Linense

Club · Brazil · Paulista - A2

«Elefante da Noroeste»

107 Matches

34 wins

32 draws

41 losses

104–117 Goals

−13 Difference

1.0 Scored per game

Form D W D W W W

The Gilbertão took three years to build, opening in 1962 with a 2-4 defeat to Botafogo of Ribeirão Preto. Before it, Linense had already gone through one stadium: a wooden arena raised in 1953 to justify the club's own promotion to the top flight, torn down within six years once the concrete replacement stood ready. That restlessness — building for a level you have not yet secured — has stayed close to the identity of the place.

The elephant on the badge dates to 1952, when players paraded a regional title through town on circus elephants and the nickname stuck. That same year they were champions of Série A2, a level they returned to and won again in 2010.

Their best run in the top flight came in 2017, a quarter-final lost to São Paulo, matched by similar depth in 2011 and 2012. The 2015 Copa Paulista is the trophy the club points to now, won on penalties against Ituano, a result that opened the door to that year's Copa do Brasil. William Pottker spent a loan spell up front around that time and left as one of the state championship's leading scorers the following season, but the name still mentioned in Lins from an earlier era is Elias Neme — three goals past a Santos side with Pelé in it, and part of a 4-1 win over São Paulo in 1953.

Noroeste is the other side of the same rivalry.

Latest results

All matches

22 Aug	Copa Paulista	Bandeirante SP H	2:0	W
15 Aug	Copa Paulista	Marília A	1:0	W
9 Aug	Copa Paulista	Grêmio Prudente H	5:2	W
3 Aug	Copa Paulista	Grêmio Prudente A	0:0	D
26 Jul	Copa Paulista	Marília H	3:1	W
18 Jul	Copa Paulista	Bandeirante SP A	0:0	D