Out in the Atlantic Ocean some 1,408 km from Lisbon and a mere 3,900 km from New York, the nine islands of Volcanic origin form the Azorean Archipelago.   Together with Madeira, the Azores are one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal.

The archipelago is believed to have been discovered around 1427 by a Portuguese navigator de Silves, who initially landed on the islands of Santa Maria and Sao Miguel.

Over next decade the Portuguese and French and began to recognize the fertility of the Atlantic island and its merits as a place of living and settlement. The production of wheat, sugar cane and oranges led to positive economic growth in the Azores, fueling a further expansion of the population.

Visit the Azores and you will quickly realize why it appealed to the early settlers. Its very green and can feel like a large dairy farm.

Over the years however, the volcanic archipelago’s culture has been crafted from the nearby Portuguese traditions but it also has its own proud regional identity. It is easy to spot the distinctive Azores flag flying alongside the Portuguese flag. 

Religion remains at the heart of the Azores island culture, with festivals and celebrations dominating the calendar each year.

Around 246,772 people live on the island territory with the largest groups on the island of São Miguel. 

Other Islands include Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial while the Western Group is composed of Corvo and Flores.   The islands are characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, dairy farming, volcanic craters, water springs, picturesque rock formations, green fields and lakes.

Given the location of the Islands, the soil is highly fertile and the seas expansive with a large number of flowers, birds, fish, cattle and whales in the nearby ocean. There are also tea and pineapple plantations in and around Ponta Delgada.  Its living past (inhabited since the mid-1400’s) has meant a number of towns and villages are dotted around across the islands with Ponta Delgada being the largest city and a key ship stopping point.

While the islands are better known for whale, bird and dolphin observations (with marine life, in particular, being a huge tourist pull) from the largest city comes the biggest football club – CD Santa Clara, founded in 1927.

The first official match of the club took place on November 20, 1927. 

They play in the 13,277 seat Estádio de São Miguel, an open venue surrounded by green fields and a view to Ponta Delgada to the south-west.   To date, CD Santa Clara is the only club from the Azores islands to have competed in the top division of the Portuguese Liga, making them the westernmost top-flight club in Europe.

Santa Clara’s major rivals are another Azores club CD Operário from Lagoa, a town located some 10 km east from Ponta Delgada.   

Clube Operário Desportivo was founded on 2 January 1948 and they were a factory team – hence the name ‘workers sports club’.  The Board of the nearby factory that overlooks the home ground authorized a works senior football team.

They were first known as ‘Fábrica do Álcool’ before later becoming Operário.

Given the success of the club in senior football there have been many famous players that have played for Santa Clara. 

Long before Ronaldo came to fame, Portugal’s former all-time leading scorer Pauleta played for the club before finding fame at PSG.  Pauleta is also a native of Ponta Delgada returning to the Islands after his career ended and setting up a football school for youngsters.

Across the Azores Islands there sits a vast array of football pitches and facilities.

On Sao Miguel Island alone there are at least 17 football clubs including some who play in the Taça da Liga cup competition and in the Campeonato de Portugal – the third tier.   

The current 3rd tier format consists of five series of sixteen teams, arranged according to geographic criteria, with the exception of teams from Madeira and Azores.  The clubs from the Azores play in the last two series of leagues with this set up including games against teams from the mainland.

Only when teams drop to the district championship (4th tier The Liga Meo Açores) does football become ‘island only’ for the local sides.

From small hilltop stadiums to lakeside grassy fields an assortment of football traditions can be seen around the Azores.  Most of the clubs are naturally on the larger Sao Miguel and Terceira Islands.

This includes a few clubs in the municipality of Angra do Heroismo on Terceira which has a large population of 35,402.

Whether as a place of exile during the Napoleonic Wars or as a refuge for Portuguese Queens, the Azores has a range of UNESCO World Heritage sites.   

No CD Santa Clara can never be called a World Heritage site but soon teams from the top tier of Portuguese football may well find a fortnightly trip to the Azores is back on the footballing calendar.