Why are Numancia players known as 'Numantinos'?

The story behind the name Numancia and involves a trip way back into Roman times. The club, who are based in the northern Spanish region of Castile y Leon, are named after a Celtiberian settlement, Numantia, which was located near their home in the city of Soria.

Numantia was a hill fort, near a bridge across the River Duero, which earned a spot in the history books for holding out against the might of the Roman Empire for 20 years between 153 and 133 BC.

The origins of the conflict came when Numantia took in some fugitives from a nearby city of Segeda and then defied Roman calls to turn them over. Rome sent a 30,000 strong army to quell the resistance, but they were humiliated on a number of occasions. The ‘Numantinos’ held out for 20 years before finally falling to a siege in 133 BC.

CD Numancia’s players and fans appeal to that spirit of resistance, especially when taking on bigger, more illustrious opponents.