Unión de Curtidores
Union de Curtidores (UC) (in German: Gerberverband) is a Mexican football club from León in the state of Guanajuato . The workers' club, founded in 1928, is the city's oldest club that has previously played in the top division of Mexico. Because its two city rivals, Club León and San Sebastián, were both only launched in 1944.
While Club San Sebastián experienced only a relatively short heyday and always remained of rather subordinate importance, there was always a bitter rivalry between UC and Club León. Perhaps the most emotional derby in Mexico had an extremely unusual origin:
Because of the good reputation that UC had acquired at the regional level, the city of León applied for a team for the second season of the professional league. This team should consist of selected players from all over Guanajuato and focus on players from UC and join the professional league under the name Union-León . After this team had received a bitter 5-1 swat in a pre-season game against the first division club CF Atlas , the football officials in León deviated from their original plan. Professional conditions were immediately created and several Argentine players were signed. In this way the Club León was created, which began playing in the Primera División in 1944/45.
When UC itself managed to move up to the top division in 1974, there were crackling city derbies over several years (1974/75 to 1980/81 and 1983/84) that were almost reminiscent of a civil war - both in the stands and on the lawn.
For the last time UC knocked on the gate to the first division in 1999. But although the team won the second division championship, the loyal UC fans were soon really stuck in their throats. The reason for this was that the club, which had just been promoted in a sporting way, was sold to Puebla FC . In this deal, UC was once again discriminated against "by higher powers" than Club León. Because the original deal was for the sale of León to Puebla. When its fans followed massive protests, the UC license was sacrificed instead. Some players from León were transferred to Puebla, while Club León got the entire UC team transferred at the same time. Soon after, UC crashed into the third-rate Segunda División . His home ground is now in the industrialized suburb of Purisima del Rincón west of León.