Never in Spanish football history has a supporters club achieved so much so quickly, as has the Torry Army, established for less than three years. In that time, it has received both nationwide acclaim, throughout mainland Spain, and from abroad. Supporters' clubs in Spain are known as peńas, and are made up of hundreds of small groups, normally within their own towns and villages but are not a united force. Normal peńas are about a hundred strong, or even less and do not normally involve themselves in many of the activities that English supporters' clubs would normally involve themselves in. So, for this and many other reasons the Torry Army is unique in Spanish football at any level.
Through its hard work, and the undying loyalty to the club by its members, it has awoken a spirit and self-belief in the football club and community generally, that brought promotion to the third division this season, at its first real attempt. And as a consequence of this energy and drive, the Torry Army has been recognized, and as such, has received acclaim and awards from the Spanish business community and from the Torrevieja sports council: no mean feat for a small band of mainly retired individuals who dedicate themselves to giving something back to the local community through the sport that they all love so. Friendships are formed and for many expats it is one of their few contacts with local Spaniards. The local torrevejenses were at first suspicious but have now fully accepted the Torry Army and support and applaud its efforts. True integration.
We have to remember that unlike other clubs in their divisions, FC Torrevieja accomplished promotion - not by buying players from higher placed clubs - but by sticking to its youth policy. It is interesting when you consider that fifteen of the twenty strong squad are home grown talent that came through the FC Torrevieja youth system, which is available to all, including foreigners, so long as you have signed onto the Padrón (the town hall registry), at your council.
The Torry Army is the first supporters club to issue match day programmes for FC Torrevieja, which have now become a collectors item, receiving requests from as far away as Britain, Thailand, Australia, USA and many European countries. It does not stop at programmes either; requests for shirts, shorts and scarves are also in demand
The Achievements of the Torry Army and its supporters are many; the club is the first to have a club shop, located at its ground, and selling FC Torrevieja football clothing, caps, and scarves.
The club once famously bought national television broadcaster Canal+ to its ground and on several occasions, the ground reached over 4,000 supporters for a home match.
It has an end of season dinner dance, with the supporters, players and directors all present at the award ceremony. It organizes away travel and regularly takes anywhere between 80 to 400 supporters, some travelling by coach and others preferring their own transport. Away travel is sponsored by the main club sponsor, through the supporters club with which has a close working relationship, and they generously contribute financially to the Torry Army. It has a united supporters club, a legal entity and is the first in Spanish football history. The Torry Army has grown from the dream of a few hard-working individuals to an integral part of the club and indeed the town itself. Fame indeed!
A Website to be proud of contains a forum, which includes regular contributions from our Spanish fan-base, with match reports and photos, and many other items of interest on www.fctorrevieja.eu . It is improving further every day, with new ideas and feedback coming from visitors and members. For the season 2007/2008 all eyes are on promotion to 2B and after the nightmare of failing in the play-offs to a very good Fuertevenura side, nothing short of second division football next season will suffice. The Torry Army has a superb sponsorship arrangement with the prestigious Moneycorp organisation as well as a unique sponsorship package with Caja Murcia. All in all a very professional set-up which is the envy of clubs two divisions higher..
By Andy Hermida
Similar initiatives have been successful at other clubs such as Dolores, Cartagena, Pilar de la Horadada and Almoradí. The best example is probably at C D Jávea where local expats have again got behind the local team.
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