Valencia CF will pay tribute to 100th anniversary of the blessing of first Valencia CF flag and the centenary of the Club's first anthem

This coming Saturday, 21 September at Mestalla, Valencia CF will pay tribute to the 100th anniversary of the blessing of the first Valencia CF flag, as well as the centenary of the Club's first anthem.

 In the buildup to Girona FC, Valencia CF captain José Luis Gayà will carry a replica of the flag alongside Valencia CF legend Vicente Guillot, one of the club's longest-serving players. Alongside them, there will also be two players from the VCF Academy. The central figures represent the past, present and future legacy of Valencia Club de Fútbol.

The original flag - measuring 200 x 147 cm of silk - remains on display in the VIP Box at the Camp de Mestalla, ensuring its conservation and whose restoration was carried out in March 2018 by Valencia CF through its Fundació VCF together with the Heritage Restoration Institute of the UPV.

Origin of an eternal symbol

In 1924, one of the banners that will remain for posterity at Valencia CF was born. The Club's supporters decided to create a symbol with which to identify the club, and so they decided to make a silk and gold thread flag with the Valencianista coat of arms on the front and the Senyera on the back.

‘The Club's flag was given to my grandfather for being the oldest player and he went round the pitch with my father - the boy in the photo - who took the kick-off. My grandfather was the first international that Valencia CF had’, says María Teresa Cubells, granddaughter of Eduardo Cubells.

This new symbol was blessed on 21 September 1924 in the Royal Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken and was first used in the friendly match that same afternoon against C.D. Júpiter from Barcelona. The flag bearer was Eduardo Cubells and his son took the kick-off. Valencia CF beat the Catalan club by 3 goals to 1 and put the ‘icing on the cake’ to a day that will be remembered by the Valencia CF club

‘For my grandfather, that day was very special. At last Valencia CF had a symbol to represent it, blessed and, moreover, this flag has a very special feeling in the family. On 16 September 66 years ago my grandfather passed away and the link is that this flag was covering his coffin. It is a great honour as a Valencianista’ describes Guillermo Medina, grandson of Gonzalo Medina -first president of Valencia CF-.

Another of the details that mark that year of 1924 was the creation of the first Valencia CF anthem. A hymn composed by Lolita Soriano, the first teacher at the Valencia Conservatory of Music. It was performed by the band and the choral group ‘El Micalet’.

‘The anthem was debuted on such a special day as the presentation of the Valencia CF flag. That was when the first anthem was performed. We are almost convinced that the Club sought her out because she was the first teacher at the Valencia Conservatory of Music,’ explains Inmaculada Ballester, Lolita Soriano's great-niece.

This anthem will be played this Saturday to accompany the walkout of Gayà, Guillot and the VCF Academy players from the tunnel