Esporte Clube Noroeste

Esporte Clube Noroeste, commonly referred to as Noroeste, is a Brazilian professional association football club based in Bauru, São Paulo. The team competes in the Campeonato Paulista Série A2, the second tier of the São Paulo state football league. Named after a now-defunct railway, Noroeste is a very traditional team within São Paulo state. Their home ground is "Alfredo de Castilho" stadium (supports approximately 18,840 people). History Noroeste was founded on September 1, 1910, on the same day as Corinthians, one of the most popular club in Brazil. The club became professional only in 1948. Before that year, it won the Campeonato do Interior, the most prestigious tournament among São Paulo countryside teams, in 1943. Ten years later (1953), Noroeste were promoted to Campeonato Paulista (state championship) first division. Until 1966, they played against many of the best teams of the country, including legendary Pelé's Santos. After that year, Noroeste has built a history of promotions and relegations to the 1980s. The club reached Campeonato Brasileiro (national first division) once, in 1978.