UD Melilla: The Spanish side from Africa (updated)

It’s a Saturday afternoon and you set off for a 3/4 hour away trip up the M1 for the evening kick-off.  All the way there on the drive you think to yourself – why am I doing this? Well, you think you’ve got it tough? Just ask the fans of UD Melilla; the Segunda Division B side who are based in a tiny Spanish enclave on the northern tip of Morocco.

In Spanish football, you are already aware of teams such as UD Las Palmas and RCD Mallorca that are based on the Spanish islands of Gran Canaria and Balearic. However, you may be unfamiliar with Melilla. The ‘Los Piratas Notreafricanos’ (for those who don’t speak Spanish it loosely translate to North African Pirates) are the football team of the tiny city Melilla – 4.7 square miles and an 80,000 population to go with it.

I spoke with former UD Melilla media officer, Juan Parra, who he told me a little bit about the club’s spanish element. “The club is totally Spanish,” he said.

“Although it has many religions all throughout the club, they coexist within the club.”

Apart from the club’s location, Juan explained that both the city and side take little from the continent. “Most noticeable is the climate, which is very hot and humid, as well as the distance from travel to play the matches,” he told us.

Melilla is a Spanish enclave based on the Moroccan coastline

Founded in 1943, Melilla began with instant success with a 5-1 win over African CD. After proclaiming themselves Moroccan Champions, they earned the right to play in the Spanish Third Division, a division they became very comfortable in. Just a couple of years after forming, Melilla would gain promotion to the Segunda Division, for the first and only time since.

The four seasons they spent in the Segunda Division was the highest point the club had reached in its history, something they haven’t achieved since. Things went sour, as financial difficulties spelt the end of the 13-year club in Melilla. However, 23 years later, the Azulino’s were back in Spanish football.

For the first time since their rebirth, the spotlight would be shone onto UD Melilla. A Copa del Rey match-up against staple La Liga giants Athletic Bilbao would provide a two-legged cracker. Unfortunately, Melilla would bow out at the hands of Bilbao but the tie set a precedent for a future Copa del Rey giant killing opportunity.

Once again in 2018, the Copa del Rey proved to be Melilla’s chance of gaining mainstream media attention. Little UD Melilla would play host to arguably greatest team of all time – Real Madrid. Madrid’s line-up boasted names such as Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Vinicius Junior, who saw them win 4-0 a result which can only be seen as a compliment to the grit of the Melilla side. The biggest day in the club’s history would come in the return leg, as the Melilla players would play in front of 55,000 people at the Santiago Bernabeu – ultimately losing 6-1.

Juan spoke about the Real Madrid game. “It was special for the players to play at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg, as many of them had never played in a La Liga stadium before” Parra explained.

“It was also very important for the city of Melilla; it showed a great image of Melilla abroad.”

Melilla side pictured before one of their games

So, what is the current state of UD Melilla in the Segunda Division B1? Well, they’re sitting in 13th; just two points off a relegation spot. Perhaps the cancellation of the Spanish football season would do Melilla good as a fall into the Tercera Division could spell very hard times for the North-African based club. It would also call time on a record 33 seasons without promotion or relegation for Melilla, who can claim to be the most consistent Segunda Division B side. Morecambe’s 13 years in League Two seem a quick stint in comparison.

UD Melilla play on a Sunday at noon, to give either themselves or opposition a chance to fly back after the game. When they are playing away from home, they finish training on Saturday and fly out that evening.

Pepe Romero is a current UD Melilla player and is from the city. Apart from a short spell at Elche, he has spent 8 years at the club, making 119 first team appearances. “In Melilla, it is hard evolving as a player,” he told us.

“You have to imagine you’re locked up without any opportunities. It is difficult growing up here as a footballer the opportunities are scarce.” he said.

With just one professional club in the city, there are only a limited number of chances a player gets.

Not only is the unique placing of the team difficult on the local players, but it also hinders on-field improvement of the side. Chatting with Parra, he gave me an insight into Melilla’s recruitment.

“Players want to stay close to their families and if they want to do that in Melilla they have to get a plane or boat to the mainland. This forces the club to overpay compared to their rivals,” he said.

The location of the club means that long-haul away games are a regular occurrence. These are hard enough for the playing staff and coaches and aren’t any easier for the 2 ultras groups that UD Melilla have. The Grada Animación UDM and the Pena Nacho Azul both feel the pain of long distance games, both in the logistics of it and their pockets. These supporters don’t have the luxury that the players do of a free plane seat. The diehard fans of Melilla know all too well of the troubles supporting the team.

It wasn’t always this bad, either. We asked Parra about the logistics of the travel, and he explained that it has changed in recent times.

“The team was previously in Group IV of Second Division B, so almost all their rivals were Andalusians (southern Spain)” Juan said.

“Now they have to fly to Madrid and further afield up north, in the regions of Galicia and Asturias.”

On March 1st Melilla travelled 1426km to Las Palmas (the equivalent of Truro City playing Newcastle…then double it) which they lost 1-0. Safe to say the atmosphere on the way back would not have been joyous. However, the distances weren’t always this long.

With so much travelling, defender Romero likes to entertain himself with the usual. “I like to play (Nintendo) Switch, poker or FM.”

Pepe Romero in training for UD Melilla

He also added on the hardship of such long away travel. “At home it’s different. I can carry out my rituals where I like to keep everything routine,” Pepe said.

Although life in the small city may seem secluded and beautiful (especially with the castle on the seafront), it’s important to understand the hardships that go with life on Melilla as a fan, player, or staff member.

Despite all the hardships of life in the little city, I’m sure not one Melilla player, staff or fan would change it for the world. It is their city and their team.

Union Deportiva Melilla is a remarkable little club playing in the Third Division of Spanish football from a completely different continent. So, next time you moan about a 2hr drive home from an awayday – ‘think of Melilla’.

#africa #football #laliga #melilla