Alcorcón: A Division Below But Leagues Ahead

Today we have a very special guest writer from MadridAtleticos, Gary Madrid, on assignment at the Alcorcón match, from this past weekend. With the playoffs looming it's time for some Liga Adelante aka Segunda A action. Enjoy!

Just outside Madrid, on one of the main motorways that leads to the south of Spain there is a turnoff. A special turn off it is not and where it leads to is nothing special. Alcorcón became headline news last year when they knocked out Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey. They became most Anti Madridista’s 2nd club and the clubs yellow scarves were sold outside stadiums including Real’s city rivals Atlético de Madrid. But, for all their success in the Copa Del Rey the team were determined to climb up the leagues using Getafe as an example. Last year they came up to the 2nd Division and some wondered would they be able to hack it. On Sunday they secured enough points to remain the 2nd Division for another year but the club haven’t stopped there and now are looking upwards to the playoffs where they are only 4 points off the last spot.

Alcorcón have a stadium of only 3000 but quiet it is not. It is very easy to park around the ground. The press officers of the club are friendly and accommodating and journalists and fans interact like old friends. The team play at Municipal Santo Domingo and have the full support of the town council because after all this is a community club. The club reached out to the locals and although Madrid has clubs like Real, Atleti etc. Alcorcón feel there is room for more. This season they have surprised quite a few people and a playoff place would be a just reward for all the hard work done by everyone at the club. Should they get promoted and Getafe stay up there would be 5 teams from the province of Madrid in the 1st Division.

On Sunday I attended the game and was surprised by the organisation of the club. Stewards and staff were surprised that any foreign writer would be interested in their club and at 1st they thought I was there to cover Granada. After assuring them that I was there to cover Alcorcón they showed me to the press area. It was perfect. The crowd came early to cheer the team on as they warmed up and Granada brought a decent away support. Fans knew that a point would guarantee their place in the division next year but they were there to enjoy their day in the sun. As the team sheets came hot off the printer, and I mean that literally, there was a shock as lead scorer Quini had been dropped. Journalists and fans conversed over the reasons for this and there was a good atmosphere all round. The game kicked off and all the fans were in full voice and then something amazing happened.

A player was lying on the floor after being tackled. A section of fans started to chant a famous chant that is sung across Spain: Pisalo (Stamp on him). A chant that is so common that nobody really notices it anymore. Within in 15 seconds an announcement was made asking fans to refrain from making any chants of a racist or violent nature. The whole ground applauded the announcement. I was taken by surprise by the level of disgust from the fans. ‘It’s a family club, why do these idiots come’ was what one fan told me at half time. ‘This type of thing is embarrassing to the club’ said another. I asked one employee of the club was it mandatory to make such announcements and he told me no but that Alcorcón wanted to set an example. The example was one that all Spanish clubs should follow because in this respect they are years ahead of most teams in Spain.

The game was played at a high tempo and the ref allowed the game to flow. Although Granada had little chance of automatic promotion they were not giving up without a fight. A defeat would lead to promotion for Betis. As the game went on the lack of goals did not take away from the enjoyment of the game. Just before half time Alcorcón got a penalty and slotted it home. At half time fans and journalists mixed again and exchanged views on the match. The 2nd half saw Granada really come out of the boxes and raring to go. Alcorcón rode their luck in the 2nd half but some good defending and luck saw them maintain their lead. As the game entered injury time they broke away on the counter attack and scored to make it 2-0. The whole ground broke in song. Nobody leaves here early as there is no point, there is no traffic. I had attended a few games in La Segunda and have always enjoyed them. The lack of press coverage they receive is a disgrace. Leaving the ground I made a promise to myself to return. Hopefully it will be in 2 weeks.