Unlike inEngland, reserve teams inSpain play in the same football pyramid as their senior team rather than a separate league. However, reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore, the team is ineligible for promotion toLa Liga, the division in which the main side plays. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter theCopa de Europa.
Founded in 1944 asClub Deportivo Mestalla, the club spent 21 seasons in theSegunda División in the period between 1947 and 1973, including a best ever finish of second place in the southern section in1951–52; they went on to finish top of the promotion play-off group, but were ineligible for promotion toLa Liga as the reserve team ofValencia CF, who were already playing in that division.
In 1972–73, the club finished bottom of the Segunda División and was relegated to theTercera División; three years later, they were relegated again to theValencian Regional Preferente, the top division of regional football in Spain. However, their stay was short-lived as a reorganisation of the Spanish league saw them reinstated to the Tercera División, now the fourth tier of the national football pyramid. They were briefly promoted back to theSegunda División B for the 1987–88 season, but were relegated again after finishing just one point from safety. In 1991, after three more seasons in the Tercera División, they merged fully with Valencia CF, officially becoming the club's B team.
In their first season as Valencia B, they finished top of their Tercera División and were promoted back to the Segunda División B. Since then, they have played all but five seasons in the Segunda División B, reaching a peak of second place in their group in2001–02.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
.jpg)
