SD Eibar Women & CD Tacón set for friendly fixture at Ipurua on Saturday
Forty-five years on, Ipurua is poised to play host to a game between two ladies' teams
Speaking at a press conference held this evening, club president, Amaia Gorostiza, who was joined by the coach of the women's first team, Felix Recio and captain, Ainhoa Alonso, had the following to say about the fixture: "It won't be the first time that a women's team plays at Ipurua, but the previous game was quite a number of years ago. In addition, it'll be the first time that Ipurua stages a women's fixture since we've been in the Primera División, which makes us even happier to be hosting it". Gorostiza went on to share some of the history surrounding the women's team, "This November marks the 45th anniversary since an Eibar-based women's team expressed a desire to play a game at Ipurua, back in 1971. Things were different then compared to how they are now; the authorities of the day prevented the game from taking place, given that it would appear that at the time, 'football wasn't appropriate for young ladies'. However, that group of spirited women paid no heed and went ahead and played the fixture".
Forty-five years on from that match, the president noted that SD Eibar - through its Foundation - boasts a women's team that plays in Segunda División and another two sides which are part of the club's youth set-up, as well as there being a large number of girls who participate in the Football School's summer and Christmas camps.
Gorostiza also sought to highlight SD Eibar's continued commitment to gender equality, "As you are aware, within the club's management, the majority of the heads of department are women. Eibar's commitment to gender equality, in general terms, and to the women's game, is clear for all to see".
The fixture is set to take place on Saturday 26 November 2016 and will kick off at 18:00 CET. Entrance to the game is free with the North Stand to be fully opened and supporters, who don't need to have acquired tickets prior to the match, asked to enter through Gate 1B.
The president closed her address by calling on members of the local community to attend Saturday's clash, "I would encourage everyone and all of the family and friends of our Armeras to fill Ipurua on Saturday and to show just how important the women's game is to the people of Eibar".
Meanwhile, Recio expressed his excitement ahead of the encounter, "It's a real challenge and we face a side with a real name in the game. This match is a dream come true for my players and for girls everywhere; to see that playing at Ipurua is a possibility is something that excites them and it provides them with real motivation to continue playing football and we wish to thank to president for this".
This fixture will represent the first time that SD Eibar Women play on the Ipurua pitch, with Recio commenting that, "We know that we'll be in for a tough game, what with the nerves of playing at Ipurua and it's another step in our learning journey. The most important thing is that all of the players get to play and that they enjoy themselves on what's a historic day," remarked Recio.
Team captain Ainhoa Alonso opened her address by expressing her gratitude to the president and club for their efforts in staging the fixture, "I wish to thank you for the gesture of having organised this game. In truth, right since we were young girls we've had this desire to play at Ipurua and do the things that the boys get the chance to. We hope that this serves to encourage young girls sign up to football schools after seeing that the women's game is also capable of achieving things".
As a part of the pre-match build-up, at 12:00 Ana Rossell is set to give a public talk in our TRAINING CENTRE within the North Stand at Ipurua entitled CD TACÓN at the heart of a sporting management and training project (El CD TACÓN como centro de un proyecto deportivo. De gestión y formativo).