48 hours before the 16th final of the French Football Cup between Espaly and PSG, it is time for preparations. This Monday, January 13, the goals of the Altiligère club were dismantled to be transported to the Marcel-Michelin stadium in Clermont-Ferrand.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
This Monday, January 13, in freezing cold, the goals of the small Espaly football club, in Haute-Loire, were dismantled at 8 a.m. An unusual operation. They will be transported to the Marcel-Michelin stadium, in Clermont-Ferrand, to be used during the 16th final of the French Football Cup between Espaly and PSG. Frédéric Sevin, transporter, explains: “We will transport the FC Espaly goalposts to the Marcel-Michelin stadium in Clermont-Ferrand for the round of 16 against the great Paris Saint-Germain. Everything is well fixed and it will arrive safely. We’ll drive slowly. It’s a big event: here everyone only talks about that. For me it is a special mission because we are not used to transporting this kind of merchandise. It represents a source of pride because I am from here and I am a football fan.”.
The leaders of the small Altiligère club hope that these goals will bring good luck to the FC Espaly players. Jacky Malige, member of the club’s management, says: “We need to have a little something of our own at the stadium. We do this for the club. One day we will say that these goals will have been useful against Paris Saint-Germain. We had to bring a little something from here. The nets are red, in the club colors. It’s a bit of work to bring these goals but we have fun. It’s the only thing you can take to the Marcel-Michelin stadium. We do this so that the goals bring us luck. We will take them to the final at the Stade de France”.
The match will be played at the Marcel-Michelin stadium, the home of Auvergne rugby. A little piece of Espaly will be on the lawn. Christian Perbet, president of FC Espaly, specifies: “There were no goals at the Marcel-Michelin stadium and a solution had to be found. We preferred to take our own rather than finding impersonal goals. These goals have sentimental value. It is the soul of Viouzou that will influence Michelin. We thought our players would be reassured with the goals they are used to. The nets are red and when they shake, they shake all red”. The goals will then be installed from 2 p.m. in Clermont-Ferrand. Let’s hope that they will bring luck to FC Espaly against the Parisian ogre.
- -
