The youth team of La Octava La Graciosa Futsal has achieved promotion to the Youth Honour Division in 2025, the highest national category. A milestone that crowns seven decades of football history on the eighth island, since the matches organised by priests in the 1950s.
La Graciosa has written a golden page in its sports history. The youth team of La Octava La Graciosa Futsal has achieved promotion to the Youth Honour Division, the highest category of national futsal. An achievement that places the island on the map of grassroots Spanish sport and has a special flavour: that of a footballing tradition that began more than seven decades ago with improvised matches driven by priests from Teguise.
The promotion, certified in the 2024-2025 season, represents a leap in quality for the Graciosa youth academy. Until now, the youth team competed in regional categories; from next season, they will measure themselves against the best clubs in Spain. For the young players of La Graciosa, the opportunity to compete in the Youth Honour Division is a dream come true, and for the island, a reason for collective pride.
From rag balls to youth elite
The history of football in La Graciosa dates back to the 1950s, when several priests from Teguise travelled to the island and organised sports games for the youth. Those matches were the first contact for many kids with the ball. There were no fields or official goals, but the seed was planted.
In 1965, two youth teams were formed that marked an era: the yellows of the society and the reds of Caleta del Sebo. Both teams played against each other and also faced another team created in Pedro Barba. Football began to be part of the social life of the island, with healthy rivalries that united the neighbourhoods.
In the mid-1970s, Real Graciosa was born, a youth team founded by Kiko, who had been captain of the reds. The club participated in tournaments and became a reference for the youth. By the late 1980s, another milestone was reached: the construction of the first football field in La Graciosa, a ground that further shaped the fanbase, although over time it fell into disrepair.
The resurrection of Graciosa football
In 2013, the old field regained prominence. A youth team linked to the Club Deportivo Teguise played a match there against CD Teguise itself. It was the first step in a recovery that would culminate in the creation of La Octava La Graciosa Futsal, a club that has managed to channel the island's footballing tradition towards modern futsal.
The promotion to the Youth Honour Division is not only a sporting success but also a social one. For the inhabitants of La Graciosa, who number just over 700, seeing their youth compete at the highest level is an encouragement. The club has worked with limited resources, making the most of available facilities and the passion of coaches and families.
In the upcoming season, the youth players of La Octava La Graciosa Futsal will face teams from all over Spain. Home matches will be played on the island, which will require rivals to travel to La Graciosa. A tourist and sporting incentive that will put the eighth island in the national spotlight.
A promising future for the youth academy
The promotion has generated enormous excitement among fans. On the club's social media, congratulatory messages have multiplied. The president of La Octava La Graciosa Futsal, in statements collected by the organisation, has highlighted that "this achievement belongs to the entire island, to those who started playing with the priests and to those who now wear our jersey."
The board is already working on planning for the next season, aiming to consolidate the team in the category. To achieve this, it will be key to maintain the base of local players and reinforce the squad with some strategic signings. The budget, still modest, will require support from institutions and private sponsors.
Meanwhile, the young footballers of La Graciosa are enjoying the moment. Next September, when the league starts, the island will experience each matchday with intensity. Home games will be a celebration, and away trips an adventure. The story of Graciosa football, which began with priests and rag balls, now has an elite chapter.
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