1905–06 FC Barcelona season

The season could not have started worse, losing 10–1 to Athletic Bilbao and losing the Catalan Championship which was eventually won by X Sporting Club,[1][2] their biggest rival at the time, as the original RCD Espanyol had to suspend its activities at the start of the 1905–06 season.[3]

After very bad results the club entered a deep crisis, and up to 35 members resigned.[3] The growing decline in popular support made the club take the risky decision of inviting Madrid FC to play a friendly match, despite the unpredictable reactions that a defeat could cause.[3][4] But thanks to reinforcements from other teams in the city, such as Сharles Wallace of FC Internacional, and Ponz of X Sporting Club, they played a great game and won 5–2.[4][5][6] When the Barça players and managers left the banquet they offered them, the Madridistas took it as an insult and criticized them with provocative words. This incident helped shape the rivalry between the two clubs.[3][4]

On 6 October 1905, Josep Soler became president.[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ESP Joan Soler — GK  ESP Romà Solà — DF  ESP Durán — DF  ESP Manuel Soler — MF  ESP Josep Quirante — MF  ESP Francisco Sanz — MF  ESP Juli Marial — MF  ESP Josep Ortiz — MF  ESP Josep Vidal — MF  ESP Jaime Vilà — MF  ESP John Hamilton — FW  ESP Alfonso Almasqué

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ESP Romà Forns — FW  ESP Esteve Flaquer — FW  ESP Carlos Comamala — FW  POR D'Acosta — FW  ESP Joan Bargunyó — FW  ENG Stanley Harris — FW  GER Udo Steinberg — FW  ESP Alfredo Gil — FW  ESP George Noble — FW  ESP Enrique Barraquer — FW  ESP Matias Colmenares

• www.fcbarcelona.cat Official Site