The College Cause

There is no other club in Bulgarian football that is quite like the club of Botev from Plovdiv. Every bit of its chronicle evokes a humble mood of heat and passion but tremendously in size. Seriously! Thus the drama of current situation with the home stadium seems a common occurrence as the club has led a very eccentric existence for more than 100 years.

The story of College Stadium goes back in the early 1920s when priest Ausone (Henri) Damperat on behalf of the Saint Augustine College purchased a large plot of land in the quarter of Kamenitza, then east outskirts of Plovdiv. Due to following urban regulations, the terrain was almost expunged and a neighbouring cadastre plot had substituted it whilst half a million Leva being spent to acquire. In 1923 the pitch was inaugurated and by mid-1940s had been best sports venue in town. Botev Plovdiv's ground in those years was the Old Stadion Botev, which stood around 500 metres south from the Central Railstation. There the Canaries had played their home matches from 1926 to 1947 when the land was nationalized. The golden-black team had stayed homeless till 1961 and played matches at different fields. The handicap of not having a permanent residence did not hinder Botev as the club forged a solid reputation nationwide. 

In 1959, the local authorities allowed a new venue construction at the place of the college's pitch in Kamenitza. Building works began under the architectural project by Anton Karavelov (1926-2016) and nearly two years later Botev Plovdiv occupied the reconstructed stadium. Then it had a capacity of 35000 and on May 14, 1961 was inaugurated with a friendly between Botev Plovdiv and Steaua București (3:0). Since then every supporter of the club claims to be born and bred here as considering the ground of a more importance than the team of its own.

The record attendance of approximately 40000 spectators was set on February 23, 1963 in the quarter-final of the Cup Winner's Cup versus Atlético Madrid (1:1). Over the years "The College" has proved to be an iconic arena. Indeed the stadium skeleton was not unique in top level Bulgarian football, but as with every prominent status, the design only plays a part. Obviously it concerns atmosphere and history, and even there may mostly 30000 be crammed into derby matches, the Botevists have delivered tradition of passion through decades. Players and chiefs have come and gone, whilst frankly Canaries were often shambled on the table, notably in 70s and 90s. But the magic had remained on each match day as Botev continued their ups and downs in Bulgarian football chronicles. Those were the days...

Presently Botev Plovdiv is tucked away in the south suburb of Komatevo and dwarfed in size of terrace's support. The crisis started in 2014 when a new vision for improvement of the stadium was presented by the directors, due to the higher targets they wanted to meet. Unfortunately the reconstruction works stopped - two stands partially erected while others been on ground zero level - as the main sponsor Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB) collapsed.

Ever since the College Cause has lived as a testament for the Canaries promised land.