Girona as a meeting point for Madridistas

In 1976, a singular man, Maurici Duran García, became president of Girona.

From a peasant family, he was too restless and communicative to stay tied to the land and chose other paths.

He became an announcer and scriptwriter in various Girona media,

, Radio Popular de Figueres, Radio Girona, Radio Olot, Radio Costa Brava, Radio Banyoles… his favorite topics were popular festivals and sports.

Along this path he became president of Banyoles before arriving at Girona.

In Banyoles he already made a tandem with Xavier Agustí.

He had been a Plus Ultra player when he was in Madrid studying his career and was at Banyoles when Duran arrived.

In soccer he was everything: coach, organizer, manager... One of those guys who cut a noodle in the air.

I read about him that at the time when there were no changes he used 20 in a Banyoles game.

The rivals were realizing it, they denounced the fact to the referee, the records were reviewed and it turned out that they all corresponded to those who had left after the break;

those from the first part were the ones who had played matute.

In 76-77, the team was promoted to Second B after almost 20 years in the Third Division.

The leading duo thought it was time to present the club in a big way and between Agustí's contacts in Madrid and Duran's audacity they managed to get Madrid to participate in the launch of their great idea, the Girona Immortal City Trophy.

By then the Montilivi field already existed, although with a smaller capacity than now, and the only way to cover Madrid's cache was to put literally unheard of prices for a Second B field.

But it turned out.

On the night of August 20, 1977, the beaches were emptied.

Madrid arrived with its best team, in which names such as García Remón, Uría, San José, Benito, Sol, Stielike, Santillana, Guerini... the thing ended 0-0, and that the local team crashed three shots in the sticks.

The trophy was taken by Real Madrid, who won 3-1 on penalties, where the insecurity of the home shooters was noted.

The following year the experience could not be repeated because Girona had signed a player from Murcia, Vidaña, and in the contract conditions it was stated that Murcia would participate in the Inmortal de Girona, which would eventually win 1-3.

But for 1979 Madrid returned, already with Boskov as coach.

Again with the starting team, this time with Juanito and Del Bosque.

It turned out that the chosen date coincided with the Gamper final, for which Barça qualified, and the madridista president, Luis de Carlos, accepted Girona's request to postpone the game for one day, so as not to coincide (Barça would invite the madridistas to its end).

That detail of admitting the change of date was highly valued by the people of Girona, who thus ensured more crowding.

Then, the accumulation of public at the gates caused the start to be delayed by 15 minutes.

More forewarned, Madrid handled the game well this time and won 0-4.

He returned in 1980, albeit with reluctance, because it was difficult to collect the previous year and it was like rain in May for Girona, because it was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary and, throwing the house out the window, had invited the Real to the Costa Brava Trophy, which it was also played there every year, although in general with less pretensions.

La Real did not draw an audience (despite the fact that he was in his best years) and left a deficit that came to aggravate the one that already caused the club's bingo fire.

Bingos were very fashionable at the time and were a source of financing for football teams.

That was the best of the games, very balanced.

It was 1-1 in the 70th minute when Girona collapsed and ended up losing 1-4.

Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, who was spending the summer there, handed over the trophy.

And Madrid would still return in 1981, but this time it was clear that the formula was running out.

There was no full, despite the fact that, once again, it was with the best.

The game was bland, it ended 0-3 and again Gutiérrez Mellado handed over the cup after the duel.

Real Madrid did not return to Montilivi until the promotion of Girona to the First Division a few years ago, happily revived last night, but that repeated presence laid the foundations for the creation of numerous supporters clubs in Catalonia.

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