Grenoble start their second season in the National, after narrowly missing out on promotion to D2 last season. A last-minute goal by the home side at Angers denied Alain Michel and his men promotion. This time the recruitments of L. David (Amiens), Guéguen (Châteauroux), Debrosse and Sergi (Niort) have been made with promotion in mind.
After a hesitant start with two draws, Saturdays' win over Pau has started things moving. No doubt last seasons' failure was in some way due to two defeats to Red Star, 2-1 at Marville and a horrible 3-0 home defeat at the Stade Lesdiguières.
Grenoble Foot 38 was founded in 1997, a successor to FC Grenoble dating back to 1917. Grenoble hit the big time twice, but in each case only survived one season in D1. The first time was in 1960, when Grenoble, coached by Albert Fornetti, finished ahead of Nancy, Rouen and Troyes. Red Star finished fifth following a last-match draw against Troyes. Even if Red Star had beaten Troyes, they would have missed out on promotion due to an affair of corruption during the game against Nantes.
Front : Vidal, Cappon, Gori, Carrier, Steibel. Back : Donnard, Desgranges, Perli, Fossoud, Burda, Abab.
Two season later and Grenoble were back, but again for one season only. After the epoch Albert Batteux, football in Grenoble hit its nadir in 1976 plunging to the DH. A merger with Norcap Grenoble in 1997 came with the intention of once again building a top-flight club in the capital of the Dauphiné.
G. Valck