TEAM’S HISTORY
Football in Pau began in 1920 with the formation of Bleuets Notre-Dame de Pau, where it first played three years later. It had been a fixture in the amateur scene when the professional leagues were only limited to just the top two divisions (even up to this day).
In 1959, the first professional club has been formed. Named Football Club de Pau, it has been formed from the original Bleuets Notre-Dame club and was a main fixture in the third tier until it changed its name in 1995, following its reform after it went into administration.
In 1998, Pau went on a run to the Coupe De France at the last 16, where they lost to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in extra time. It was also the year when they were promoted to the pro National level after winning their Group in the Amateur. They stayed there for ten seasons until they were relegated back to the fourth tier after finishing 18th.
It took them until 2016 to get back to the third tier, winning their group by 10 points ahead of second-placed Colomiers.
Under Bruno Irles, Pau finally got into Ligue 2 following their promotion as Championnat National winners in 2020, a point ahead of Dunkerque in the season which as prematurely ended by the Pandemic.
In their debut season in the second tier, Pau had a late run of nine matches unbeaten to ensure their safety as they finished the 2020-21 season in fourteenth place, with Didier Tholot replacing Irles in the process.
The following campaign saw them preserve their status when they finished comfortably in the mid-table at tenth.