have been on the back of a ‘Do Not travel without tickets’ warning.
However none more so than the one that awaits us on Tuesday. But it
was the uncertainty of the town itself that concerned me. Rumours
were rife - but I questioned the facts. People writing stories about
‘three bars in Villarreal’ had never even visited the town. How did
they know? Inflated internet ticket prices also worried me. I took
the bull by the horns and decided to find out the facts for myself.
On Saturday I flew to Valencia and then travelled to Villarreal on
the search for tickets and information.
Although traveling alone I soon met Alan, a fellow bear. I told him
that Villarreal had a home game that night, which I was going to, on
a recon mission. He also fancied the one hour trip up the coast to
check out the town.
It would be naive to think that a town that size really does only
have three bars. However the culture really is very different.
Anywhere that serves food is a bar. I counted, and took photos of
maybe 7-10 different bars. We’ve got to remember these are not like
the pubs we’d find on the Paisley Road, each bar could probably hold
50-75 people maximum and even then it would be starting to get
uncomfortable. I spoke to one bar owner who told me he was ready for
Tuesday and proudly showed me 5 half barrels of San Miguel he had
ordered in for the occasion. I would predict if his bar was full that
the beer he had would last 2 hours maximum! THEY ARE NOT PREPARED!
The bar owners have to use plastic glasses on the day of the game.
They joked about having litre sizes for the Rangers fans and half
litre sizes for the locals. I just don’t think they seriously know
the drinking culture with British fans.
“No Sky TV in the town”! This is laughable- but once again the TV’s
in the bars that do have them are very small and dated. Whilst I did
see one flat screen I would not want to be trying to watch the game
on a 14” TV in a bar that had run out of beer!
There is a square 2 minutes away from the ground which for fans that
do travel will probably their base. But the supermarket to buy beers
in is still being built! As kick off approaches and people disperse
it is going to be very hard to find somewhere to watch the match with
enough room, let alone a TV.
For the game on Saturday there was security but in the form of
stewards rather than police. I am sure this will be a different story
on Tuesday. The turnstiles were poor and entrances to get in sent
alarm bells ringing. But it was the infrastructure of the stadium
that really worried me. Villarreal members are still buying 2 tickets
each and promptly selling them on. They are being sold in the North
Stand.
Some of the entrances are adjacent to visitor’s enclosure. This area
is going to be the main point for Rangers fans entering the stadium.
Houses and buildings run parallel with the stand but it can be
accessed by three directions. The potential for ‘bottle necking’ is
immense. With people entering from three areas there would
potentially be pushing and shoving. The only place to go would be in
the ground. Once in the ground there is just one (I think) flight of
steep stair leading to concourse area and the stand. If too many
people went in the away end - either to avoid a situation outside OR
with fake tickets the consequences could be disastrous, and I don’t
use that term lightly.
Even if people could make it past the steps the Perspex glass in the
away section would have people penned in up there. Not a situation I
would want to see. But we can make it a safe trip.
To summarise the situation in Villarreal, from first hand experience,
not hearsay I would say this. There are tickets out there. Many are
held by locals looking to make a few quid. They are asking cheeky
prices but many can be talked down. There is a circuit of touts who
are asking higher prices.
It is NOT a town I would want to be stuck in without a ticket.
We can make this a good trip. Arrive at the ground early and take
care. A large number of people in a confined area is not good - and
this could be in a bar, side street on the approach to the ground or
even the stadium itself.
Personally if I did not have a ticket by 6pm I would be making the
hour long train ride back to Valencia (a fantastic city) to take a
seat in a bar, restaurant or café.
Some tips: the language is a barrier. They do not speak much English.
A hand shake, ‘hola’ and ‘dos entradas por favor’ (two tickets
please!) and they soon know what you mean! The train is under 4 euros
from Valencia. Buy a ticket. They have security guards on the train
to avoid fare dodgers. The trains should leave platform 1 in
Valencia. From Villarreal come out of the station and you will see a
street ahead of you with trees arched over it. Walk straight up there
and the ground is about 15 minutes away. Taxis are scarce in Villarreal.
Be happy, be safe.
|
