When Real Sociedad’s fiercest rival was 20 kilometres away | OneFootball

According to Diario Vasco, Real Sociedad’s fiercest rival once sat 20 kilometres away, as San Sebastián and Irún fuelled a combustible derby that flourished early last century before waning with the national league and professionalism.

In 1906 a referee rebuked the Donostia crowd for abusing Sporting de Irún, whose players briefly walked off before returning at his request. In 1914 Racing de Irún’s rough play injured goalkeeper Eizaguirre. With no substitutions, Real finished with 10 and no keeper, and a 2-5 deficit sparked a pitch invasion with 20 minutes left.

That year Real, eliminated regionally, staged friendlies that Irún denounced to the Federación Española, which barred spectators when they clashed with official games. Real threatened to quit the Federación Norte, sought compensation, refused to face Racing without a formal apology, then withdrew the following season when none arrived.

Sporting and Racing merged in 1915 to create Real Unión. The feud dimmed as Real’s rivalry with Athletic escalated into serious disturbances at Atocha in 1917, forcing a suspension. The Federación Española then split the Federación Norte into Guipuzcoana and Vizcaína, and from 1918 to 1930 meetings between Real Sociedad and Real Unión intensified.

Regional champions reached the Copa del Rey. In the first Campeonato de Guipúzcoa, also featuring Izarra de Eibar and CD Esperanza de San Sebastián, Atocha hosted a decider that Real led 1-0 before Real Unión walked off over perceived bias, were disqualified and Real advanced.

Unión qualified the next three seasons, Real the fourth, then Irún again, who won the Copa del Rey at Atocha against Real Madrid, before Real eliminated the holders a year later. In 1927 two teams per region qualified. In 1927 Unión won their last Cup, in 1928 Real reached the final against Barcelona, and on 23 November 1928 a 10-team League was approved, its top tier including the six Cup winners, among them Real Sociedad and Real Unión, while professionalism notably weakened clubs like Real Unión.

Source: Diario Vasco