Club Deportivo Ferroviarios

History

The club was founded in Santiago on 14 July 1916 by workers associated with the Chilean State Railways, originating among railway workers in the San Eugenio sector. Initially known as Maestranza Atlético Football Club, it represented employees of the railway traction and workshops section. Ferroviarios joined competitions organised by the Asociación de Football de Santiago, participated in the second level of the Liga Central de Football in 1927, and adopted the name Club Deportivo Ferroviarios II Zona in 1929. After professional football was established in Santiago in 1933, Ferroviarios remained with the Santiago association and was among several amateur clubs incorporated into the professional championship for the 1934 season, making its only top-division appearance as an independent club that year.

Returning to amateur football, it competed in the División de Honor Amateur during the 1940s and won that competition in 1947, 1948 and 1949. Ferroviarios' 1949 DIVHA championship coincided with Badminton finishing last in the professional Primera División, leading to negotiations and a merger on 23 February 1950 that formed Ferrobádminton. Contemporary accounts noted Ferroviarios had the backing of the railway organisation and a substantial membership from railway workers and their unions. Ferrobádminton competed primarily in the Primera División, finishing third in 1952, was relegated after 1964, won the Segunda División in 1965, returned to the top flight for 1966, and was relegated again at the end of that season.

Did You Know?

• From 1950 to 1969, the club merged with Badminton to form Ferrobádminton, which finished third in the 1952 Primera División.
• In 1972, the club came within three points of promotion to the Primera División, finishing second in the Segunda División with former Chile internationals Leonel Sánchez and Luis Eyzaguirre in the squad.