The ‘Sempre Falles’ project gets underway this weekend, part of the ‘Sempre Valencia’ campaign that aims to support the Valencian community at a difficult time. The project promotes the Valencia brand through the region’s traditional ‘Fallas’ celebrations, and included in this is the use of a ‘ninot’ doll as a gift presented to the away sides visiting Mestalla.

The gift for SD Huesca, who play Valencia CF this weekend, has been created by artists Enrique Giménez and Vicente Torres from the SacabutxART workshop.

Torres explains that with the doll "we wanted to represent the excitement that children have to be a footballer, specifically for Valencia CF. The design has a child performing an overhead kick, and the background is the ‘Puente de la Exposición’ bridge.”

The base of the doll has a replica of the bat that adorns the Grada de la Mar stand at Mestalla, as well as the badges of the two teams.

“Giving a ninot is something original, something different and something that is only done here,” says Torres.

“This initiative from VCF is very good, because it is an extra help for the Fallas workshops. Our work has been halted due to the coronavirus situation. It is a great gesture by Valencia CF and the Ayuntamiento to join forces to help us. Also if you like football it is a pleasure to be able to do these things.”

Valencia CF Ambassadors Ricardo Arias and Miguel Ángel Bossio have paid a visit to the SacabutART workshop, which Enrique Giménez says was “a great joy and an honour. We were able to explain to them the entire working process behind a Fallas doll, and the work that goes on during the whole year.”

Arias commented that the design “shows exceptional taste and touches on many details of what Valencia CF and the city itself mean. SD Huesca are going to take home a very nice souvenir.”