Futbol!!
There’s no such thing as soccer; in Trujillo the only sport that truly exists is futból. Although technically the same game, the cultural subtleties between futból in Spain and soccer in the US are quite different. The sport has a long history in Spain; from the Barcelona/Real Madrid rivalry that exploded under Franco’s regime to the National team’s recent victory at the 2010 World Cup, futból has always been a driving force behind a Spaniard’s sense of pride.
Although the majority of the residents of Trujillo are split in their loyalty between Barca and Real Madrid, there is one team they all support; the local Trujillo F.C. Comprised of players from around the town, the team plays every Sunday in the warm late afternoon sun and every other game is played at their home field a few minutes walk from the center of town. Fans arrive throughout the game to cheer on the Trujillanos and to yell at the ref when he makes seemingly unfair calls. Of all the Spanish traditions I have experienced in Trujillo those afternoons spent at the futból pitch have to be my favorite. The atmosphere within the estadio is so quintessentially Spanish it’s hard to describe. From the whitewashed stone walls to the hand painted advertisements, to the fact that they serve beer in glasses that spectators bring from home, it has to be one of the most vibrant places in town. During half time young children flood the field to live out their dreams of playing on the team and frequently have to be shooed off the pitch so play can resume. It’s easy to see why the Campo Municipal is one of the most loved locations in town. Even if you only visit Trujillo for a short while I would highly recommend that you experience a futból game and see why Spaniards live and breath futból for yourself.
Entrance to the Campo Municipal
