When the Racing represented Spain in Europe

I can not go to this devilish front, drive me crazy "

Collegiate Steinborg

No Racing Santander live your best moments: immersed in the goal of getting out of the relegation zone, as exactly one year ago, but this time in the second division. But the problems are not only sports, I wish it were only that. 2013 will not be a year for any racinguismo: will be the year of its centennial, but rumors about the demise of the club stifle any hint of celebration. The story does not give points or solutions, but it serves as a reminder that for one day he fought and to remember the importance of what is at stake. So this is a good time to remember those days when the Racing was a top team of football and the first to represent Spain in an international competition for European clubs.

Because the mountain club we have recognized in recent decades as the team very worthy struggle for survival in the top flight, with some time to remember as qualifying for the Cup UEFA in 2008. And before that, as a team lift alternated first and second division, with some exceptions in the second b. But there was a time in which the Racing, one of the founders of the First Division in 1928, was one of the great team that was a second, third, fourth ... the best year was definitely 1931, when he was runner-up level on points with Athletic.

Santander team then had a great team, and even the referees admired the virtues of the squadron racinguista: Witness the quote that heads this post, from the referee in charge of refereeing a Alavés Racing-Cantabrian victory that ended 4-0 . For its part, the Journal ABC well defined team Betis: "Racing has assembled this season one of those young teams, abounding player 'squirrel', who knows all the loopholes to escape by offering any defense that unfailingly throughout the ninety minutes of play." Some names from that team were Cisco, Telete, Larrinaga, Ceballos, Sola, Zubieta ... all of them trained by the Englishman Robert Edwin Firth.

Racing came to the penultimate round of the championship fight for the title with Real Sociedad and Athletic, with two points less than the locals and the same as in Gipuzkoa. The club had a hard commitment santaderino in the stadium of Real Union with a set that was played permanence. After a frantic game, which came with three to break a tie, the Royal Union certify their stay in first after beating Spaniard Table 4-3, which together with the victory at Athletic Espanyol and Real Madrid of the Royal Society would second league title to the lions. On the final day, and no options, Racing certify the runner after beating Arenas Club de Getxo.

In those days there was no European Cup, although a tournament called the Mitropa Cup which pitted teams of Central Europe. However, at a time when several European countries had colonies in all corners of the world such as Africa and Asia, were often held colonial exhibitions in which each country had its inhabitants the wonders of each colony, before the decolonization, especially after World War II, would lead to the people of the colonies to reclaim their land and their rights. In 1931 Colonial Exposition was held in the French city of Vincennes, on the occasion of the anniversary tournament was organized with semi-official, which would bring together the clubs some major European federations of time.

Thus Wolverhampton invitation were English, the First Vienna, Austrian Bundesliga champions, Royal Antwerp, Belgian champions Slavia Prague, Czechoslovakia champion, the Swiss Urania Geneva and the French Club Français and Racing Club de France . Spain was invited by the Athletic champion, but after rejecting the invitation by the inability to move came in place as runner Racing. Thus, the team Santander became the first representative of Spain in an international tournament of European clubs, and the only addition during the Republic.

The tournament was played as a knockout from quarterfinals, and Racing was unlucky in the pairings to be framed with the powerful Wolverhampton, representing the strong English league and tournament favorite. However, the team Santander surprised Europe with a magnificent game in which after a display of genius, strength and speed British team defeated 3-1 by matching all those present in the quality of equipment and the Cantabrian Spanish football. So M.Rimet, president of the International Football Federation, he proclaimed: "He has won the best but, frankly, even remotely supposed class offered at Racing Santander."

But days later, perhaps by the accumulated fatigue after the victory against the English, defeated Racing fall noisily against Slavia Prague 5-1 despite forecasts that already stood as champion after the superb game against the Wolves. Finally, in the last game the Swiss Urania be proclaimed champion after defeating the Prague 2-1.

The Racing lost the title, but in 1931 he wrote some of the most brilliant pages of a story that the Feb. 23 hundred years old.

In NDF | Mitropa Cup, the seed of the Champions League