The plight of footballers never ends in this commune in Côtes-d'Armor

Bruno Le Bricon, former president of US Erquy (Côtes-d’Armor), is far from happy with the situation. He resigned in May 2023 “because of the stadium project. » Initiated in 2020, it is still causing endless turmoil today.

Exit Caroual

Historically, the club used to use the Capitaine Erhel stadium, in the city center, and the Caroual field.

“The latter was removed because of the installation of wind turbine cables at sea in 2020. Instead of rebuilding a stadium at Caroual, the elected officials decided to embark on another project,” rewinds the former leader .

As for the Captain Erhel stadium, “it is the lowest point in the city center and the Coastal Flood Risk Prevention Plan largely classifies the land in the center as non-buildable. Which means: no possibility of expanding the current locker rooms or installing the synthetic pitch there,” recalled the municipality in a press release dated 2023.

On the heights of the cape

Thus, the majority decided to build a synthetic pitch, fitted out to federal standards, allowing training and competitions up to the regional level, in Guen, on the heights of Cap d'Erquy.

Bruno Le Bricon left the municipal majority a year and a half ago, “disagreeing with the way in which the majority team carries out projects, particularly that of the stadium. »

I am disappointed not to have been able to convince the municipality of the importance of the choice of the new land, taking into account the future issues.

“The elected officials offered the players a magnificent stadium, almost at the level of a professional club. But a club like Erquy, backed by the sea, needs visibility. Being in the woods, up there, has no point in my opinion. Not to mention the pine needles that will fly on synthetic material,” continues the historic leader, deploring “the lack of transparency. Two fields were initially planned and ultimately only one. Everything came together to make this imposed project a problem. Today, it is the club which is penalized. »

Off

This new land project is still on hold after a new court decision. However, the construction site resumed in the fall, after several months of interruption, already following a court decision which cited a reason for “illegality of the file presented”.

The reason: the town hall had trees felled last January 2024 to facilitate the construction site, but it launched the work before the appeal deadline expired.

A month ago, the judge in summary proceedings once again put a stop to the construction site. This time he cited “the quality of the trees located along rue du Portuais”, including “a hedge classified as remarkable”.

“We have been waiting for 5 years for this synthetic project that was promised to us. We are spectators of this ping-pong game between the town hall and the local residents and Erquy Plurien Environnement, who have filed appeals,” breathes Alexandre Collong, president of US Erquy.

Under the halls

Another problem: due to lack of maintenance this summer, the land in the city center has become impassable. In the first months, Erquy players benefited from the facilities in Plurien, a neighboring town, for training. Overloaded, this land has also become unusable.

At the beginning of January, the senior group was even forced to train under the Erquy halls, on a concrete square on the side of the road, lit by Christmas decorations. “We had to have an indoor slot, at the college, except that the handball club did too. The city stadium is not suitable for around twenty players. »

For their matches, the Réginéens enjoyed a pitch loaned by Lamballe until last December, approved for official R3 level matches, unlike that of Plurien.

The situation has changed a little in recent days. “The town hall opened the land in the city center to us but it is up to us to manage its use. Everything will depend on the weather. If the weather is good, perhaps we can hope for a return to the city center sooner than expected. »

DIY

In the meantime, the club should have access to the land of Saint-Alban and Pléneuf-Val-André in 2025 to relieve that of Plurien. “We are not a priority compared to the local club which lends us its facilities. For the next matches, we either play them all away, or we find a solution piecemeal, one or two weeks before the deadline. We call the technical services of each town hall to find out where to play. We'll tinker as we go. »

At the start of the season, faced with the difficulties encountered, we questioned whether or not to keep the C team.

“A story of honor”

“No matter the location, what we want is to practice our sport in good conditions. The ideal would be to benefit from the synthetic and keep the land in the city center. »

Bruno Le Bricon has difficulty imagining such an outcome:

“It’s a story of honor. I believe that the town hall does not want to go backwards. This project will perhaps be done but at what cost? The scar will have difficulty closing afterwards. »

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.