Since then, the team has been relegated to the second tier three times, having won back promotion twice by winning the Segunda Liga and once by administrative decision.

[4] The initial name of the club was Gil Vicente Football Barcelense, including a mention of its city that was lost through time.

[3]: 21–28 In 1943 (possibly 1953[3]: 50 ), the club is promoted to the Second Division, and one year later stops participating in the regional championship to play in a national league starting.

[3]: 50 Gil Vicente achieved a club record semi-final in the Portuguese Cup in 1976–77, losing against SC Braga only after a replay match.

In 1989–90 Segunda Divisão, led by Rodolfo Reis,[4] the team finally achieved promotion to the top tier, winning the North Zone and obtaining a second place in the championship-playoff against Salgueiros and Farense.

An electrical failure in an away match at Maia during a 2–0 Gil Vicente lead with 16 minutes left led to the game being interrupted.

The compact Estádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo proved to be a tough spot for visitors, as only champions Benfica and runner-ups FC Porto able to win.

[8] He would be transferred to Porto in the Winter of the following season, featuring in all of the teams who won the historic five consecutive league titles.

The form recovered and three well-time consecutive March wins helped achieve 12th place, 3 points clear of relegation.

This was the season where hometown player Carlitos established himself in the first teamm, playing 33 league games and scoring 5 goals, both team-leading statistics.

[citation needed] Incoming manager Fernando Festas achieved only one win before being replaced in March after a 4–1 away loss against Chaves.

The request was approved by the Portuguese Football Federation and Gil Vicente would remain in the second tier for another season despite a court appeal.

Already out of contention for the fourth place, the team hosted FC Porto, who was 1 point behind leaders Sporting CP, who were on a 18-year spell without a league title.

[17] In February 2003, Luís Loureiro became the first squad player to be receive a call up to the Portugal national football team.

Feirense on goal difference to the title, and the key players were strikers Hugo Vieira and Zé Luís.

[23] The club finished as runners-up of the 2011–12 Taça da Liga, eliminating Sporting CP from the groups, S.C. Braga on penalties in the semi-final and losing 2–1 to S.L.

[25] On 29 April 2018, the club slipped into the third tier for the first time since 1971, but had a place in the 2019–20 Primeira Liga secured as a result of the appeal against the "Matheus Affair".

[26] On May 8, 2022, Gil Vicente qualified for a European competition, UEFA Europa Conference League, for the first time in their history, after finishing fifth in the 2021–22 Primeira Liga season.

While today only the football section exists, Gil Vicente has had a roller hockey team, and athletes representing the club in cycling and pedestrianism.

União Foot-ball Club Barcelense had its first field in Campo da Granja, next to the city's cemetery, playing its first game on April 30, 1922, against Desportivo Famalicense, 3 days before the official inauguration during the city festival (Festa das Cruzes) with a game between FC Porto and SC Salgueiros.

[4] On 16 September 1945, goalkeeper Adelino Ribeiro Novo died in Campo da Granja after a collision with an opponent during a match against CD Aves.

[citation needed] In 1992, the city bought land in the parish of Vila Boa, Barcelos to build a new stadium.

In 2022, the city contracted the construction of two training pitches adjacent to the stadium for 2.3 million Euro, one grass and another artificial turf, which were completed in 2024.