The Stade de Reims builds a bridge between the ages

The symbolic laying of the first stone of the future life and training center dedicated to the Stade de Reims women’s team took the form of a link between past, present and future. Monday noon, on a lawn of the Raymond-Kopa center of life, in Bétheny, there was much talk of the famous Pioneers, nickname of the first Reims team created in 1968. Presented at the time as an “attraction” by the organizer of the meeting the daily “Union”, this match kicked off the rebirth of women’s football, which led, six years later, to the creation of the French championship, won by the Rémoises.
“You must have felt very lonely, ladies, in 1968, but it is you who paved the way and it is thanks to your courage that we can meet again today”, launched Catherine Vautrin, president of the Grand Reims, with regard to Brigitte Brigot-Brugnon and Marie-France Courtois-Bailly, two Pioneers present during this ceremony. “Nothing is easy in life, the Pioneers can attest to it, but we are there girls, we are moving forward,” urged Laura Georges, secretary general of the FFF and former international to the 188 selections.

110 licensed, from U6 to pro

It must be said that the Stade de Reims did not wait to draft this new building of 700 m², which will welcome, within a year, the 110 licensees of the club, to count again in the French landscape. Disappeared during the club’s liquidation in 1992, the women’s section was relaunched in 2014 and quickly found success. “It was a promise, when we recreated the club, to resuscitate this team and I am proud to renew with the tradition, delivered the president of the Stade de Reims, Jean-Pierre Caillot. Our club has an important societal role, we have been training boys for a long time, I would be very proud if we were to train the great footballers of tomorrow. “
The president of the Stade de Reims cultivates ambitions and has given himself the means. It only took the women’s team five years to regain Division 1 and its former glory. Maintained last season without trembling, the Champagne formation should do the same this season. She will be able to face the future with confidence, in particular thanks to this new tool. “You are going to be a reference in French football,” predicted Laura Georges, stressing that the Rémoises would join the very closed circle of women’s clubs with a dedicated center, with Lyon, Paris SG and Paris FC. “It will change everything,” rejoices Amandine Miquel, the coach of the professional team. Tomorrow, all the players, from the youngest to the professionals, will be able to live together. We will have a living room, a classroom, dedicated offices for the staff, a video analysis room, changing rooms and a weight room. This will allow us, in the long term, to take an important step. We are constantly evolving. “
A sporting but also a societal development. By investing more than € 2.5 million in this new tool, Jean-Pierre Caillot evokes “a global business project” which clearly shows that women’s sport, and football in particular, is finally making its mark on the landscape. “It is thanks to this kind of initiative that women take their place in society, praised Catherine Vautrin. When we no longer have to stress how exceptional this project is, we will have won. “A match that is not won in advance.

– .