Well Grand Final day came and it was a big one. I have never
seen so many people in the town of Limoux decked out in their red and black.
They were spirited and oh so excited to cheer on their team. The festivities started
early and carried on into the night, despite the result...
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| Limoux and Avignon, lined up for the French national anthem prior to the Grand Final |
While a Grand Final win would certainly have made the day - and no doubt topped off our time in France - the loss didn't detract from some great experiences we had that day. Here are our top five highlights of Grand Final Day:
5. The excitement in
the bus and in the grandstand
I have been to a lot of football games over the years, and I
mean it when I say I have never, ever, heard a crowd more passionately support
their team as I did here on Grand Final day. The Limoux supporters are a lively
bunch, from the very young to the very old, male and female, French and
foreign; their common ground is their love of their team.
As I boarded the second of a number of buses taking locals
from Limoux to Carcassonne for the game, I was consumed by the crowd of black
and red and the defining noise; the trip was spent blowing all sorts of horns and
whistles and singing songs about the 'rouge et noir'.
I missed the first seconds of the team running onto the
field for their warm up, but the noise ensured I didn't miss any more! Confetti
poppers were released, horns were blown and cheers cried out from the thousands
of people surrounding us in the grandstand...and that was just for the warm up!
During the game the local band that had made the trip and
positioned themselves in front of the grandstand near the Limoux supporters
played loud and lively music. The atmosphere really was remarkable, and really
hit home to me how much of a close-knit community we have been living in. They
love their team.
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| Limoux supporters in red and black |
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| The Limoux band provided support and entertainment |
4. The supporters club dressed to impress and
giving out posters of the team
It was not just the noise that the people can make that I
was impressed with; it was their commitment to the cause by dressing from head
to toe in their team's colours. As if they had lived for this moment for eight
months, it was evident who every person in the grandstand was supporting.
From the teenage boys who used body paint to cover
themselves in a half red / half black outfit, to the elderly lady who must have
been in her 80's wearing the biggest, reddest, curly-haired afro wig I have
ever seen, Limoux supporters were proud to be black and red.
Perhaps the most endearing thing I witnessed that day was
when it came time for the supporters club to hand out the gear they would use
to cheer the team on. The group of about 20 elderly people sat in a group in
the grandstand, with one of them holding up posters to be distributed. Now
these weren't just any posters; each poster was an A3 size colour printed and
laminated photo, with each poster dedicated to a player.
The lady in charge of this particular activity stood at the
front and held up each poster one at a time to a show of hands of who wanted
that poster for the game. There were clear favourites and obvious soft-spots
for some players - I even saw one older lady plant an affectionate kiss on the
photo of one of the players. Each player's face was given to a supporter to
wave around during the game, and they did so proudly.
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| The Limoux Supporters Club with their posters |
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| Me, with some of the decked-out Limoux girlfriends |
3. Hailing their
heroes through town and the Mayor's reception
When we arrived back in Limoux after the game, there was
evidence that a celebration had been prepared for. There was a stage set up in
the middle of the square with lights and music, and a small open-top car
decorated in red and black. When the team arrived at around 10pm, the band's
music could be heard all through the square as it preceded the team, walking
through the streets lined with the town's supporters. Despite the obvious look
of despair on the players' faces, it was moving to see so many of the town's
people out to support the team.
The parade moved on through the square and into the Mairie
building, which is a town hall of sorts, where an official reception for the
team was held, hosted by Limoux's Mayor. While this presentation was obviously
all in French, hence I couldn't understand what was being said, I could tell
that there was a lot of pride in the team and praise in the team's efforts.
After all, making it to this Grand Final was an outstanding achievement in
itself.
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| The team parade through Limoux... |
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| ...and at the Mayor's reception |
2. Marty getting his
jersey presented to him by Daniel Wagon
As per usual before a game, the team got together to have
lunch. On this special day, their lunch included a presentation of jerseys to
the Grand Final team by two well-known Rugby League players; David Ferriol and
Daniel Wagon.
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| Marty with Daniel Wagon |
Daniel Wagon, for those who don't know, is a Queensland
'Origin Great', having played for our great state in the number '6' jersey. He
has lived in Limoux for a few years, and has been a friend to the Aussies who
have lived and played here over the years.
So it was fitting and exciting that Marty, and the other
four 'foreign' players on the team, was presented his Grand Final jersey by one
of his childhood heroes. It was a big highlight on a day where highlights were
few and far between for Marty.
1. Marty shaving his
beard after four months
There are many strange traditions or rituals that come with
playing football, particularly when it comes to a grand final, that I will
never understand. In the seven months since we arrived in France, Marty has
clipped his facial hair twice; once just after Christmas, and then again on
Sunday, after the Grand Final.
It is easy to spot the Aussies in Limoux, as they are the
only people with facial hair. The French don't tend to grow the hair on their
face, and often find it offensive. Marty was once stopped in the street by an
unknown Frenchman, who proceeded to grab his beard and say 'Dirty! Dirty!' at
him.
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| Marty looking baby-faced (and distraught!) after cutting his beard following the game |
But back to the ritual of growing their beard: the three
Aussies on the team took it upon themselves to decide not to shave their face
until after the grand final. As Marty had already let his grow by this stage,
it would be a total of four months growth that he would cut after the game. And
he wasted no time; as soon as the bus arrived back in Limoux, Marty slipped
home to clipper before rejoining the team, sans beard, for the Mayor's
reception.
While I grew to like the beard, and certainly got used to
how he looked with it, I admit that he looks younger, cleaner and fresher
without the bushy, full Aussie beard.
See more photos from Limoux's Grand Final day here.
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