Catarroja Club de Fútbol was founded in 1924 as Olimpic Fútbol Club de Catarroja, and has just won the Tercera Group VI title for the second time in the club's history. The previous success in 1980-81 and two subsequent visits to the play-offs have ended in failure, but the new two-legged format for league champions and a favourable draw could see this club that is based just a few miles south of Valencia, play in Segunda B for the first time. Managed by Scotsman John Clarkson, Catarroja has had a stunning regular season, winning 27 matches and suffering defeat on just four occasions.
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| Mundial 82 & a fine example of urban artwork - #DownWithTheKidz |
Despite bearing the name of the 1982 World Cup tournament, Catarroja's Estadio Mundial was opened in 1984. The stadium was partly funded by the tournament's legacy package and opened on 26 September with a match against their neighbours from the big city, Valencia CF. Simple in design, Mundial 82 is essentially a single covered stand on the west side of the ground and three very narrow strips of hard standing around the other three sides of the artificial pitch. The stand is slightly cranked & raised and comprises of seven concrete steps, alternately painted in blue and white. A simple corrugated cantilevered roof hangs above this single tier. The official capacity is 5,000, but that does seem to be relying on a large number of standing customers, as the stand would struggle to hold 2,000. This should be tested when Cantabrian's SD Noja visit in the play-offs for a place in Segunda B.
Labels: Tercera or Below, Valencian Community
