AS Fontonne Football Club celebrates fifty years

The AS Fontonne Football Club is one of the oldest sports clubs in Antibes and is about to celebrate fifty years of existence. Many events are taking place during 2008 with a big anniversary celebration on 13 September. Infosville will be covering events over the months, but in the meantime Gilbert Rico, president, tells us about the highlights of the 50th anniversary celebrations and a little about the history of the club.

Gilbert Rico : As regards facilities, a lot has changed in the fifty years since the club premises and adjoining cloakroom were at the stadium. Doctor Joseph Leger Sports Centre now possesses two football grounds with many changing rooms as well as a club house built by former members that many other clubs admire.

We are soon to have a new ground with synthetic surface which will be inaugurated on our anniversary on 13 September 2008. At the beginning there were some 30 licence holders and two teams and nowadays there are 400 licence holders and 25 teams of both youth and senior members.

We have always concentrated on training, using qualified coaches to get good results. Also, thanks to the efforts and dedication of our volunteers we can stage great events such as two international youth and veteran tournaments.

Infosville : What is your programme of events in this fiftieth year and what is happening in the next few months?

Gilbert Rico : To mark this special year we decided to be more than a sports club and get involved in charity work, with the members, volunteers, local residents and people in the town taking part. The theme we have chosen is “Men, Sport and the Heart” which is the thread that will run through all the events, putting special emphasis on men in the sport of football in an atmosphere of solidarity and cooperation.
All profits will go to two Antibes associations, “By children, for children” for the purchase of a minibus for CLIS classes, and the “Adrien” association which will provide equipment for the Paediatric Service at Antibes Hospital. The official launch is to be on 4 April at an official reception at the Nice Matin offices with all our sponsors and partners present; the French Football Federation of the Côte d’Azur, the two associations involved in the event and the supporter of the operation, Thierry Roland, well-known sports journalist.

Infosville : Can you sum up the highlights of the year?

Gilbert Rico : We have decided to take on the challenge of mounting four special anniversary events:

• The sale of calendars that tell the history of the club through twelve souvenir photos.
• A “Giant 50” with more than 360 people playing in an International Veteran Tournament from 1 to 3 May.
• A special tombola with football shirts worn by famous players from the big clubs as prizes, and a drawing competition for children at Fontonne schools on the theme “Men, Sport and the Heart” that takes place at the International Youth tournament from 10 to 12 May.
• On the anniversary on 13 September a big photo exhibition, a video workshop and the longest football match in the world, to go on for 150 hours non-stop, open to everyone, which will be ended with a giant paella at the end of the evening.

Finally, to close the fifty year celebrations there is to be an official reception at the start of October 2008 at which cheques will be handed over to the two chosen charities.
So, a summary of anniversary celebrations which we hope will stay in the hearts and minds of the residents of the town as a wonderful time full of fun with lots of friendly get-togethers.