{{Short description|French football club, 1919–2025}} {{Use British English|date=May 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Tours | image = Tours FC logo.svg | upright = 0.8 | fullname = AS Docks du Centre (1919–1921)<br>AS du Centre (1921–1942)<br>US du centre (1942–1951)<br>Tours FC (1951–2025) | nickname = ''TFC'' | founded = 1919 | dissolved = 26 February 2025 | ground = [[Stade de la Vallée du Cher]] | capacity = 16,247 | chairman = | manager = | league = | season = | position = | website = }}
'''Tours Football Club''', commonly referred to as simply '''Tours''' ({{IPA|fr|tuʁ}}), was a [[association football|football]] club based in [[Tours]], [[France]]. Formed in 1919, the club adopted the name Tours FC in 1951 after several other name changes. The club was dissolved due to years of financial struggles.
Home matches were played the [[Stade de la Vallée du Cher]] located within the city.
==History== Tours Football Club was founded in 1919 as under the name ''AS Docks du Centre''. After two years of playing under the moniker, the club changed its name to ''AS du Centre''. The club spent 30 years under the name as French football entered professionalism in the 1930s. In 1951, the club changed its name again to the current Tours FC. Under the Tours emblem, the club achieved success in its infancy reaching the Round of 64 in the [[Coupe de France]] thanks to player-coach [[Alfred Aston]] that same year.
[[Image:FC Tours logo.png|left|thumb|FC Tours historical logo]]
Tours was promoted to the [[Ligue 1|first division]] in 1980. Prior to the start of the season, the club signed prolific [[Striker (association football)|striker]] [[Delio Onnis]] from [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]]. Onnis improved the club's attack significantly over the next three years and departing the club in 1983 after Tours suffered relegation. During Onnis' stint between 1980 and 1983, Tours twice reached the semi-finals of the Coupe de France in [[1981–82 Coupe de France|1982]] and [[1982–83 Coupe de France|1983]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[French Football Federation]] |title=Coupe de France demi-finales 1982 |url=http://www.fff.fr/www/coup/historique/pages/hist1982_2.shtml |access-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027023604/http://www.fff.fr/www/coup/historique/pages/hist1982_2.shtml |archive-date=27 October 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[French Football Federation]] |title=Coupe de France demi-finales 1983 |url=http://www.fff.fr/www/coup/historique/pages/hist1983_2.shtml |access-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027033604/http://www.fff.fr/www/coup/historique/pages/hist1983_2.shtml |archive-date=27 October 2005}}</ref> The club was eliminated on both occasions by [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]. In 1984, Tours quickly returned to the first division after winning [[Ligue 2|Division 2]] title. However, after one season, the club returned to the lower league. Tours have yet to manage a return to [[Ligue 1]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tours FC |title=De l'AS du Centre au Tours FC |url=http://historique.toursfc.net/ |access-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225105004/http://historique.toursfc.net/ |archive-date=25 February 2008}}</ref>
During the club's current absence from Ligue 1, Tours fell to the [[Championnat National]], the third division of French football, after finishing last in the [[2006–07 Ligue 2|2006–07 season]]. During the season, Albert Falette, the club manager for eight years was removed from his position. At the end of the season, the club released or sold almost all its players, including captain [[David Fleurival]]. The club only kept long-time goalkeeper [[Armand Raimbault]] and young prospect Rudy Wendling. The long-term outlook strategy paid off with the club finishing second in the 2007–08 National season, thus returning to Ligue 2, where the club remained for ten years until relegated to Championnat National following a last place finish in the 2017–18 campaign.
The club were relegated again at the end of the [[2018–19 Championnat National]] season, and were further relegated administratively by the ''DNCG'', confirmed by appeal on 11 July 2019, forcing them to play at the fifth level [[Championnat National 3]] in the 2019–20 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/dncg-tours-et-lathletico-marseille-sont-retrogrades-en-national-3-saint-nazaire-en-regional-1/|title=DNCG. Tours et l’Athlético Marseille rétrogradés en National 3, Saint-Nazaire en Régional 1|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=11 July 2019}}</ref>
In April 2020, after the truncation of the season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Tours expected to be promoted back to [[Championnat National 2]], due to being placed top of their group at the time the season was stopped.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/indre-et-loire/football-le-tours-fc-promu-en-national-2|title=Football : le Tours FC promu en National 2|publisher=La Nouvelle République|language=fr|date=16 April 2020}}</ref> However, on 15 June 2020, The DNCG committee of the FFF denied their promotion.<ref name=Toursdncg>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/la-dncg-interdit-le-tours-fc-de-monter-en-national-2/|title=La DNCG interdit le Tours FC de monter en National 2 !|publisher=footamateur.fr|date=15 June 2020}}</ref> The decision was ratified by the appeal committee on 10 July 2020.<ref name="toursappeal">{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/linterdiction-daccession-du-tours-fc-confirmee-en-appel/|title=L’interdiction d’accession du Tours FC confirmée en appel|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=10 July 2020}}</ref>
In March 2021, after a season voided by COVID-19, the club announced the opening of a ''Société coopérative d’intérêt collectif (SCIC)'' (cooperative shareholding society) with the hope of involving more of the community in the governance of the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foot-national.com/foot-tours-le-club-annonce-un-gros-changement-151107.html|title=Tours : le club annonce un gros changement !|publisher=foot-national.com|language=fr|date=28 March 2021}}</ref> In July 2021, the DNCG committee of the FFF relegated the club to the sixth tier for financial reasons. The result was confirmed on appeal later in the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/national-3-le-tours-fc-retrograde-en-championnat-regional/|title=National 3. Le Tours FC rétrogradé en championnat régional !|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=1 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/dncg-la-relegation-du-tours-fc-confirmee-en-appel-ce-mardi/|title=DNCG. La relégation du Tours FC confirmée en appel ce mardi|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=13 July 2021}}</ref> They finished top of their division at the end of the 2021–22 season, but the league ruled they were to be denied promotion for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/le-tours-fc-interdit-daccession-en-national-3-par-sa-ligue/|title=Le Tours FC interdit d’accession en National 3 par sa Ligue|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=28 June 2022}}</ref> The decision was overturned on appeal, and Tours climbed back to National 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footamateur.fr/dncg-le-tours-fc-va-pouvoir-monter-en-national-3/|title=DNCG. Le Tours FC va pouvoir monter en National 3 !|publisher=footamateur.fr|language=fr|date=12 July 2022}}</ref>
On 26 February 2025, Tours's liquidation due to financial struggles was confirmed by the [[French Football Federation]]. The club's teams were removed from all leagues in France.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=Tours FC removed from French football map - Get French Football News |url=https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/tours-fc-removed-from-french-football-map/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[File:Tours FC League Performance.png|thumb|Historical league performance chart of Tours FC]]
=== After ''Tours FC'' === Following the liquidation of ''Tours FC'', an ephemerous association was founded under the name of ''Jeunesse Tours Foot'' for the previous members of the defunct ''Tours FC''.<ref>{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://footamateur.ouest-france.fr/a-tours-une-nouvelle-association-avant-un-club-metropolitain/|title=A Tours, une nouvelle association… avant un club métropolitain ?|author=Jérôme Bouchacourt|website=footamateur.ouest-france.fr|date=2025-03-11|access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/tours/tours-la-nouvelle-association-jeunesse-tours-foot-se-devoile-aux-parents-1741897833|title=Tours : la nouvelle association Jeunesse Tours foot se dévoile aux parents|website=lanouvellerepublique.fr|publisher=[[La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest]]|date=2025-03-13|access-date=2025-03-15}}</ref>
On 29 April 2025, it was announced that [[Union Foot de Touraine|Football Club de l'Ouest tourangeau]], a [[Championnat National 3|National 3]] club based in the near cities of [[Ballan-Miré]] and [[Savonnières]] would change its name for ''Union Foot de Touraine'', and would extend its influence to the cities of [[Tours]] and [[Joué-lès-Tours]], to compensate for the liquidation of ''Tours FC'' and [[Joué-lès-Tours FCT]] (liquidated in August 2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=Face à des difficultés économiques, le Joué Football Club Touraine placé en liquidation judiciaire par la justice - France Bleu |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/face-a-des-difficultes-economiques-le-joue-football-club-touraine-liquide-par-le-tribunal-judiciaire-de-tours-1684613 |website=francebleu.fr |date=2024-08-09 |lang=fr|access-date=2024-11-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/indre-et-loire/commune/ballan-mire/club-metropolitain-l-union-foot-de-touraine-est-nee-1745953358|title=Club métropolitain : l’Union Foot de Touraine est née|website=lanouvellerepublique.fr|publisher=[[La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest]]|date=2025-04-29|lang=fr|access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>. The club reveals its new colours and logo on 2 June 2025.<ref>[https://x.com/UnionFTouraine/status/1929598958919111136 X post of Union Foot de Touraine, 2 June 2025.] (in French)</ref>
==Colours and crests== [[Image:Blason tours 37.svg|100px|right|thumb|Tours Coat of arms]] Tours' crest is inspired by the city's coats of arms with three towers and a [[Fleur-de-lis]]. It bears the club's motto "Turonorum civitas libera", which means in [[Latin]] "Free city of [[Turones]]". Turones is the [[Celts|Celtic]] tribe, which gave its name to [[Tours]]. The motto was found engraved on a rock, which is now in the undergrounds of the Beaux Arts Museum located in the city.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Collège Montaigne de Tours |title=Tours antique – une ville derrière son rempart |url=http://ecl.ac-orleans-tours.fr/clg-montaigne-tours/classe_pat/page103.htm |access-date=12 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226231940/http://ecl.ac-orleans-tours.fr/clg-montaigne-tours/classe_pat/page103.htm |archive-date=26 February 2009}}</ref> The [[Salamander (legendary creature)|salamander]] is a reference to King [[Francis I of France|François I]].
== Notable former players == Below are the notable former players who have represented Tours in [[Ligue 1|league]] and international competition since the club's foundation in 1919. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 80 official matches for the club.
''For a complete list of Tours FC players, see [[:Category:Tours FC players]].'' {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *{{flagicon|France}} [[Alfred Aston]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Fatih Atık]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Patrice Augustin]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Yves Bertucci]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Julien Cétout]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Olivier Giroud]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Gondouin]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Christophe Himmer]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Laurent Koscielny]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Frédéric Laurent]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Guy Lacombe]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Christophe Mandanne]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Michel Rodriguez]] *{{flagicon|France}} [[Youssouf Touré]] *{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Omar da Fonseca]] *{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Delio Onnis]] *{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Gaëtan Englebert]] *{{flagicon|Benin}} [[Jean-Marc Adjovi-Bocco]] *{{flagicon|Guadeloupe|local}} [[Cédric Collet]] *{{flagicon|Guadeloupe|local}} [[David Fleurival]] *{{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} [[Peter Jehle]] *{{flagicon|Togo}} [[Antoine Dossevi]] {{div col end}}
==Managers== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * [[Alfred Aston]] (1951–56) * [[Jules Vandooren]] (1961–62) * [[Stanislas Dombeck]] (1964–67) * [[Yvon Jublot]] (1969–76)<ref>{{cite web |title = France – Trainers of First and Second Division Clubs |website = [[RSSSF]] |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/trainers-fran-clubs.html |access-date=12 April 2008}}</ref> * [[Pierre Phelipon]] (1976–81) * [[Hennie Hollink]] (1981–83) * [[Guy Briet]] (1983 – March 85) * [[Serge Besnard]] (March 1985–86) * [[Yvon Jublot]] (1986–88) * [[Jean Sérafin]] (1988–92) * [[Raymond Kéruzoré]] (1992–93) * [[Philippe Leroux]] (1993–95) * [[Christian Letard]] (1995 – March 99) * [[Albert Falette]] (March 1999–07) * [[Philippe Bizeul]] (2007) * [[Daniel Sanchez (French footballer)|Daniel Sanchez]] (2007 – 11 June) * [[Peter Zeidler]] (June 2011 – 12 Aug) * [[Bernard Blaquart]] (Aug 2012–13) * [[Olivier Pantaloni]] (2013–14) * [[Alexandre Dujeux]] ''(interim)'' (2014–15) * [[Gilbert Zoonekynd]] (2015) * [[Marco Simone]] (2015–16) * [[Fabien Mercadal]] (2016–17) * [[Gilbert Zoonekynd]] (2017) * [[Jorge Costa (footballer)|Jorge Costa]] (2017–2018) * [[René Lobello]] (2018–2019) * [[Michel Estevan]] (2019) * [[Nourredine El Ouardani]] (2019–2024) * [[Bryan Bergougnoux]] (2024–2025) }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{in lang|fr}} {{official website|https://www.toursfcassociation.com}}
{{Tours FC}}
[[Category:Tours FC| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1951]] [[Category:Sport in Tours, France]] [[Category:1951 establishments in France]] [[Category:Football clubs in France]] [[Category:Football clubs in Centre-Val de Loire]] [[Category:Ligue 1 clubs]] [[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2025]] [[Category:2025 disestablishments in France]]