Foundations

Merger

Racing Club was merged with Union Sportive in 1974, renamed as Calais Racing Union Football Club to reflect the names of the 2 clubs, and was given both the clubs' colours.^[2] Before the merger derby matches between the two attracted up to 5000 fans.

1999–2000 Coupe de France

Calais RUFC entered the international spotlight during their run to the final of the 2000 Coupe de France, under Spanish coach Ladislas Lozano. Made up of teachers, dock workers and office clerks, Calais' ten-round cup run saw the team defeat regional heavyweights Lille and first division teams Racing Strasbourg and Bordeaux;^[3] they played no games at their own ground, drawn as the away team in most rounds and the later 'home' ties played at the Stade Félix-Bollaert in Lens due to issues with facilities and capacity.

They eventually lost 2–1 to Nantes in the final at the Stade de France in Paris on 7 May 2000, despite leading 1–0 at half-time.^[4][5]

Recent history

There was another creditable run in the 2005–06 Coupe de France, as Calais progressed through eight rounds, including a win over top-division Troyes, before losing narrowly in the quarter-finals, again to Nantes.^[6]

The club played their first match in their new Stade de l'Épopée on 27 September 2008, losing 4–1 to Laval in a Championnat National (third tier) match. Calais were relegated from the Championnat National at the end of the 2008–09 season, which would have resulted in them playing in the CFA, but on 14 July 2009, it was announced by the DNCG that Calais RUFC had been relegated to the CFA 2 due to administrative reasons. On 17 April 2010, the club broke the attendance record for a CFA 2 game, which had previously stood at 3,078. The game against Wasquehal had an attendance of around 4,000.^{[citation needed]}

On 15 May 2010, CRUFC won the CFA 2 Group A by defeating Gravelines 2–0, with Alexandre Danset scoring both of the goals. They therefore qualified to compete in the CFA for the 2010–11 season. However, on 3 June 2010, the club were placed into liquidation by the Boulogne central court, and the FFF subsequently denied the club promotion. They again won their group in the 2010−11 CFA 2 season, and were again denied promotion by the FFF. They remained in CFA 2 until the 2013–14 season, when they were promoted to CFA as one of the best runners up.

In the 2016–17 season they finished bottom of CFA group B and were relegated, having had seven points deducted for various reasons during the season.^[7][8] Subsequently, the FFF gave them an Administrative relegation, meaning they would play the 2017–18 season at Regional level at best.^[9]

Calais RUFC eventually dissolved in September 2017.