazana-de-jeanette-campbell-nid1923785/ De la pileta del Belgrano Athletic a la Alemania nazi] on ''La Nación'', 2 Aug 2016</ref><ref>[https://www.elgrafico.com.ar/articulo/%28sin-categoria%29/5825/las-mejores-jeanette-campbell LAS MEJORES: JEANETTE CAMPBELL] by Martín Estévez on ''El Gráfico'', 18 Nov 2014</ref> * Lisandro Arbizu, rugby union footballer for Los Pumas.<ref>[https://cordobaxv.com.ar/lisandro-arbizu-fue-muy-fuerte-ser-capitan-de-los-pumas/ Lisandro Arbizu: “Fue muy fuerte ser capitán de Los Pumas”] on Córdoba XV, 4 Aug 2020</ref> * Magdalena Aicega, field hockey captain of Las Leonas.<ref>[https://belgranoathletic.club/magui-aicega-le-di-todo-al-hockey-y-el-hockey-me-dio-todo/ Magui Aicega: “Le di todo al hockey, y el hockey me dio todo”], interview to Aicega on BAC</ref> * Rosario Luchetti, field hockey player of Las Leonas.<ref>[https://www.lacapital.com.ar/ovacion/la-verdad-charo-luchetti-n473468.html La verdad de Charo Lucchetti] on ''La Capital'' (Rosario)</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com.ar/noticias/nota?s=otr&id=1119329&type=story Perfil de Rosario Lucchetti] on ESPN.ar</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} * [http://belgrano-rugby.blogspot.com.ar/ Fans blog] (outdated)

{{Belgrano Athletic Club}} {{URBA Top 12}} {{Metropolitano de Hockey Primera B Women's}} {{Argentine Primera División former clubs}}

Category:Belgrano Athletic Club B Category:Rugby clubs established in 1896 Category:Association football clubs established in 1896 B Category:Field hockey clubs in Buenos Aires Category:Club cricket teams in Argentina Category:1896 establishments in Argentina Category:1899 in Argentine sport