The last mohican of the Pizza Ciné leisure team, Philippe Maréchal, known in the world of Mâcon Volleyball under the name of Bill, has decided to put an end to a half-century-long career! A difficult decision to make for someone who has devoted 50 years of his life to this sport that he loves so much.
“I hesitated to take another year but too many players are no longer there,” he confides with nostalgia.
A matter of friends
It was at the age of 15 that Bill discovered volleyball within the Mâconnais Volley Club. Quickly, this sport became much more than just a hobby for him: it was a passion.
For around thirty years, he played in the regional and departmental championships of the FFVB.
Beyond sporting performances, it is the team spirit and camaraderie that have always driven Bill. For him, volleyball is above all a matter of friends!
From his first steps on the pitch, he became friends with Léo and Jean-Claude. “An unwavering friendship since 50 years later, we continue to take a week together to travel the GR trails” he explains.
In the mid-2000s, after three decades spent in competition, Bill and his teammates decided to withdraw from official championships to play in the leisure championship. This is how the Pizza Ciné team was born, named after the Mâcon restaurant where they used to meet after matches.
“The pain in my fingers advised me to stop”
Bill specifies: “As I put my volleyball outfit away for good in the closet, I can't help but think of all the women in the sport who came to complete this team made up of guys at the start. A great experience every time and what great encounters! »
Today, at 65, Bill has chosen to listen to his body. “The pain in my fingers advised me to stop,” he explains with a touch of irony, he who, as a professional physiotherapist, knows better than anyone the importance of taking care of his body. .
France
Volleyball
