Girona FC secured a Crucial Victory Against Valladolid, ending a Difficult December
After a challenging december that saw Girona FC eliminated from both the Copa del rey and the Champions League, the team returned to winning ways with a victory against Valladolid. The match,played at Montilivi stadium,marked the end of 2023 for Girona.While the team won’t return to their home ground until January 19th when they face Sevilla, the attendance for the Valladolid game was the lowest of the season, with only 9,534 spectators braving the chilly 3-degree Celsius weather. The low turnout was likely influenced by the holiday season, with many residents opting for festive dinners instead.
Historically, the lowest attendance at Montilivi this season prior to the Valladolid match was recorded during the Leganés game, which drew 10,839 fans. The previous year saw a similarly low turnout of 8,923 spectators for a Monday night match against Rayo Vallecano, which was also affected by rainy weather.
In contrast,the highest attendance this season was for the highly anticipated clash against FC Barcelona,with 13,891 fans packing Montilivi. The Real Madrid match also drew a large crowd of 13,827. Generally, attendance at Montilivi has remained consistent, hovering between 12,000 and 13,000 spectators for most games.
A Win Is a Win, But Where Are the Fans? A Girona FC Post-Match Discussion with Former Star Striker, David Hernandez.
Welcome back, football fanatics! Today we’re joined by former Girona FC star striker, David Hernandez, to break down Girona’s gritty win against Valladolid, a much-needed victory after a rough December that saw them knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. David, welcome to the show!
David: Thanks for having me. It’s always a pleasure to chat Girona football.
Moderator: Certainly a much-needed win, but that attendance figure against Valladolid - just over 9,500 fans on a cold December evening – that’s got to be a concern, right? Especially with the team battling to claw back some momentum.
David: Absolutely. You can’t deny the impact a vocal home crowd has. Those 9,500 diehards were certainly heard, but Montilivi normally roars with a lot more than that. The holidays are tough, but you’d expect a bit more for a crucial La Liga game.
Moderator: They’ve obviously missed out on some big crowds this season, haven’t they? The Barcelona and Real Madrid games brought in the numbers, but it seems like other matches haven’t replicated that. Is there a concern that Girona might struggle to consistently draw fans outside those marquee matchups?
David: I think it’s a combination of things. Girona is a smaller club, so naturally, bigger names are going to draw bigger crowds. But I also think there’s a obligation on the team to keep fans engaged, to give them reasons to come out week in and week out. You can’t rely solely on those once-in-a-while big games.
Moderator: Now, we’ve seen stadium attendances dip across the league this season, but some of the numbers at Montilivi are below what we’d expect, even considering that Monday night duel against rayo Vallecano, which was also hampered by the weather.
David: True, the rain didn’t help that night.But even the Leganes game, which only drew 10,839, was a Saturday afternoon fixture. maybe the team needs to explore different ways to bring fans back, offer incentives, promote community events around the matches. It’s a collaborative effort, without a doubt.
Moderator: Excellent points! Girona FC is known for its dedicated fanbase. What do you think needs to be done to get those numbers back up, David? How can the club reconnect with its audience?
David: It starts with the connection between the players and the fans. Building that rapport, making fans feel valued, is key. The players need to show passion and commitment on the pitch. It’s infectious.
Moderator: excellent points, David. I think you hit the nail on the head there. It’s a two-way street,with dedication and passion needed from both the team and the supporters. Let’s leave it on that note. Thanks for joining us today,david.
David: my pleasure. Visca Girona!
Moderator: To our viewers, what are your thoughts? Do you think Girona FC needs to do somthing different to attract larger crowds? let us know in the comments below and keep the conversation going! We’ll be back next week with another exciting football discussion.
