Less than 80 km from the stadium is the headquarters of another team, Benfica. Benfica Grohet was founded in the 1960s by Portuguese immigrants who were fans of the Lisbon club. a novel.
The Jonquière stadium is definitely not the Estadio da Luz. But despite the 1,300 kilometers that separate them, these two sports stadiums still have one thing in common: they both host Benfica matches. The Estadio da Luz is clearly Benfica Lisbon's hideout. La Jonquière, for its part, is the home stadium of Benfica Graulheit. And make no mistake, the name Tarn Club was not chosen randomly, it is actually a reference to its bigger brother in Lisbon.
Benfica Grohet management team, from left to right, Dylan, Pedro, Amilcar and Alexandre.
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But to understand its origin, we have to go back 70 years. At the time Graulhet became famous for its leatherwork. The club's vice president, Amilcar dos Santos, delves into the history: “Many Portuguese workers arrived in the city during the 1960s and 1970s. Entire families arrived to work in the leather goods and leather goods industries. Graulhet was the leather capital. There is still a sign on the side of the highway that reminds us “With that.”
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Following the Réalmont road to reach the Benfica Graulhet Club, it is virtually impossible to miss the many factories, now abandoned, that border the Dadou River. President Pedro Madeira Márquez continues: “The club was created so that alumni would have a place to meet. Initially it was to play cards and dominoes before it became a football club. It was a way for the Portuguese community to come together.” And it didn’t matter where it came from because it wasn’t people Only in Lisbon,” laughs the 43-year-old, pointing his finger at Vice President Amilcar, who is originally from Porto.
Benfica's U17 team plays in red and black, but we recognize the logo.
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Inside the club, everything is done to remind the country. The walls are painted in the colors of the Portuguese flag, green and red. Among the fairly recent photos of Grohet's various Benfica teams, there is a poster of Luis Figo, the Portuguese legend of the 2000s.
On the U19 bench.
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“The old-timers would get together to drink beer and talk about the country and football and forget about the hard work done during the week at the factory,” recalls Pedro, a club member since he was seven years old.
In your local fridge, the beer brands leave no doubt: Sagres or Super Bock. “Sagres is the beer of Lisbon, for southerners, and Super Bock is for those who come from the north like me,” Amilcar smiles.
Benfica Graulheit U19 team here against Tersac in Jonquière.
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Here everyone is proud to remember their hometown… even if Amiclar, a Porto Blues fan, is today forced to wear the red of Benfica Lisbon, the big rival. Pedro Madeira Márquez recalls how the name Benfica Grohet was chosen: “At that time, among the old players, there were fans of Sporting Portugal (the other Lisbon club that plays in green), Porto and Benfica. They raised their hands and the Benfica supporters were the most numerous,” Laughing, not sad, he is an unconditional SLB fan.
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The Tarn Club therefore borrowed the name and colors (red and white), but also the logo of the big Portuguese club. Moreover, in its 81 football stadiums, Benfica Graulheit (whose first team plays in Division 1) does not go unnoticed, far from it.
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Great coach Alexandre Ramos da Silva talks about the daily life of his players: “We have the impression that for our opponents, it is a final in every match. For them, beating Benfica is like beating Marseille. We are waiting all over the Tarn,” he laughs. He even regrets the time when his players were playing regionally: “It was easier for us because the teams knew us less, they didn't really know who we were. »
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Vice President Amilcar dos Santos adds another layer: “I have to say that before, we were still hot. There were buses full of supporters following us outside. At home there could be 300 people.”
Today, the Graulhétois club has 180 licensees, including about sixty players of Portuguese origin. “We are not a closed club, far from it, everyone is welcome with us,” warned Dylan Ferreira de Paiva, general secretary. But traditions remain stubborn.
In particular, there is no question of abandoning the sale of franjo churrasco (the famous Portuguese braised chicken). “Every 15 days, on Sunday, we cook the chicken that we put on sale: that represents more than half of the club’s budget,” says Dylan. “We sell an average of 120 pieces a month. It is a success, even people come from outside Grohet to taste this Portuguese recipe, and thanks to that we have survived.”
On Thursday evening, a large number of Benfica Grolheit license holders will fill the stands of the Toulouse Stadium. “The youngsters might wear a TFC shirt, it's the local club. But I'll wear the red Benfica shirt,” warns Pedro Madeira, who wouldn't miss this poster for anything in the world.
