The ‘Sempre Falles’ project was presented this Tuesday at Mestalla, unveiling a new initiative by Valencia CF and the Ayuntamiento de Valencia council to promote the city’s brand, using its famous ‘Fallas’ festivities as a backdrop.

At each Valencia CF home game, a ‘ninot’ doll made by the Valencia, Borriana and Alicante Fallas associations will be given as a gift to the visiting team. Another, belonging to the Ayuntamiento, will be given to Valencia CF to display at Mestalla, and will be included in the 2021 ‘Exposición del Ninot’ exhibition.

The Sempre Falles initiative is part of the ‘Sempre Valencia’ series of social actions undertaken by Valencia CF and the VCF Foundation, which intends to support Valencian society economically, socially and in terms of healthcare.

Anil Murthy, VCF President:

“We are here today for a very important reason: To show the club’s commitment to the people around us and to be an example for Valencian society -especially in this unprecedented situation. The club and the VCF Foundation have close ties with the Valencia region through different activities. We are a club from the region. With tourism minimal and a showcase event like Fallas cancelled, we came up with the idea for this campaign, which we took to the Ayuntamiento. I thank them for their enthusiasm and sensitivity towards this campaign. The aim, beyond making these ‘ninots’ which visiting clubs will love, is to promote the Valencia brand and remind people how fantastic it will be for Valencians and visitors to the city to share in the Fallas festivities again, and show the world the work of a unique group who are going through a tough time. That is also part of the DNA of a Valencian club: Concern for Valencians. Valencia CF are the institution with the greatest relevance in the region, and now more than ever we have to stand alongside the city, its traditions and its productive fabric.”

Carlos Galiana, Head of Culture for the Ayuntamiento de Valencia:

“We want to thank Valencia CF for this idea. If you would have asked me about this before, I would never have imagined such a great proposal. It’s time to join forces. It’s time to promote and be ambassadors for the Valencia brand. It’s fundamental that we have a club like Valencia CF beside us. We are all grateful and I want to add that I am especially happy that one of the Valencia CF shirts this season makes a nod to the Mercado Central. The club are ambassadors for the city, which is what is needed in these times of the coronavirus.”

Ximo Esteve, Secretary for the Valencian Artists Association:

“The club using us is a wonderful idea. I hope that other public and private entities contribute like Valencia CF. This crisis has affected everyone, and for the Fallas artists the festival was cancelled just when it was about to get underway. We are very grateful to Valencia CF and to the Ayuntamiento, who have given an example with this initiative. Twenty designs have been created, which people are going to like a lot.”