“We are only seven matches away from the Stade de France! » jokes Émeric Peraud, the president of the FCPRJ, a club of 170 members which represents the municipalities of Saint-Philbert-Pont-Charrault, La Réorthe and La Jaudonnière, located in the north of Luçon and bringing together 3,000 inhabitants. The Vendéens have just successively eliminated three members of R3. These performances arouse great enthusiasm around a team whose majority of players were trained in the seraglio.
“It’s a good generation of footballers, a group of friends who enjoy playing together and bringing joy,” continues Émerci Peraud. As each lap was completed, the interest of the local population – and beyond – continued to grow. Our status as Little Thumb at this stage of the competition has earned us a lot of sympathy which continues to grow. » He continues: “In the Luçon stadium, finally selected to host the event after some administrative procrastination, 2 to 3,000 spectators will push our players towards, why not, a new feat. We believe in it, it’s the magic of the Cup! »
“Nothing very rational”
On the Gironde side, Clément Tapy and his staff did not jump to the ceiling when they discovered their opponent in this 7th round and the hierarchical gap of five divisions. Lucid, the Mérignac coach immediately identified the pitfalls that this type of confrontation can hide.
“There is nothing very rational about a French Cup match,” summarizes the technician. We will, with the fervor that one can easily imagine, face a team ready to excel. She is filled with confidence from the three great performances she has just achieved. If we want to qualify for a historic 8th round, which would possibly pit us against our neighbors FCE Arlac Mérignac, there is no other recipe than humility, rigor, quality and efficiency of the game that we will be able to offer.”
8e tour 100 % Mérigac ?
If SA Mérignac and FCDE Arlac-Mérignac overcome without difficulty – in Luçon and Chauvigny – the obstacles which will respectively be opposed to them, they would find themselves face to face for a historic 8th round which would offer certainty, to the town of Mérignac, of be represented in the 32nd finals which will see the entry of Ligue 1 clubs.
The match
FC Saint-Philbert Réorthe JA (D3) – SA Mérignac (R1), this Saturday, November 16, at 4 p.m.
