The rivalry between the two clubs started at the very beginning of the twentieth century. "Madrid Foot-Ball Club" (founded 1902), the most powerful club in the Spanish capital, kept on making mergers and acquisitions of the best smaller clubs in the city, which subsequently disappeared. At the same time, Madrid FC also signed the best players from the clubs it did not absorb, which also made those clubs defunct when they were unable to compete against the "Whites". The main exception to this pattern was "Athletic Club Madrid" (founded 1903), who were able to keep most of their best players thanks to the financial aid of their "parent", Athletic Club Bilbao, and so became the last stand against the Madrid FC supremacy in the capital. Many supporters of the clubs that had vanished due to "The Real" (a recognition given by the King of Spain to his favoured clubs, bestowed upon Madrid FC in 1920) therefore became supporters of the "Red-and-whites", many harbouring dislike towards the "meringue" club and triggering the rivalry. However, regarding competitive honours won, Real Madrid were far above Athletic Madrid (who remained so named even after their separation from the original Basque club) until after the Spanish Civil War.