UD Almería honours 'Virgen del Mar' with Traditional Floral Offering
Club, players and staff gather to celebrate the Patroness Saint of Almería city on the eve of the new season
In a time-honoured tradition, UD Almería made its annual floral offering to the Virgen del Mar, the Patroness Saint of the city, on the eve of the start of the official football season. The event saw the first team, along with representatives from UDA 'B' and UDA Women, gather at the basilica. Club officials, including Managing Director Mohamed El Assy, joined fans and former board members in paying tribute to the revered Patroness.
This year marked the first time Father Vicente Grau, Prior of the Dominicans, hosted the ceremony, having recently arrived in Almería. In his address, he expressed hope that the Virgen del Mar would offer her protection to the Club, guiding them toward achieving their goals. 'This offering represents tradition, celebration, and faith, values that define the identity of a city, a province, a community, and a country,' Father Vicente stated. He went on to highlight the Virgen del Mar’s long-standing role as a beacon for the city, noting: 'Since the 16th century, the image of the Virgen del Mar has served as a light and guide for Almería and everything it encompasses, including its football club.'
UD Almería head coach Rubi spoke on behalf of the team, thanking Father Vicente for his warm welcome. He also made a heartfelt request: 'I ask the Patroness to ensure a strong unity between the fans and the team throughout the season, as that is key to achieving our sporting objectives.'
Rubi also emphasised the importance of preserving traditions, wishing the youth and women’s teams the best of luck for the upcoming season. 'Traditions must be preserved,' he remarked.
This floral offering was particularly significant for many of the first-team players, as it marked their first participation in the ceremony, with several new faces in the squad. UD Almería 'B' were represented by one of its captains, Alex Mendes, while UD Almería Women were represented by first-team head coach Pedro López and captain Jessi.
As in previous years, the event was attended by past Club directors, including Guillermo Blanes, Manolo García, Onofre Díaz, Luis Guillén and Mariano Blanco. Throughout the ceremony, the board of directors of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Mar, led by Senior Maid María José Gutiérrez, closely monitored proceedings to ensure the event ran smoothly.