Surprise as 100 Spaniards turn up at non-league game

Wembley, Old Trafford and Anfield regularly welcome football tourists from foreign shores - but they are a far less common sight at Harborough Town's home ground in Leicestershire.

So imagine the surprise when more than 100 Spanish sports fans turned up to enjoy the non-league club's match against St Ives Town on Saturday.

The Spaniards were subscribers to a Spanish YouTube channel devoted to English football which has now started arranging trips.

"Some of the local fans were quite surprised, probably wondering what 100 Spaniards were doing there," said Madrid-born and new Harborough Town fan Alvaro Sanz.

The channel La Media Inglesa (LMI) was founded by Barcelona-born Ilie Oleart and covers English football matches for Spanish speaking fans across the world.

Since launching in 2011, the channel has gained more than 440,000 subscribers and began offering trips to the UK in 2018 so the fans could watch games in person.

Mr Oleart, who supports La Liga side Espanyol, said the next step for LMI was to not only show English football but also try to be involved with an English football club in some way.

"Our aim was to transform a small local English club into a small local club with a global fanbase," he said.

After speaking to different lower league clubs, Mr Oleart asked his subscribers which club they should link up with - and Harborough Town FC emerged as the fans' choice.

"I met people at the club in September to get to know their history, the town and the facilities," said Mr Oleart.

"We thought they were the perfect club with the right values to share with our audience."

Harborough Town games in the seventh tier of English football will now be live-streamed on the LMI Youtube channel, giving Spanish-speaking fans a chance to become "virtual supporters" of the club.

The club - nicknamed the Bees - have already captured the imagination this season by reaching the FA Cup second round for the first time and having former Brazilian international Sandro play for them.

Club chairman Peter Dougan said the partnership with LMI was an "opportunity to grow our fanbase and our income" through a global audience and could open the door to sponsorship deals.

"It was being in the right place at the right time," he said.

"LMI liked what they saw and we decided they were right for our club too."

Despite Harborough losing 2-1 to St Ives Town in their Southern League Premier Division Central encounter, Mr Oleart said his group were "very happy" with their experience.

"It was certainly the best trip we have had so far," he said.

"We occupied a full stand and started cheering from the first second of the game," added fan Alvaro Sanz.

"Quite a few local fans joined us, and we even taught them some chants in Spanish.

"We didn't stop supporting the team for the entire match."

Before the game, residents watched in amusement as two coachloads of Spanish supporters arrived in the town centre before marching around singing Spanish songs before kick-off.

"It wasn't just any club anymore, it felt like our club," said Mr Oleart.

"We were able to meet the players after the match and even have a drink with them in the pub, which is something that is impossible to imagine at a Premier League club.

"We wanted to ensure the trip was a chance for us to create a relationship with their fans too.

"There are many things to do to work on the alliance and to make it stronger, but I am sure there are many great memories to create in the future and I am hoping to bring 200-300 fans with me next time.

"Many football fans are looking for this experience and we are glad to do it with Harborough Town FC."

Bees chairman Pete Dougan said: "It was a great day and the atmosphere they generated was superb.

"It was like song tennis in the stadium, our fans were singing songs in English and then they sang songs back in Spanish. It was good fun."

Dougan said he was looking forward to welcoming his new fans back next season and revealed the club are heading to Barcelona and Madrid for a pre-season tour in July.

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