It should have been a party. This 32e final of the Coupe de France against FC Lorient could even have put Tours FC back on track. Well, maybe.
In any case, it was planned to build on it. “The coach invited the young people – U14 and company – to the pre-match talkconfides a volunteer, dismayed by the news. History of sharing strong, exceptional moments, moments that they will perhaps never relive in their lives. » Faithful among the faithful, he still can't get over this ultimate waste.
Think: 6,000 paid seats sold and a ticket office which could – should – have increased this figure (the capacity of the stadium is 12,000 seats)… “All the boxes were rented, we had 700 sticks for the refreshment bar, around a hundred volunteers who worked all week… It was a €100,000 matchestimates another enthusiast from the start. But in twenty-five years at the club, I've never seen anything like this! »
Barely arrived, the first aid workers from the Order of Malta, some of whom had come from Paris, left. The same goes for volunteers.
“The club is dead”
Only the police remained in the rain, to turn away possible supporters upset by the cancellation of the meeting.
On both sides of rue Camille-Danguillaume, ticket holders are explained that the match will not take place. Not always easy in the face of the incomprehension and disappointment of those who have traveled a long way to come. Fortunately, the 150 Lorient supporters expected were alerted early enough so as not to travel for nothing.
At the scheduled opening time of the stadium, only a few Blue Devils – “we are real supporters, not spectators” – are there, at the edge of the parking lot. The first to arrive wait for the others… to leave together. “There must have been around twenty of us. We play all the matches without exception. At home or on the go. This 32e in the final, that was our reward. Besides, we were invited by the club” (so the question of reimbursement will not arise for them). But the disappointment is there. “It’s lamentable. We’ve never seen that”lets go this supporter who has not missed a match since 2011.
They had come to see their team win and, why not, face Paris in the next round. And win again. But they can no longer dream: “This time, the club is dead! »
