The Copa Nicasio Vila was an official Argentine football cup competition organised by Liga Rosarina de Football. The "Copa Vila" was the top football division in Rosario, being held between 1907 and 1930, when it was replaced by Torneo Gobernador Luciano Molinas.Trofeo Luciano Molinas on Asociación Rosarina
Rosario Central is the most winning team of Copa Nicasio Vila with 10 titles.
History
Due to the increasing popularity of football in Argentina –being the city of Rosario among them–, the body established a first division championship, named "Copa Nicasio Vila", named after then major of Rosario, local entrepreneur Nicasio Vila,Barrio Belgrano - Homenaje a los Pioneros whose first edition was won by Newell's."Newell’s, el primer campeón de la Liga Rosarina" by Leonardo Volpe, 19 May 2010
Some of the clubs that took part of the competition were Rosario Central, Newell's Old Boys, Tiro Federal, Central Córdoba, Atlético Argentino (now Gimnasia y Esgrima de Rosario), Nacional (now Argentino de Rosario), Provincial, Belgrano, Sparta, Calzada, Estudiantes, Atlantic Sportsmen, Riberas del Paraná, Washington, among others
The competition was in a hiatus in 1912 because of a conflict between some clubs and Liga Rosarina therefore the competition was not held that season.Rosario y su zona: Rosario Central se desafilia de la Liga Rosarina The 1913 edition was organised by recently created Federación Rosarina, until 1914, when FRF and LRF merged and the championship was held again.
The winner of Copa Nicasio Vila qualified to play the Copa Dr. Carlos Ibarguren against the champion of the Buenos Aires League (that represented the AFA First Division). The champion and the 2nd., 3rd., and 4th. were also qualified to play other AFA national cups, such as the Copa de Competencia and Copa de Honor.
The competition was last held in 1930, shortly before football became professional in Argentina. A new Association (Asociación Rosarina de Fútbol) was created one year later. The Rosarian first division championship continued under the name "Torneo Gobernador Luciano Molinas" in honor of the Governor of Santa Fe Province elected in 1932.Adiós a Don Ricardo, "un ejemplo moral para los santafesinos" on Página/12Partido Demócrata Progresista, 90 años al servicio de la República, El Litoral, 20 Dec 2004 A new trophy was designed for the occasion, being awarded since then.
List of Champions
Ed. Year Champion 1907 Newell's Old Boys 1908 Rosario Central 1909 Newell's Old Boys 1910 Newell's Old Boys 1911 Newell's Old Boys 1912 (not finished) 1913 Newell's Old Boys 1914 Rosario Central 1915 Rosario Central 1916 Rosario Central 1917 Rosario Central 1918 Newell's Old Boys 1919 Rosario Central 1920 Tiro Federal 1921 Newell's Old Boys 1922 Newell's Old Boys 1923 Rosario Central 1924 Belgrano 1925 Tiro Federal 1926 Tiro Federal 1927 Rosario Central 1928 Rosario Central 1929 Newell's Old Boys 1930 Rosario Central
Titles by club
Team Titles Winning years Rosario Central 10 1908, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930 Newell's Old Boys 9 1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1929 Tiro Federal 3 1920, 1925, 1926 Belgrano de Rosario 1 1924
References