This Levante crest, which dates back to the second half of the 1940s, has endured the onslaught of the inexorable passage of time, perhaps as if in search of immortality. The badge is no longer part of the jersey that distinguished him, but it still shines proudly evoking a past that seems far removed from the present. Alberto Pascual Escriche was in goal for Levante U.D. on countless occasions between 1945 and 1950. They were five seasons full of emotions on a sporting and personal level, condensed with a longed-for promotion to the Second Division and the consolidation of the team in the Silver Division.
The Levante crest, shown here, was proudly displayed on the shirt of the goalkeeper, born in Gandía in November 1922, who also played for Hércules and Alcoyano. It is a donation made by his descendants to the Levante society. It is of incalculable value because of the antiquity it radiates. The coat of arms is a distinctive emblem that has characterised clubs since the night of football. In this case, all the symbols that make Levante U.D. stand out, from the alternation of the blue and blue bars, the inclusion of the name of Levante in an ascending line, including the garlands set in gold or the everlasting bat that seems to wrap its wings around the club as if it were trying to act as a protector in the face of unexpected contingencies.
There is a singularity that links this coat of arms to other similar samples in the possession of the Heritage and Documentation Area from the same chronological axis. The bat has embroidered eyes and a mouth. This is a peculiarity of the 1940s and 1950s. What is certain is that this coat of arms recovers the lost memory of a historical sequence marked by extreme complexity. The present recovers an aristocratic decade. These were the years of political isolationism. Economic restrictions were unquestionable. This depressive tendency fuelled the racketeering and speculation. The merger between Levante F.C. and Gimnástico, which led to the birth of the Unión Deportiva Levante-Gimnástico, was still a scourge on the conscience of the fans of each of the teams.
Levante U.D. inaugurated its record in the 1941-1942 season as a team linked to the Second Division. However, its stay was short-lived. In the 1945-1945 season, with Villagrá on the bench and Alberto Pascual Escriche as a member of the squad, they began their return to the second tier of national football. Despite the financial problems, the institution surrounded the former defender, on his debut as coach, with a group of players seasoned in a thousand battles. The contemporary press emphasised Alberto’s exquisite positioning and the confidence he brought to each and every one of his actions. He was in goal in the decisive match for the return to the Silver Division against Atlético and in memorable matches such as the Copa del Generalísimo play-off against Athletic Club in 1946-1947.