About

Pau Football Club is the professional side from Pau in the Béarn region of France, currently competing in Ligue 2. Founded on 19 May 1959, the club’s story is rooted in local parish teams and decades of steady progress, and Walkouts showcases signed shirts that reflect both that history and the ground-level provenance collectors prize.

The modern club traces its origins to the Bleuets de Notre-Dame and the stewardship of José Bidegain, with long seasons played at the Stade du Hameau before the move to a purpose-built venue. Today the club plays home fixtures at the Nouste Camp, and its most notable domestic success remains victory in the Championnat National which secured promotion and a new era in the French league pyramid.

Collectors often look for commemorative pieces tied to stadium openings and civic moments. A common reference point among Pau supporters is the Nouste Camp inauguration in 2019, which produced regionally issued shirts and matchday ephemera linked to the new ground and local celebrations at Béarn venues, items that are sought for their direct connection to that milestone.

Season-specific shirts carry special appeal when they mark sporting turning points. The 2019-20 campaign that delivered promotion, and the earlier return to the third tier in the 2016-17 season, are seasons whose squad shirts and retail runs are chased because they represent clear sporting narratives, memorable squads and identifiable match line-ups across league fixtures and cup ties.

Away shirts can be particularly collectible when they carry a historic look tied to away results. Pau’s away variants that appear in a classic white with blue trim have been linked in club memory to decisive results in regional competitions and league campaigns, and those colourways often surface in framed displays after notable away wins in the South West League and league deciders.

Signed retail shirts are a major part of demand, fans seeking both match-issued examples and early-run shop shirts from official outlets. Many Walkouts entries note that fans collect fanshop retail editions alongside player-issue variants and region-specific releases, and provenance is strengthened when items include a verification cue such as COA, witnessed signings or exact photo proof, often alongside provenance from Nouste Camp or archival material from the Stade du Hameau era.

For those researching or buying signed Pau shirts, provenance tied to the 2019-20 promotion season and the 2016-17 return to the third division matters most; shirts from those seasons, plus Nouste Camp inauguration pieces, routinely appear with supporting images, player attributions and COA evidence, and Walkouts lists many such authenticated examples for study and purchase.

Honours

Pau FC’s honours track a steady rise through the French pyramid, highlighted by the club’s breakthrough as champions of the Championnat National in 2019-20, a triumph that secured a place in Ligue 2. Earlier milestones underline enduring competitiveness at national amateur level: two titles in National 2 came in 1998 and 2016, laying the groundwork for subsequent consolidation higher up the ladder. Regionally, the team twice topped the French South-West League, first in 1958 and again in 1968, signalling early promise that would take decades to fully realise.

The 2019-20 championship season was the decisive step that elevated the club into the professional ranks, validating years of rebuilding and careful stewardship. Those cumulative successes capture Pau FC’s journey from a respected regional force to an established presence in France’s second tier, with each trophy marking progress toward long-term stability and ambition within the national game.

Legends & Leadership

Henri Saivet, Samuel Essende and Romain Armand are recent key players whose work in the 2020s symbolised Pau FC’s competitive edge in the second tier, blending experience, mobility and decisive contributions in attack and build-up play.

Mayron George, Victor Lobry and David Gomis are recent key players from the 2020s whose energy and adaptability helped sustain momentum following promotion, offering goals, creativity and reliable link-play across demanding Ligue 2 campaigns.

Didier Tholot is a legendary manager of the 2020s who guided Pau FC through the critical transition following the 2019-20 title, instilling structure and belief as the club established itself at the professional level.

Bernard Laporte-Fray is a legendary owner of the late 1990s whose leadership during the club’s rebrand and financial restructuring set a modern course, stabilising Pau FC and paving the way for later successes and, ultimately, the team’s arrival in Ligue 2.

Stadium

The Nouste Camp serves as Pau FC’s dedicated home, a landmark opened in 2019 that marked a new era for the club and its supporters. Prior to moving in, the team played in the Stade du Hameau, but the Nouste Camp provides an identity that is unmistakably Pau FC’s, reflecting the city and the wider Béarn region. Matchdays emphasise community, with local pride and tradition shaping the atmosphere as the club competes in Ligue 2. Regional fixtures in the south-west often carry a derby intensity, adding edge to otherwise routine league dates. While purpose-built for the club, the Nouste Camp is also a symbol of progress, aligning infrastructure with on-pitch ambitions and giving Les Maynats a true home to grow into over the seasons.

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FAQ

Q: What league do Pau FC currently play in? A: Pau FC compete in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football.

Q: Where is Pau FC based and where do they play home matches? A: The club is based in Pau, France, and hosts its home fixtures at the Nouste Camp.

Q: When was the club founded and what is its nickname? A: Pau FC were founded in 1959, and their nickname is Les Maynats.

Q: How do you verify the authenticity of signed items or match-used pieces associated with Pau FC? A: Items are accompanied by trusted proof such as a certificate or letter of authenticity, or equivalent witnessed/digital verification, to ensure provenance.