WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
Our first experience of live Spanish football was to witness the International Friendly between Spain and Italy in 2008! Held at the Martinez Valero, the home ground of Elche CF, we immediately fell in love with the stadium, an affiliation which grew as we started to sporadically watch the Elche at home.
For the 2013/2014 season David became a season ticket holder as the club had just gained promotion to La Liga. He would travel week in week out by himself to the ground, not knowing any other fans and
thinking all of the time how wonderful it would be to go as a group. This thought became a reality when, in 2018 we took our first coach on the 18th August to Elche CF v Granada. Although the fixture was goalless, we had such a great time travelling with fellow footy fans.
AND THEN IT GREW
Elche CF played in the Segunda Division that season. Many fans travelled very regularly to the fixtures with us, and that was the beginning of the Footy Family. At the start of the 2019/2020 season our special relationship and affiliation with the club lead to an invitation to the Footy Family for a little tour of the stadium as well as photos on the pitch, press room and dug outs. We all selected our seats as many of the coach travellers became Season Ticket Holders for the first time.
Then the global Covid pandemic hit and we went without visiting the Martinez Valero for a year and half.
Our faithful Footy Family, of both season ticket holders and match ticket travellers who come when in Spain, continued to support their team. When the doors of the stadium opened once more, we had been promoted to La Liga.
LOCAL RECOGNITION
Interest in the Football Coach Tours grew and the big games against Real Madrid and Barcelona saw the stadium and our coaches almost at capacity. The club started to play Sweet Caroline during half time and the sound of the many English voices singing away became a curiosity for the Spanish. The regional newspaper contacted us wanting to find out about the large International Fan base which our coach tours have helped create. We now feature regularly in their articles, even being interviewed for the Footy Family’s opinions, insights and predictions!
Another aspect of our involvement with Elche CF lead us to working with Marketing Baccalaureate Students on their project to increase international interest in the club. The students presented their findings to the Head of Schools for the Comunitat Valencia, the Elche CF Club President, the Office Team and Senior Players. Many of the students suggestions have been taken on board and implemented by the club.
AND SO IT CONTINUES
Our relationship, affiliation and passion for Elche CF has continued to grow along with the Footy Family.
For the 2023/24 season ticket campaign we had the privilege of being asked to feature in Elche CF’s promotional advertising. Due to the dedication of the Footy Family supporters and the Baccalaureate project, the club decided for the first time in their history to add an International element to their marketing. This is how we ended up on their flyers, website, facebook page and youtube video!
None of this would have been possible without the enthusiasm, dedication and loyalty of our Footy Family as well as the support and willingness of Elche CF to welcome and adopt us.
Mucho Elche!