Home » News » June 9, 1979: Mazères wins the Coupe du Midi

June 9, 1979: Mazères wins the Coupe du Midi

the essential
It is the most beautiful page of Mazerian football but also one of the most beautiful exploits of Ariège football. Only Luzenac DH, in 1992, will succeed in winning this trophy so coveted by the clubs of the former Midi-Pyrenees League.

That year, President Plazolles’ Mazériens played in promotion of honor with a team made up of a majority of local players which made them a collective force feared by all their opponents. The epic begins in the round of 16 where the Ariégeois eliminate Saint-Amans, which is playing in the upper division. It is certainly the first strong sign of what will follow. After eliminating the Aveyronnais de Saint-Jean-Delnous in the quarter-finals, Jean Louis Turco’s teammates must face Colomiers in the semi-final in a first and second leg. After conceding a draw at home, the Mazériens will win at Colomiers at the end of the penalty shoot-out where Jean René Tommasi the red and black goalkeeper is doing great things by stopping two opposing shots. For the final it is Castres who presents himself. The Tarn team flies over the Division d’honneur championship and leaves largely the favorite, especially after eliminating Cazères in the semi-final. The two teams therefore meet on the lawn of Castelnaudary to do battle. Two buses and a multitude of private cars made the trip to come to the support of the players of the lower Ariège. They watch a real cup match with unbearable suspense throughout the game. (0/1, 1/1, 2/1, 2/2, 3/2) and in the end it was a goal from Didier Tommasi in the 76th minute which sent the cup to the city of Gaston Phébus. The holiday is memorable and even 40 years later its memory gives chills to those who have lived it.

Today, more than 40 years after this resounding feat, the first thought goes to those who have been part of this team and who have unfortunately left us. For those who are still there even if most of them have dropped out with local football, it remains the best memory of their sports career.

For EN Mazères, it is the most beautiful page of the guestbook in its history and the memory of a time when football referred to the city with red and black colors a sign of solidarity, combativeness and ‘friendship.

Technical sheet of the match.

Mazères beats Castres 3 to 2.

Mazériens scorers: Polo Berraguaz, Jean Pierre Villeroux and Didier Tommasi.

The final team

Standing, left to right:

R. Plazolles (president), Jean Louis Turco (captain), Jean René Tommasi, Didier Tommasi, Jean Paul Ruys, Paul Berraguaz, Marc Alarcon, Robert Cottave, Christian Legall, Jean Claude Boudenne, Marcel Darbon.

Below, from left to right:Paul Muller, Jean-Maurice Dardier, Christian Estrade, Christian Portet, Michel Legall, Jean-Pierre Villeroux, Jean-Pierre Cazenave, Georges Mekfi, Pierre Fajadet.


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