As it hasn’t really warmed up much Jen and I decided to have a week in Spain. The easiest option was an evening flight to Alicante from Teesside on a Friday night. The only downside was that it didn’t land until after ten and I thought it a bit late to collect a hire car and head off somewhere quieter.
Alicante itself is pretty good out of season though, warm enough for strolling about in a tee shirt and with far fewer visitors than would be around later in the year.
I was working during the week, but at the weekend we fitted a couple of walks in. The first one took us along the coast to Albufereta via a disused railway line and through some tunnels. The second one went back from the coast and up to the Sant Ferran castle. It gave us views down to the sea and also of the other castle, Santa Barbara. The second walk also incorporated a game at the Antonio Valls stadium.
The fixture was in the fifth tier between the B team of Hercules and visitors Atletico Saguntino. The hosts were mid-table with Saguntino second from top.
The area of town where the game was taking place was full of grounds. The main Hercules stadium was just across the road and there was an athletics field next door. An under-fourteen’s match was taking place nearby. There was also some other kind of indoor sports venue where the spectators were making a lot of noise. It might have been a swim meet. Perhaps with sharks or piranhas.
Jen and I arrived about five minutes before kick-off and found a spot in the main stand that was temporarily in the shade.
As well as our stand, there was another uncovered stand opposite, just slightly smaller. A few people were watching from a railing to the right where volleyball and basketball games were in progress. There was a small café with a handful of people congregated outside and a some benches that were popular, particularly the ones in the shade. I’d estimate the total crowd at about four hundred.
A fella with an impressive combover was directly in front of us. I reckon that he only had about an inch of hair remaining, but he had somehow managed to hide all evidence of hair loss. Fair play to him.
There weren’t many chances in the first half and whilst Saguntino were on top, it was goalless as the teams went off. I bought a couple of tiny empanadas from the café. They seemed to have nothing more than ketchup inside. I doubt they will catch on.
We switched to the smaller stand for the second half to try and take advantage of the shade. I’ve a feeling we nicked the spot of someone behind us in the queue for the ketchup pasties.
The visitors took the lead just after the hour when a corner led to a goalmouth scramble and an eventual poking home at the back post. Hercules applied pressure, but deep into added time they lost the ball and were hit on the break. Sagutino’s second goal confirmed the victory and after allowing the post-goal argy-bargy between the players to peter out, the ref brought matters to a conclusion without bothering to kick-off again.
Tags: Alicante, ketchup pasties
Trail of the Lion King 
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