- Joined
- Mar 23, 2005
Find myself on holiday in Spain again; Madrid this time. Shunning the big money teams that have cornered the market of European football to the deterement of all but a select few, I decided to go see Rayo Vallecano. In my only other game I have attended in Spain, it was Barca V Rayo. I was there at the time to see Barca but was impressed at the noise this small group of fans made despite being on the losing side.
At work last year, one of the overseas volunteers was from Madrid and she told me her brother and cousins were following Rayo, having tired of Real and the money game. So for this trip I contacted her and asked her to arrange a trip to a game in late November/early December. So it was we ambled off to see Rayo V Granada. Rayo sat a couple of points behind Granada in the 2nd tier in 5th place and Granada in 3rd. "Where in the stadium would you like to sit they asked?" The noisiest bit please! I reply, knowing I am also being accompanied by another 55 year old female workmate and an American volunteer, familiar only with the rugby shaped ball game in the USA. Are you sure? they asked...The supporters a little crazy and have running "fights" and push each other a lot. Yeh thats cool says I? So off we go meeting with the family at a local bar for a couple of beers and eats. Inside the stadium it was like going back to grounds of many years ago. The two main stands were 3 tier and fine. But we were behind the goal, where most of the seats were broken, not that anyone used them for anything anyway and that was good enough for me. There was no roof.
The singing started immediately before the game and carried on...well...right till the end...and for about 20 minutes afterwards. What can I say about the singing? Well it was the usual ultra style chants being led by a couple of guys with megaphones that really were loud enough to hear and about three guys on drums. The songs varied from slow to fast, low to high and repetitive choruses to shouts of a few words and allez allez type chants. They even sung you'll never walk alone in Spanish. It was fun and then of course half way through the game the pushing and running battles...though they werent really battles, just some boystrous stuff that could end up with someone in the minor injury clinic. Surprisingly no one pushed our group, either thinking, that guy looks too big, these woman look too vulnerable...or that lot are too old and frail
After 24 mins there was a special chant and clapping which I quickly realised was a reminder of the club being formed in 1924. Now while it was great to have so much singing, I did discuss a few things afterwards with my female work colleague who agreed that something was lacking with the repetitive chanting. There was no sense of the fans being lifted as Rayo came more into the game, nor of the players being lifted as the fans sensed they were coming into the game. In fact I would go so far as to say the players are probably so used to the chants they barely notice them. This is something perhaps to keep in mind at Easter Road as the singing section develops. There was little in the way of appreciation for moves/shots etc and just a flow of chanting.
On to the game and Rayo started slow but gradually came into the game, My American friend said at half time that he was a little taken aback by the constant end to end play...probably having been used to a game where you could do your weekly shopping between plays.
The 2nd half was much improved and Rayo were throwing everything but the kitchen sink in order to get that decisive goal. And it duly arrived two minutes from time from a corner being knocked over the line from close range sending the fans pretty delirius. Apparantly they do not get on well with Granada and here is the new thing I learned. The game in Spain is still dictated a lot by politics. Rayo fans are very proud to be left wing socialist minded, and their Ultras wear scarfs not only with their ultra name, but also scarves with the ultra symbol and the words..."working class" It appears to hark back to the days of the civil war and their biggest rivalry is with teams perceived to be of right wing leanings such as Granada. I think the people of Vallecano sided chiefly with the republicans against the nationalists...I hope I got that the right way around. Their very basic toilet facilities are plastered with stickers and paintings indicating their political status as fans.
We had of course been advised not to take photos as it is a major no no in the ultra section...however that did not stop us taking a few of our group despite the odd heavy stare. After the game the players applaud the other two sides of the ground..(the fourth side is just a huge billboard with painting of fans if I remember correctly) They then proceed to stand before the Ultras where the main guy with the megaphone addresses the team...unfortunately my Spanish is not good enough to recognise what he said, but he was insistent the subs and other members of coaching team etc come on the pitch to acknowledge the fans. This was one of the nicest parts of the game, where the team honestly try to interact with the fans, The Ultras are very close to the pitch and there are no stewards at this end of the ground and they kinda police themselves. The team and ultras break into a couple of chants together then they do a chant where the team have to shout back in response to a chant aimed at them. As the team leaves the Ultras carry on singing for another 5 mins then head for home.
It definately was a fantastic experience, made more special by being with some of the locals who could tell us what to expect and when to sit, stand, raise scarfs etc. The only thing I could not take part in was after raising their scarves sunshine on Leith style, a few of them then done the jambo twirl thing and that was a step too far.
So there it was, a new experience for me and I don't think it will be the last time I attend a Rayo game. pity they play in red and white though. I visited Toledo today and notice their team plays in green and white :rascal:
At work last year, one of the overseas volunteers was from Madrid and she told me her brother and cousins were following Rayo, having tired of Real and the money game. So for this trip I contacted her and asked her to arrange a trip to a game in late November/early December. So it was we ambled off to see Rayo V Granada. Rayo sat a couple of points behind Granada in the 2nd tier in 5th place and Granada in 3rd. "Where in the stadium would you like to sit they asked?" The noisiest bit please! I reply, knowing I am also being accompanied by another 55 year old female workmate and an American volunteer, familiar only with the rugby shaped ball game in the USA. Are you sure? they asked...The supporters a little crazy and have running "fights" and push each other a lot. Yeh thats cool says I? So off we go meeting with the family at a local bar for a couple of beers and eats. Inside the stadium it was like going back to grounds of many years ago. The two main stands were 3 tier and fine. But we were behind the goal, where most of the seats were broken, not that anyone used them for anything anyway and that was good enough for me. There was no roof.
The singing started immediately before the game and carried on...well...right till the end...and for about 20 minutes afterwards. What can I say about the singing? Well it was the usual ultra style chants being led by a couple of guys with megaphones that really were loud enough to hear and about three guys on drums. The songs varied from slow to fast, low to high and repetitive choruses to shouts of a few words and allez allez type chants. They even sung you'll never walk alone in Spanish. It was fun and then of course half way through the game the pushing and running battles...though they werent really battles, just some boystrous stuff that could end up with someone in the minor injury clinic. Surprisingly no one pushed our group, either thinking, that guy looks too big, these woman look too vulnerable...or that lot are too old and frail
After 24 mins there was a special chant and clapping which I quickly realised was a reminder of the club being formed in 1924. Now while it was great to have so much singing, I did discuss a few things afterwards with my female work colleague who agreed that something was lacking with the repetitive chanting. There was no sense of the fans being lifted as Rayo came more into the game, nor of the players being lifted as the fans sensed they were coming into the game. In fact I would go so far as to say the players are probably so used to the chants they barely notice them. This is something perhaps to keep in mind at Easter Road as the singing section develops. There was little in the way of appreciation for moves/shots etc and just a flow of chanting.
On to the game and Rayo started slow but gradually came into the game, My American friend said at half time that he was a little taken aback by the constant end to end play...probably having been used to a game where you could do your weekly shopping between plays.
The 2nd half was much improved and Rayo were throwing everything but the kitchen sink in order to get that decisive goal. And it duly arrived two minutes from time from a corner being knocked over the line from close range sending the fans pretty delirius. Apparantly they do not get on well with Granada and here is the new thing I learned. The game in Spain is still dictated a lot by politics. Rayo fans are very proud to be left wing socialist minded, and their Ultras wear scarfs not only with their ultra name, but also scarves with the ultra symbol and the words..."working class" It appears to hark back to the days of the civil war and their biggest rivalry is with teams perceived to be of right wing leanings such as Granada. I think the people of Vallecano sided chiefly with the republicans against the nationalists...I hope I got that the right way around. Their very basic toilet facilities are plastered with stickers and paintings indicating their political status as fans.
We had of course been advised not to take photos as it is a major no no in the ultra section...however that did not stop us taking a few of our group despite the odd heavy stare. After the game the players applaud the other two sides of the ground..(the fourth side is just a huge billboard with painting of fans if I remember correctly) They then proceed to stand before the Ultras where the main guy with the megaphone addresses the team...unfortunately my Spanish is not good enough to recognise what he said, but he was insistent the subs and other members of coaching team etc come on the pitch to acknowledge the fans. This was one of the nicest parts of the game, where the team honestly try to interact with the fans, The Ultras are very close to the pitch and there are no stewards at this end of the ground and they kinda police themselves. The team and ultras break into a couple of chants together then they do a chant where the team have to shout back in response to a chant aimed at them. As the team leaves the Ultras carry on singing for another 5 mins then head for home.
It definately was a fantastic experience, made more special by being with some of the locals who could tell us what to expect and when to sit, stand, raise scarfs etc. The only thing I could not take part in was after raising their scarves sunshine on Leith style, a few of them then done the jambo twirl thing and that was a step too far.
So there it was, a new experience for me and I don't think it will be the last time I attend a Rayo game. pity they play in red and white though. I visited Toledo today and notice their team plays in green and white :rascal:
Last edited:
