The CPAC was founded in 1920 by several alumni of Casa Pia de Lisboa, a public utility institution to promote the rights and protection of children and young people to which the club is connected. The founders were Ricardo Ornelas, David Ferreira, Mário da Silva Marques, António Pinho and Cândido de Oliveira. The “Casa Pia Atlético Clube (1920), initially received with sympathy, in two modalities that immediately imposed-swimming and football-came to create huge discomfort in the Portuguese sports environment, especially in football where it caused a profound change in the existing status quo. ” (Viriato Camilo)
Details