La Liga returns to the Costa
Alicante club returns to Spain's top flight
CELEBRATIONS were contained but certainly not muted as hundreds of Elche football club fans took to the streets in cars and public spaces on Sunday to mark their team’s promotion to La Liga.
A single goal by Pere Milla in the 96th minute of the second leg of their otherwise scoreless play-off final against Girona was enough to secure victory. The city was filled with processions of cars beeping their horns, fireworks being set off and singing of ‘Aromas ilicitanos’ from balconies, while the biggest crowd – of about 250 people – gathered at the Glorieta, under the watchful eye of police who searched everyone and ensured that face masks were worn and social distancing was maintained.
Mayor Carlos González had appealed before the match for supporters to ‘set an example to Spain of responsible joy’, should they win, by celebrating from home and on the internet.
Although many fans could not resist the temptation to go out, councillor for security Ramón Abad praised their ‘model behaviour’.
He said the local and National Police operation had ‘worked perfectly’, assuring that the people who went to the Martínez Valero stadium and the Glorieta did follow the health rules and officers did not have to impose any fines.
The fans ‘respected the police instructions at all times’ and when they were asked to leave at about 01.00, because both places became too crowded, ‘they dispersed in an orderly fashion’.
The club has now returned to the top flight five years after being demoted for over multimillion debts for taxes and to the footballers’ association.
At a simple ceremony at the stadium on Monday, president Joaquín Buitrago hailed the importance of their promotion but pledged they ‘will not spend more than we receive’.
He noted they only have two weeks to prepare for next season and would have liked to have been able to celebrate with their fans.
The mayor said it was ‘a day of joy’ for the club and the city, which will put the name of Elche ‘on everyone’s lips’, nationally and internationally.
He also claimed it would have economic benefits for the hostelry and shopping sectors, which ‘in these difficult times of coronavirus will make people smile again’. Their 40year-old captain, Nino added that being promoted with the team he loves had been ‘now or never’ and said he would ‘continue enjoying the moment’.