It’s been so long since I last wrote one of these that I’ve almost forgotten how to do it. Summers in Greece can be cruel, and it’s not so much the unbearable heatwaves but rather the lack of football action. So when Holargos’ pre-season friendlies were announced, they quickly became the main thing on my mind (perhaps alongside the Greek clubs’ European qualifiers). Most groundhoppers tend to be a bit snobbish about friendly games — and I honestly get it — but when it’s your favourite team you haven’t seen in a while, you just can’t help yourself. I awaited this game as if it were a Champions League final. I thought I was crazy enough asking my manager to change my schedule so I could make kick-off on time, but when I arrived I was greeted by a friend who told me he had just walked from downtown for three hours to get there. A good number of the ultras had turned up, all sharing the same excitement to see the team kick a ball again — even on a weekday, during the holiday period, for a friendly.

I had ticked off this stadium not long ago when I saw the local derby between Vrilissia FC and Kentavros Vrilission (not much of a derby in the end), so you can read more about the home side here.

As for the match itself, Holargos pressed high and earned a rather dubious penalty around the 30th minute, which their striker converted. They kept attacking and were rewarded with another goal before the half-time whistle. In the second half, Vrilissia improved, with Holargos’ keeper making some big saves. Even so, it was Holargos who struck first after the restart, when Sadikai, a very promising new signing, stole the ball from a defender and finished beautifully. By that point, the away supporters’ stand was on fire, everyone chanting in full force as if the team had just won a major trophy. The home side eventually pulled one back with a well-deserved goal that shaped the final score. At the final whistle, Holargos players and fans came together and looked ahead eagerly to the next friendly.