Flood-hit local football club to be helped by Valencia CF vs. Granada ticket sales

A flood in the Alicante region back in September left Benferri without its football ground. The town will receive a helping hand from Valencia CF this weekend, as the club will donate 2 € from every ticket sold for the game against Granada CF to rebuilding the pitch, and the training facilities used by the Benferri-Oleza academy and damaged in the disaster.

Further help will be given with the donation of sporting and IT equipment to get the club back on its feet.

VCF MEDIA visited the town this past week, assessing the damage and making the pledge to help the academy.

"It was indescribable. The water came down from everywhere," recalled mayor Luis Vicente Mateo, who publically thanked the club for their assistance.

"This is a wonderful initiative from Valencia CF. The Valencian people have always been very charitable, and they've shown this again. They have joined forces with us so that we can gradually go back to normality, because a town without sport is lifeless, in my opinion," he said.

The damage included the washing away of the artificial grass, destruction of the goals and the floodlights, the creation of a large whole on the side of the pitch, and a deluge in the clubhouse and training facilities that rendered them unsafe for use.

School director Miguel Ángel Aroca says that the aim established by those in charge of the academy is to have the pitch ready for the end of this season or the beginning of the next campaign. He commented that "The initiative by Valencia CF should be applauded. We are very grateful that such a big club are thinking about us, and with this initiative we will be able to raise some money so that the children can play on their pitch again."

VCF Academy ambassador Miguel Tendillo said that "I have never seen somewhere so badly affected by flooding. I know that the Valencia CF fans won't let us down, and I'm sure that there will be a good attendance this weekend. Everybody will do their bit to resolve this situation. It's an initiative that reflects highly of Valencia CF and the fans."

Both a representation from the town and 200 children from the Benferri-Oleza school will be in attendance at the game against Granada.