Any content creator knows that getting the facts right and doing your research the proper way is both the core of any decent podcast, video or blog entry, but also the hardest variable to control (except the views of course). Reading books is a big investment of your time. Youtube videos do a poor job of referencing original source material. Newspaper articles frequently get the facts wrong. And podcast episodes normally serve to inflate the ego of the hosts, bruh.
With the remaining garlic-covered octopus tentacle between my teeth, I knocked back the final millilitres of Paxaran before indicating to the waiter that I needed the bill. There is always something so impressive about Spanish hospitality staff and their ability to do three things at once, but even so, the typical Basque industriousness was visible in every movement he made. 10.40€ lighter, I bid the patrons farewell and continued my walk Las Llanas, taking care to find some good photo opportunities as I went. Green and black flags hanging outside two bars on the main road indicated the opportunity to get another drink before kick-off, and in no time I found an open door to what I thought was the club shop.
The platform was entirely empty as I stepped out. A single stairway led to an uncovered footbridge across the trainlines and towards the exit of the train station. As I climbed, the regional train shuddered into motion and continued its routine journey along the coast. A few moments later and silence resumed. It’s true, I was arriving in the town several hours before kick-off. But as I passed through the small train station and onto the main road, the silence was unnerving. With my backpack hoisted high on my shoulders, I began the ascent uphill to the stadium.
Back in business. Here at planet FBTG we always love to celebrate Spain’s week long Easter holiday with more groundhopping around one of Europe’s most fascinating countries. This year we trekked north for a short tour hitting up 3 different La Segunda games in 3 different days, braving the rain and the cold.
Many of the regional denonyms in use in modern Spanish are Latin in origin. If you are from Seville, you are hispalense. If you are from Badajoz, you are paciense. And if you are from Huelva, you are onubense. This was the inspiration behind the leading fan group of Spain’s oldest running Football club Recreativo de Huelvo “el Decano” – the Frente Onuba. This was seen in Seville, and while we cannot claim to be big fans, this Aufkleber design is a cracker.
We at FBTG HQ would publically like to wish a very happy birthday to the pioneering club of our adopted home; the majestic, exciting and fearless Xerez Deportivo Football Club.
Satisfied with the few photos I had taken, I awkwardly scrambled back down the muddy ground and continued my walk. More media vehicles had parked up at the front side of El Sadar since I had began my tour of one of Spain’s classic grounds, and the queue of expectant fans outside a closed ticket window had grown. Realising I was short of funds, I turned to go find a cash point and walked into the path of an older gentleman.
“Who we playing today?” Alavés I said. “Oh, should be a good one then”.
The title is a bit of a stretch, but hopefully succinct. The Basque Country is comprised of 4 provinces of northern Spain and 3 of southwestern France, even though the País Vasco is an administrative, semi-autonomous region of Spain. Known is the Basque language as Euskal Herria, the Basque Country can be best conceptualised as the land straddling the border where Basque cultural traditions have survived and are most celebrated to this day. Across the Easter break, we decided it was time to explore their ways and history by checking out some great Football matches in Spain’s most enigmatic region.
From Boothferry To Germany 