Campo da Feiteira

Lore & Background

Campo da Feiteira began as a field for Grupo Sport de Benfica to hold sports festivals. On 26 May 1907, Grupo Sport de Benfica officially took over Quinta da Feiteira, securing a 120-by-79-meter field for a rent of $20 per semester. The first anniversary of Grupo Sport de Benfica was celebrated there on 14 July 1907.

Grupo Sport Lisboa, lacking a field in its originating area of Belém, learned of Campo da Feiteira through members who also belonged to Grupo Sport de Benfica. On 24 November 1907, Grupo Sport Lisboa played its first match there as a neutral field, defeating Internacional (CIF) in the Lisbon Football Championship. In March 1908, Grupo Sport Benfica changed its name to Sport Clube de Benfica. On 13 September 1908, after absorbing the members and the playing field of Sport Clube de Benfica, Grupo Sport Lisboa added Benfica to its name, becoming Sport Lisboa e Benfica and playing at Campo da Quinta da Feiteira.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica eventually left the field due to excessive rent, which had risen to $400 per semester, moving to Campo de Sete Rios. Campo da Feiteira was later converted into houses.

Reader's Guide

Campo da Feiteira holds significance as the foundational ground of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, one of Portugal's most prominent football clubs. Its role as a neutral field for Grupo Sport Lisboa's first match in the Lisbon Football Championship marks an early step in the club's competitive history. The field's transition from a sports festival venue to the home of a merged club illustrates the organizational evolution that shaped modern Portuguese football. The eventual abandonment due to rising rent highlights the economic challenges faced by early football clubs. The conversion of the field into houses reflects the urban development of Lisbon in the early 20th century.

Did You Know?

• Campo da Feiteira was a dirt field measuring 120 meters by 79 meters.
• Grupo Sport Lisboa played its first match at Campo da Feiteira on 24 November 1907.
• The rent for Campo da Feiteira rose from $20 per semester to $400 per semester.