The 90's were not the best of times to follow Real Murcia. Failure to gain promotion to the first division in 91, was followed by a finish in 11th place in 91-92, only to be relegated to Second B as the only club unable to convert into an SAD (Sociedad Anonima Deportiva); nobody took a step forward, no businessman, no polititians. 92-93 saw promotion and a return to segunda, but the following season was a disaster, and Real Murcia fell into segunda B again. Worse was to follow.....relegation to the fourth tier of Spanish football for the 95-96 season. It was only one season in hell....promotion back to segunda B was secured. The following 3 seasons were pretty dire, only once getting to the play offs that decide who goes up to segunda from the 4 segunda B divisions (so only 4 promotion places between 4 divisions). The 99-00 season arrived, and Real Murcia were there or thereabouts for a spot in the end of season playoffs.
Pepe Aguilar was a mid season signing from Merida - and immediately slotted in and won his place in the starting 11. On the last day of the regular season, Real Murcia were away to Figueras and in need of a victory to guarantee a play off place. I can't recall how the scoring went exactly, only that not until the last few minutes did Murcia get ahead, finally running out winners by 4 to 2, Enric Cuxart getting a vital goal.
The playoff system as of was then was on a league format between 4 teams. Each playing the other home and away. Real Murcia were drawn against Granada, Burgos and Mensajero (from the La Palma Island, part of the Canaries). Our first match was at Mensajero, and despite going behind, Murcia managed to claw the game back and score a winner near the end.
Second game against Burgos at La Condomina resulted ina 1 nil defeat. The return at Burgos the following week was one of Real's best performances, running out 2 - 1 winners.
Fourth game at home to Mensajero was pretty despaerate. mensajero were almost out of the running and Murcia were expected to win....the winning goal came in the second half, to the relief of all concerned.
This meant that realistically only Real Murcia and Granada could be promoted, and the last two games were between the 2, the first being at La Condomina. A win for Murcia would suffice to be promoted back to segunda.....but, we lost. Granada were better on the day.
So the last game at Los Carmenes in Granada was set up. Granada only needed a draw, Real Murcia a win. The game that unfolded is now engraved on any Real Murcia supporters memory for ever....including the longest 20 minutes in the history of the world (until last Sunday).
This is how hard it is to leave segunda B. This is why only victory on Saturday will do.
The 90's were not the best of times to follow Real Murcia. Failure to gain promotion to the first division in 91, was followed by a finish in 11th place in 91-92, only to be relegated to Second B as the only club unable to convert into an SAD (Sociedad Anonima Deportiva); nobody took a step forward, no businessman, no polititians. 92-93 saw promotion and a return to segunda, but the following season was a disaster, and Real Murcia fell into segunda B again. Worse was to follow.....relegation to the fourth tier of Spanish football for the 95-96 season. It was only one season in hell....promotion back to segunda B was secured. The following 3 seasons were pretty dire, only once getting to the play offs that decide who goes up to segunda from the 4 segunda B divisions (so only 4 promotion places between 4 divisions). The 99-00 season arrived, and Real Murcia were there or thereabouts for a spot in the end of season playoffs.
Pepe Aguilar was a mid season signing from Merida - and immediately slotted in and won his place in the starting 11. On the last day of the regular season, Real Murcia were away to Figueras and in need of a victory to guarantee a play off place. I can't recall how the scoring went exactly, only that not until the last few minutes did Murcia get ahead, finally running out winners by 4 to 2, Enric Cuxart getting a vital goal.
The playoff system as of was then was on a league format between 4 teams. Each playing the other home and away. Real Murcia were drawn against Granada, Burgos and Mensajero (from the La Palma Island, part of the Canaries). Our first match was at Mensajero, and despite going behind, Murcia managed to claw the game back and score a winner near the end.
Second game against Burgos at La Condomina resulted ina 1 nil defeat. The return at Burgos the following week was one of Real's best performances, running out 2 - 1 winners.
Fourth game at home to Mensajero was pretty despaerate. mensajero were almost out of the running and Murcia were expected to win....the winning goal came in the second half, to the relief of all concerned.
This meant that realistically only Real Murcia and Granada could be promoted, and the last two games were between the 2, the first being at La Condomina. A win for Murcia would suffice to be promoted back to segunda.....but, we lost. Granada were better on the day.
So the last game at Los Carmenes in Granada was set up. Granada only needed a draw, Real Murcia a win. The game that unfolded is now engraved on any Real Murcia supporters memory for ever....including the longest 20 minutes in the history of the world (until last Sunday).
This is how hard it is to leave segunda B. This is why only victory on Saturday will do.
Saludos.
Photo : Celebration at the Redonda in Murcia.
No comments:
Post a Comment