On May 29, 1977 Europe won the Regional Preferential League and promotion to the Third Division. Although Júpiter beat them that day in La Verneda, Figueres’ draw in El Far against Masnou was the ultimate surprise.
More than 46 years have passed, but an initiative of journalist Xavi Monfort, son of the legendary and long-awaited coach Josep Monfortbrought the protagonists of this feat together at one table this Thursday.
References like Pep Rovira, Montiagut, Sagrera, Balsera, Suescun, Galeano, Morgades, Javi, Bujardón, Marimón -distributed by Inca-Rodri, Aroca or Flor They did not miss an event full of memories and, above all, of Catalan football.
A great example
Beyond the sporting success, this team was an example of camaraderie, not to mention the footballing achievements in this category At the time it was the fourth division in Spanish football, behind the first, second and third divisions.. Coincidentally, the 1977-1978 season saw the creation of the second division B, so the third division they were promoted to retained the fourth category rank.
Among these great games, the spontaneous visit to the famous Badalona Stadium on Avenida de Navarra undoubtedly stands out. Europe defeated another historic team, CF Badalona, 2:5. Another away triumph for Monfort took place in a different stadium that only exists in the memories of the oldest fans. the case from Fabra i Coats. The picture that accompanies this article corresponds to the eleven that the famous European coach fielded against the Barça amateur team of Blay, Gratacós and Co. The Europeans won 1-2, with a brace from Montiagut.
Party in old Sardenya
Those present at this meeting remembered many of these moments. Suescun, for example, will not be able to forget when the then president of the Catalan Football Association, Antoni Guasch presented him with the trophy as Regional Preferential Champion at the Sardenya Street Stadium.. It was Saturday, June 4, 1977, just before the game Europe-Manresa, which ended the league for Monfort’s team. The chronicles of the time recall that on that day a caravan of cars with decorated flags drove through the streets of Gràcia, an honorary opening for the first president of CE Europe, Joan Matas, and a performance by the Vall d’Hebron majorettes and the band of the Pare Mañanet School.
21 wins, 10 draws, 7 defeats, 71 goals for and 38 goals against, a total of 52 points – At that time, victories were rewarded with 2 points – was the European champions’ balance sheet from 1977. They rose to third place in a season of restructuring, which also meant the promotion of almost all teams in this preferred region.
This united squad marked – as this meeting showed 46 years later – an era under the command of Monfort, a native of Gracia, who is remembered not only in Vila de Gràcia but also in clubs such as the Center d’Esports L’ remind. Hospitalet, the Unió Atlètica d’Horta or the Futbol Club Santboià. May we never lose the memory of those who made Catalan football great.