CALDEROS, OCTOGENARIAS Achicando and managers with water boots: the astorga’s effort to play in the middle of the downpour

Despite the large amount of rain Fall during the weekend, all the league matches scheduled in the first and second division stadiums could be played without major problem. There was also a day in most fields in the lower categories, where the drainage of the grass and the technical means available are not as advanced as in professional football. The effort of managers and members of the club, together with the collaboration of partners and fans worked the miracle in stadiums such as the eragudina, which looked like a pool hours before the duel between the Atlético Astorga and Christ Atlético.

Atlético Astorga, of the Third Federation, exemplifies the anonymous effort of managers, employees and fans of numerous clubs of the lower categories of Spanish football throughout a season, where being able to play on Sundays is not always simple. On this day, in Astorga, as in other fields, the problem was the water accumulated in the field Due to the rain.

When those responsible for Atlético Astorga arrived in the field to prepare the match, corresponding to the 27th day of the League, Cristo Atlético Palentino front met the flooded grass. After talking with the arbitration trio and the expedition of the rival team, they got to work so that the meeting could be played, thus avoiding extra expenses for both entities that would have to have to move the duel to another date.

Managers, employees, partners and volunteers began to remove water with cubes and cauldrons, while a water service worker from Astorga and the Club president, Manuel OrtizThey managed the arrival of a pump to reduce accumulated water. The referee, according to both teams, postponed 30 minutes the start of the game, time that ended up increasing another 15 minutes.

Terry (club treasurer), Fredy (in charge of the material), Pablo (goalkeeper coach), Javi (secretary of Atlétic The eragudineincluding a partner of more than 80 years who had no qualms about taking a cauldron to get to work.

An effort that had a prize because the party could end up playing, although in a corner, one of the most affected areas, the accumulation of water was evident. Given everyone’s good collaboration, the referee and the teams agreed that if at some point in the match he had to get a corner kick at that point, the ball would be set in motion from the other corner of the field.

The game ended in a tie (1-1) And with the thanks of Atlético Astorga to all those who collaborated by shrinking water, to the spectators for their patience, to the Palencia Cristo Atlético for their facilities so that the meeting could finally be played and to the arbitration trio for their confidence in the club to solve the problem.