Half a thousand people pay the last tribute to the heroes of Rico Pérez, in an act in which Agustín Ramos promises to “return next year”
Real Murcia continues to party with its fans and it is no wonder after all the hardships suffered in recent years. This time, the City Council of the capital of Segura, with its mayor José Antonio Serrano at the helm, received the centennial club on a Monday afternoon that was as sunny as it was emotional. It was 7:30 p.m. and with the loudspeakers giving volume to songs such as the traditional anthem of the Grana team, the fans began to gather in the Plaza de La Glorieta de España, under the balcony of the town hall, to wait for those who less than twenty-four hours before they had returned the illusion thanks to the long-awaited promotion to 1st RFEF.
Thousands of Murcians had already celebrated the ascent in the Plaza Circular on Sunday night and yesterday in La Glorieta just 500 people gathered for an act that was quite emotional. People were missing after a Sunday in which 12,000 people traveled to Alicante to enjoy a day to remember.
The mayor thanks the players, technicians and managers for “the city having recovered its desire for football”
Already at the appointed time and with the sun going down, the first team bus arrived at the square where the mayor was already waiting along with the councilor for sports, Pedro García Rex, among others. Agustín Ramos, president of the club, was the first to cross La Glorieta cheered by the audience before merging into a warm hug with José Antonio Serrano. After him came the real stars, with the exception of Pablo Ganet, who left early Monday morning to concentrate with the Equatorial Guinea team. Mario Simón, coach, and Manolo Molina, sports director, were the first.
«Murcia I love you!»
After arriving at the Town Hall and waiting for the Murcian players to come out on the balcony, the fans who flocked to the outskirts of the town hall, waited singing an already iconic song: “Murcia I love you, I’m coming to see you!”. So much so that it was the footballers themselves who followed the song once they stood on the balcony with the mayor and the rest of the local government councilors.
Already accommodated, both Serrano and Agustín Ramos, Mario Simón and Armando had words of thanks to Murcia. Those of the coach stood out, who when he picked up the microphone was applauded. Simón wanted to highlight the involvement of the city and its citizens. «How the city has turned with the team, the schools and the entire Region of Murcia is incredible. Today we are one step closer to where this club should be », he said.
After the words of thanks and to the applause of the grana fans, the footballers and their coaching staff, along with their president, went on to the official ceremony held in the plenary hall. Before the mayor began to speak, the players signed jerseys and took pictures with the lucky children who were there. Serrano valued the president’s management. “Agustín Ramos is a president who, with all the problems that we know the club has, is gradually removing Murcia from his situation.” Also, with the euphoria of promotion, he wanted to thank the players for returning the “desire for football” to the city.
The mayor left the floor to Ramos. «I hope that next year we can be here celebrating that Murcia is in the Second Division. Because we want what this city should have and with the support of the fans I think we are going to achieve it.”
After the president, Mario Simón also spoke in the plenary hall. The coach was more realistic than the club’s chief executive. “I’m not that ambitious about being in Second Division next year, but I think we’re closer to where Real Murcia has to be,” he said.
Captain Armando was the last to speak. «We have been an incredible group from minute zero. We are deserving of this promotion, together with the fans and those who are no longer here. He had been waiting his whole life for this moment. Thus ended an afternoon of homage to the players who eleven years later have made Murcia regain faith.
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