DELAY IN FIXTURES, FRIENDLIES AND GENERAL INFO
Fixtures for season 2025/26 are usually released late July but with the disappearance of UD Ibarra due to financial irregularities they have been delayed.
The Tenerife side last season brought in Diego Maradona Jnr as their coach in the January window along with a hatful of players. From looking relegation candidates they catapulted themselves up the league ending up in fourth place and claiming a playoff spot. Lanzarote finished one position out of the playoffs.
This all came at a price with players and coaching staff not being paid for five months and debts amounting in excess of 200,000 Euros. UD Ibarra had up to July 31st to find a solution but with the madmen that gambled their 56 year history nowhere to be seen the club has folded.
Supporters want success but to run a club in this division the financial pressures are extreme and surely the first job of any management team is to keep within budget. Sometimes that can be difficult.
When current President of UD Lanzarote Juan Carlos Albuixech came into power in January 2020 he had two years of dealing with the toughest restrictions for any club in Spain set by our local government that the pandemic caused. Last season the club played in Tías whilst delays to the renovations of our home stadium took place. Not only did the club lose revenue from gate sales but also the canteen and sponsorship. It is never easy for any club but with the strength of our supporters and returning to our home stadium this season the management of UD Lanzarote is determined to once again push for promotion.
The players are well into their second week of training and are preparing for the forthcoming preseason tournaments. There is a possible friendly match between U.S. Yaiza v Lanzarote for this Thursday (7th) at 7.30pm in Yaiza but we are still awaiting confirmation.
I will confirm the dates and times when UD Lanzarote will be playing nearer to the tournaments but for now these are the only matches that have been confirmed:
Tournament Puerto Del Carmen 14-16 August at the Manuel Arrocha García stadium (near Montaña Tropical above Old Town)
Tournament Tinajo 21-23 August at the stadium in Tinajo
The 11th Annual Beach Training session will take place on the 19th August at 6.30pm on Playa Grande beach in Puerto Del Carmen (details to follow)
Bingo in Los Valles. The players have once again organised the dual language Bingo evening which will take place on Saturday August 30th beginning at 5pm. Buses will be available from PDC, CT and also Arrecife for the return journey at just 4 Euros. It is a brilliant evening. Tickets are 6 Euros and are available now from our shop in Costa Teguise at CC Nautical, Local 25. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and also on Wednesday 5-7pm.
There will be other friendlies and possible tournaments but I cannot publish unless confirmed.
Season tickets and club membership remain the same price as the previous two years and are available from the club in Arrecife at Calle El Isleño 4 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday between 6-8pm. They are not available in the shop in Costa Teguise but will be soon once I have published all the info about them.
