The Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne, or ESTAC, is the youngest professional club in Ligue 1, dating back just five years in its current guise. But the club's roots can be traced to 1900, when Troyes created its first ever football club: the Union Sportive Troyenne (UST).
In 1931, the UST merged with the Association Sportive Savinienne – founded in 1922 – and became AS Troyes-Savinienne (ASTS), the Champagne region’s premier football team. After being knocked back by the FFF in 1934, the club were accepted into the professional League the following year, and on August 18 played their first match at the Stade de l’Aube, winning 3-1.
However, after nearly 30 years of professionalism – counting three seasons in the first division and one lost Coupe de France Final against Sedan – the club reverted to amateur status in 1963 and folded completely four years later. In 1970 the city resurrected the club under the name Troyes Aube Football (TAF), and from 1973 onwards the TAF was a stalwart of the French top flight - until relegation in 1978 was quickly followed by bankruptcy for the second time.
This time Troyes would remain without a professional club until 1986, when Association Troyes Aube Champagne (ATAC) was founded in the amateur fourth division. In 1996, they finally earned promotion to the second division and revived their professional status. 1999 saw ATAC return to Ligue 1 football only to be forced into one final name change due to a national supermarket chain operating under the same name.
Relegated in 2003, ESTAC – riddled with debts – escaped further demotion in the face of France’s football watchdog, the DNCG, thanks to the financial guarantees that came with the arrival of new President Thierry Gomez. The 2005-06 season sees ESTAC back in Ligue 1 after finishing third in Ligue 2.
