The Institut National du Football de Vichy opened its doors on 6 November 1972.
INF Vichy was included in the national championships of France at both youth and senior level.
[4] Each year, INF Vichy received 200 to 300 players, but only 30 or so were selected to join the academy in July.
The normal duration of studies was three years, and on the side of learning to become footballers, players received accounting, commerce, or mathematics classes.
[1] Starting in 1973, INF Vichy had a team that participated in the Division 3, the third tier of French football.