This Saturday evening (7 p.m.), at the Licorne stadium, the two best teams of the former Picardy, Amiens SC (12th) and FC Chambly (20th), will compete for the 15th day of Ligue 2. On a strictly geographical level, it is therefore a derby.
But this one does not return any smell of sulfur, as is so often the case during these meetings which arbitrate a regional supremacy.
Historically, the rivalry was mainly between Beauvais and Amiens, respective prefectures of the Oise and the Somme, regularly battling in Division 2 until the early 2000s. Between the Camblysian and Amiens clubs, a hundred kilometers apart, the situation looks quite different.
Explanations.
"We took a long time to face them"
Bruno Luzi, Chambly coach
“It's a derby from the moment we are both from Picardy, but a cool derby.
There has never been any animosity or rivalry between the two clubs, it is not a powder keg.
We started from below, they were already at the top, we took a long time to face them.
In addition, we have few Picards in the team.
When the players know each other, when guys have moved from one club to another, there are revenge and that creates a particular context.
This is not the case.
And there is no tension between the leaders either.
"
"Not many people had checked the date of the match against Amiens"
Thibault Jaques, Chambly captain
“These are not clubs that have been really opposed in the past, as was the case between Beauvais and Chambly.
I have more of a derby feeling during the matches against Dunkirk, because the two teams have regularly faced each other, and present a little the same profile today in Ligue 2. Me, who played in Boulogne-sur-Mer, everything everyone knew the date of the meeting in front of Dunkirk when the calendar fell.
This season, I don't think many people have checked the date of the one against Amiens.
"
"A derby is a big word"
Xavier Pinoteau, Chambly goalkeeper
“Talking about a derby is a big word.
There aren't a lot of locals on either side.
It may be different for the supporters, but there won't be… When I played at Beauvais, I felt this rivalry with Amiens much more, especially in the young categories.
In the Picardy team, the group was also half Beauvaisien, half Amiens.
Here, we are not at war with this club.
There, it is especially an important match because it is necessary to continue to heal and to collect points.
"
"Some thought that Chambly was in the Paris region"
Jacques Leclercq, Chambly supporter since 1993
“It's a Picard derby, but I remember that initially, some people thought that Chambly was in the Paris region.
One of the two clubs in the city, CO Chambly, was also attached to the District of Val-d'Oise (Editor's note: in Ile-de-France).
At the time, derbies mainly concerned Beauvais, Amiens and even Abbeville.
Chambly and Amiens are two clubs that value each other and get along well, there is no rivalry.
What makes this game important is our position in the standings.
I feel a short victory… ”