Backpacking The Mestalla Stadium, home of Valencia CF, since 1923
Posted: May 22 2024 | Tagged: Spain
The Mestalla Stadium, home of the Valencia Football Club, is one of the oldest stadiums in Spain and I couldn't resist the temptation to go and backpack it.
The Mestalla Stadium in Valencia completes a hat trick of football stadiums visited.
In 1998 I was at the Wankdorf (yes, I'm not joking) Stadium in Bern with my buddy Michi and his flatmate to watch FC St Gallen (his team) play Lausanne in the final. It was the first and last football match I have ever been to.
In May 2022, I went and backpacked the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, one of the most famous stadiums in the world; the one where Argentina beat England, with a little help from The Hand of God in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
And now, the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.
In 1998 I was at the Wankdorf (yes, I'm not joking) Stadium in Bern with my buddy Michi and his flatmate to watch FC St Gallen (his team) play Lausanne in the final. It was the first and last football match I have ever been to.
In May 2022, I went and backpacked the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, one of the most famous stadiums in the world; the one where Argentina beat England, with a little help from The Hand of God in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
And now, the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.
And the weird thing is, I don't even like football.
Yeah, an English guy who doesn't like football.
Why don't I like football?
Easy to explain. I don't like all the falling over, the drama and the crying. That's all I'm gonna say on the matter.
Miss CDMX doesn't like football either but like me, was super-excited to go and tour the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City, her home. And we backpacked the Estadio Azteca together!
Yeah, an English guy who doesn't like football.
Why don't I like football?
Easy to explain. I don't like all the falling over, the drama and the crying. That's all I'm gonna say on the matter.
Miss CDMX doesn't like football either but like me, was super-excited to go and tour the Azteca Stadium, in Mexico City, her home. And we backpacked the Estadio Azteca together!
I am not religious but I can still appreciate a good church or cathedral. So why not a football stadium?
It's an iconic stadium with lots of history. That's the appeal and here I am visiting one of the oldest stadiums in Spain.
I checked the Mestalla Stadium website.
Valencia was playing Girona at home the day I looked (they lost 3-1), so no tours were running but I booked for the next day.
The club was formed in 1919 and was known as Valencia FC but was changed after the Spanish Civil War to Valencia CF (Valencia Club de Fútbol).
The club was formed in 1919 and was known as Valencia FC but was changed after the Spanish Civil War to Valencia CF (Valencia Club de Fútbol).
You can read more about Valencia CF on Wikipedia.
Having a pre-tour beer near the stadium:
The 49430 seater stadium opened on 20 May 1923; a friendly, between Valencia and Levante FC, which was formed in 1909 making it the oldest football club in Spain.
Valencia won that first match, 1-0.
It must have been some sort of fluke. The day I chose to go a backpack was the Mestalla Stadium, check this out, May 20 2024.
Touring the Mestalla Stadium on its 101st anniversary:
Valencia won that first match, 1-0.
It must have been some sort of fluke. The day I chose to go a backpack was the Mestalla Stadium, check this out, May 20 2024.
Touring the Mestalla Stadium on its 101st anniversary:
The stadium hosted 3 games in the 1982 FIFA WORLD CUP when the stadium was known as the Luis Casanova Stadium.
Spain played all 3 of their first-round matches in Group 5 at the Mestalla, the 3rd of which was when Northern Ireland beat Spain 1-0, to win the group with the winning goal, scored by Gerry Armstrong.
The stadium's name was changed in 1969 to Luis Casanova Stadium to honour club president Luis Casanova Giner.
The name was later changed back to The Mestalla, in 1994.
Backpacking the Mestalla Stadium in my 2022/2023 MK DONS home shirt, 101 years since Valencia CF had played its first game in the stadium, 20 Mayo 1923:
Spain played all 3 of their first-round matches in Group 5 at the Mestalla, the 3rd of which was when Northern Ireland beat Spain 1-0, to win the group with the winning goal, scored by Gerry Armstrong.
The stadium's name was changed in 1969 to Luis Casanova Stadium to honour club president Luis Casanova Giner.
The name was later changed back to The Mestalla, in 1994.
Backpacking the Mestalla Stadium in my 2022/2023 MK DONS home shirt, 101 years since Valencia CF had played its first game in the stadium, 20 Mayo 1923:
|
|
Home Team Dressing Rooms
The pitch at the Mestalla Stadium:
The dugout:
Souvenir football boots:
The football shirts of Valencia CF:
The press room where managers are interviewed after the match:
Nomadic Backpacker emerging from the tunnel at the Mestalla Stadium:
Some of the trophies that have been won by Valencia CF. They have won 6 league titles, 8 cups, 1 Super Cup of Spain, 3 UEFA Cups, 2 Super Cups of Europe and 1 UEFA Cup Winners Cup:
