A plume of blue and white despair hung over the 1,300 CD Tenerife fans in the Mestalla stadium as Spain’s La Liga served up the last few twists in the season’s great adventure. It wasn’t the 1-0 defeat to hosts Valencia, or Malaga’s surprise 1-1 draw at home to Real Madrid that cut CD Tenerife’s La Liga lifeline. It was down to a season of poor away form that produced just one win and 3 draws, coupled with the directors’ decision to forgo buying new players in favour of cutting the 30 million euro debt. All that was scant consolation to the football army that had travelled more in hope than expectation.

I arrived on one of the two Sunday charter flights from Tenerife South, with some of the Armada Sur peña (fan club) . Several others had flown in the day before to join exiled fans from the mainland and the UK. Binter Airlines even put up an 18 seater plane with places to be won via their Facebook page. The 81 possible scenarios that could decide the three relegation spots were pushed to the back of our minds, a draw would probably be good enough.

Valencia was sunny and welcoming. Dropped off at the stadium for an abortive attempt to pick up match tickets early, a large group of us overcame our poor navigating skills to arrive at the Plaza del Virgen. Cars beeped their support and locals wished us luck on our short hike and the plaza was a sea of blue and white as the pre match lubrication began. Traditional dancers and singers had already been fighting a losing battle to be heard among the Tenerife anthems.

A large ornate fountain provided a focal point and we think we witnessed a modern miracle. The water began to froth and bubble inspiring a foam party as the suds blew across the square. It’s difficult to say what caused this transformation, but it certainly wasn’t due to any Tenerife fans tipping in cups of washing liquid, begged off the surrounding cafes.

We had all afternoon to kill so I took a brief cultural break from my half of shandy, paying a couple of euros to scale the shallow stone steps of the 70 metre tall Torre Del Micalet. The views of the city were wonderful and I timed it just right to avoid the 12 ancient bells deafening me on the hour. One familiar sight caught my eye, the roof of the Palace of the Arts near the coast. Valencia is the home city of architect Santiago Calatrava and his trade mark wave-like design is also familiar to visitors to our Santa Cruz, especially the Auditorium.

The nerves were kicking in as game time drew nearer; we all headed across town to greet the Tenerife players as their coach arrived at the stadium. It was a taste of home as hundreds packed the roadside and entrance as mounted police kept watch. The players looked tense with just a couple managing waves to the blue and white army. A few more beers and we filed up to our lofty terrace among the 50,000 crowd. A roar greeted CD Tenerife onto the pitch and we were encouraged to see that Valencia had rested big guns Villa and Silva.

The game was no classic, Valencia had already ensured a third place and chances were few and far between on both sides. After 10 minutes we suffered a body blow, relegation rivals Malaga were leading Real Madrid 1-0, that meant we now needed a win to have any hope. Manolo and Alfaro had half chances while our hearts pumped a bit faster as Sergio Aragoneses had to make a string of great saves to keep Valencia at bay. The home team grew stronger in the second half and even news of a Real Madrid equaliser failed to hold back the feeling that it was slipping away from us. Then in the final minute of the game a home corner found the head of Alexis who made it 1-0 to condemn us.

With a final defiant effort we cheered Tenerife off the pitch and simmered in our sadness as the local police kept us penned in for 30 minutes before we could get to our coaches. The flight home was quiet as we slept, hoping to wake to find it was a nightmare – alas no. Hopefully the club will learn from its mistakes and come back stronger for another promotion push. As for the fans, we are never down long, at least we get our derby clashes with Las Palmas next season. Once the hangovers fade away, first thoughts will be when are the new season’s  fixtures out? Vamos Tenerife

Like most CD Tenerife football fans, midnight on 1^st February was not greeted by me with the chime of the clock, but the slam of the transfer window closing. For my beloved Santa Cruz club it marked the start of the toughest phase of our return season in La Liga. Fans were still smarting from a lead thrown away in the previous days 3-1 home defeat to Zaragoza, just below us in the relegation zone. The solution of course was easy, go out and sign some new players, but in these days of administration and bankruptcy, pitting success against solvency is the toughest match of all.

In the end, the deadline passed quietly, we looked at Ronaldo and Rooney – that’s Sid Ronaldo of Basildon United, and Ricky Rooney of Trumpton reserves, but with a shrug and a look at the clubs 30 million euro debt, we decided to stick and not twist. The man with the unenviable task of balancing the books is President Miguel Concepcion. From the small Canary Island of La Palma, Miguel made his money in construction and is the boss and majority shareholder of Islas Airways. The shouts for new blood were loud after the Zaragoza defeat, but Miguel said all along there was no money to spend. Some football club presidents could expect major turbulence after clamping the purse shut so tight, but Miguel’s personal standing with the fans is still more or less in credit; he promised promotion last season – and delivered.

Looking forward, Miguel has also declared his intent to see CD Tenerife in a bigger all purpose stadium within 10 years. Plans have even been revealed for a 40,000 plus ground called Estadio del Atlantico, a short free kick away from the iconic Auditorium on the seafront. Alternatively, the current stadium (capacity 23,000) could be extended to 34,400; both ambitious plans that would require a team firmly established in the top flight.

Spanish football hasn’t had the high profile money problems of Portsmouth, Crystal Palace etc, but does share the big club’s tendency to over reach themselves financially. If a valuable lesson was needed, Tenerife need look no further than 2001 UEFA Cup finalists Alaves who have sunk down to the Segunda B Division (third tier of Spanish football) and desperately need 2.4 million euros to avoid folding before the end of this season.

One way to survive is to polish home grown nuggets, to sell on to bigger teams. San Isidro have just received a lifeline 300,000 euros for Barcelona scoring sensation Pedro, an Abades born forward who slipped through CD Tenerife’s net. It’s just as well that the Santa Cruz club have a great youth policy, the latest player to shine in the first team is speedy winger Omar. Currently trying to shake off a niggling injury, he is an inspiration for the future, but has already attracted admiring glances from bigger clubs.

Money coming into the club usually means talent going out, or dancing to the tune of the sponsors and television companies. It’s tough enough finding out more than 10 days in advance, when CD Tenerife will play – Saturday or Sunday- now there is a new twist. The Spanish FA have just approved one Monday night game a week to keep the television audience happy and CD Tenerife have been nudged forward a day for the Mallorca home game (new time 8pm), originally scheduled for Sunday 14 February. That’s a  a real Valentine’s massacre for tradition, as the Monday is one of the biggest nights in the Santa Cruz Carnaval diary.

It’s not easy being a Tenerife fan, the hardcore, like the British based, Armada Sur, will always roar the team on, but the gamble of concentrating on reducing the debt, could see the fair weather fans drift away if results don’t improve. The players are going to have to dig deep for the rest of the season, but if we can finish just one place above relegation, Miguel will be hailed as a genius.

Hot dogs and burgers they may be, but the Heliodoro stadium in Santa Cruz now has cooked food to go with the rock hard ham rolls. Also the electronic scoreboard, missing in action for nearly a decade, is pumping out information, even if they missed those 2 momentous events, there are few people on the island that don’t realise that CD Tenerife are back with the big boys in La Liga.

Away Bankers

Six games in and despite struggling for goals, only 3 so far, CD Tenerife have clocked up 2 home wins and even held Real Madrid 0-0 at half time in the Bernabeu, before losing 3-0. Tenerife’s pre season outlay of less then 3 million euros was dwarfed by Real’s 250 million spending spree, so the boys from Santa Cruz are relying heavily on their tight knit community of players and their passionate supporters, it’s a formula that worked so well in last seasons promotion campaign.

Realistically, this season will see a lot more defeats, staying up is the target, but British based fan club Armada Sur will as always stick to their mantra of Pride, Passion, Loyalty, and take 2 full coaches up from the south for the home games. The club is very much a family and when injuries strike, the goals dry up and the Canarian media sharpens it’s pens, a siege mentality helps to bind the fans and players closer.

Aiming High

Club president Miquel Concepcion shocked the media a few weeks into the season by stating that in 15 years he wants to see Tenerife clear of debt, 30 million euros at last count, and in Europe. Just for good measure he announced that the club has plans for a 45,000 capacity stadium in the mid to long term. It may sound like madness but he promised promotion and delivered it.

Local talent will play a key part in the future of CDT, Ricardo who wowed Sky TV viewers with a wonder goal against Osasuna, is well established in midfield, and 20 year old Omar has been given a senior contract after impressing with his speed and goal touch in pre season friendlies. Coach Jose Luis Oltra likes to give young players their chance, especially if they fit into his attacking outlook.

Short On Squad Numbers

The latest game, a 1-0 home defeat to Deportivo was typically frustrating, 4 key players missing through injury and CD Tenerife still had the better of the first half chances but squandered them. The old problem of not defending strongly from set pieces let the visitors score from a corner. Free scoring forwards Nino and Alfaro ran rampant through the Second Division last season but are finding the step up a pretty big one. Captain and right back Marc Bertran is out for 4 months after a horrendous tackle from Real’s Drenthe broke his ankle, but new heroes will emerge from the squad as the season goes on. One thing that remains constant is the wall of noise and committed support of the home faithful, a vital ingredient as home form should go a long way to ensuring survival.

Keep The Faith

The 23,000 Heliodoro will be near to bursting all season, and although tickets for Barcelona and Real Madrid are already commanding huge prices on auction sites, there is a trickle of tickets up for grabs for most home games. You can scrum down at the Santa Cruz stadium a few days before each game or in the south go to Libreria Raquel in El Camison. Come the end of season, survival will be greeted with major parties, mission accomplished and the foundations laid for a march up the table.