A small-time club that we have a bit of a soft spot for here at FBTG has hit a milestone today. Happy 8th Birthday to Xerez Deportivo Football Club – a sports team fighting to keep the Football traditions of a city alive and well.
Ya Cumplimos Ocho
Jerez
Misión Cumplida
The time would have been around 6pm. The final spots of daylight were fading quickly into the surrounding buildings. The sun had been kissing the horizon when we left the guest stadium in Bornos, but that had changed quickly in the bus ride back through the foothills of the Cordilleras Béticas. In the shadow of the Chapín, my two interviewees led me to an innocuous family bar.
The Sherry Derby
This weekend would have marked the beginning of the Feria de Jerez; the annual celebration of the various traditions that collectively define the intoxicating Flamenco culture of Spain’s south. Horsemanship, Sevillana dancing, delicate guitar playing, melancholy singing and – of course – sherry are all consumed in abundance by locals eager to revel in the cultural vibrancy of their ville. Coincidentally, today marks two months since the FBTG team last attended a Football game, which happened to be the biggest game of the 2019/2020 season played in Jerez de la Frontera. Though it may seem Continue reading
Spain’s Surprising Centenarians
Glasgow Celtic, Corinthians, Thai Port, Dynamo Dresden, AEK Athens, PSS Sleman…. you may well disagree with this list, but the sheer strength of character of some professional Football clubs around this fine planet bestows upon them a status and image that transcend the norm.
These are the clubs that consistently entice Continue reading
Your Average Sunday In Andalusia
Two games in eight hours played in cities located in two different Spanish provinces? Not a problem for the FBTG crew, but it made for a tight schedule. We dedicated our recent Sunday to the Beautiful Game as it is played in the lower leagues in the Continue reading
#SOSXerez Pt II
For #SOSXerez Pt I, please click here.
“The problem is that we do not have unity. The fans are not united any more. Have you heard about this other team, the one created by the fans?” For the first time during this conversation, I lied.
In the aftermath Continue reading
#SOSXerez Pt I
“Hola”.
Hola.
“Are you a journalist?”. Ojalá. If only. The gentleman smiled appreciatively. “Do you know about the history of Continue reading
The Sherry Cup
FBTG attended the final of the 18th running of the Trofeo de la Copa y la Venencia down at the Estadio Municipal de la Juventud. On a balmy Tuesday evening beneath a clear sky, home side Jerez Industrial CF took on the visiting Racing Club Portuense from Continue reading
From Boothferry To Germany 