Elche CF opened their Sunday evening clash at Martínez Valero at 9:00 PM, facing Cadiz CF in a season that tested the club’s ambitions. The 2022-2023 campaign was expected to bring pride after a centennial year of celebration, a season that started with high hopes of a solid league finish and a continued stay in the First Division. Instead, Elche found themselves battling to avoid the decline that would mark one of the club’s darkest stretches in the top flight, threatening relegation to the Second Division.
Yet the heartbeat of the club did not falter. Fans remained steadfast through adversity, backing the team and its players with renewed energy. The Peñas Federation organized a series of social events to honor the club’s centennial, drawing strong support and pledging to sustain this momentum through the season’s final chapters.
The Peñas del Elche Federation presents two major Centennial events
JA Galvanized
On the Sunday that also marks the season’s finale, the club’s supporters groups, in partnership with Elche CF, will host a meaningful tribute match against Cádiz before kickoff. The event pays homage to all Franjiverdes who have supported the club across its century-long history and who are no longer with us. The occasion provides a moment to reflect on the club’s journey and the loyalty that has sustained it through good times and bad.
As part of the centennial tribute, four penistas will stand in for the moment. Four bouquets of flowers will be placed on the grass in each seating area of the stadium: Norte, Sur, Preferencia and Tribuna. In addition, the public address system will deliver a message of remembrance. Through this act, the Peñas Federation and the club’s supporters aim to honor the events of the Centennial season and the memories that accompany them. This initiative has become known among fans as the “Third Ring,” a symbolic space where thousands of Elche followers from all walks of life have stood by the team during the club’s hundred-year history, continuing to support from wherever they are.
Such a gesture—placing a bouquet in each stadium section—serves as a somber but heartfelt tribute to the lifelong green-franiverde fans who passed away, and it stands as a reminder that, even when results do not meet expectations, the community’s spirit remains strong. The centennial season is remembered not only for on-field performances but for the sense of unity it created among supporters and the club alike.
The overarching idea behind these tributes and ceremonies is to acknowledge the endurance of the club’s culture and to celebrate a hundred years of shared passion. Even amid challenging results, the memory of past generations and the ongoing dedication of present fans continue to define Elche’s identity and resilience.