The historic first promotion of Rayo to Primera turns 43

June 5, 1977 changed the history of Vallecas. The neighborhood experienced a joy like never before. The Lightning, his Lightning, obtained the first ascent to First Division of its history. He did it as a third, along with Sporting and Cádiz, and after a campaign (76-77) impeccable, in which the fringes did not lose a single game in their fief. There, precisely, they certified this milestone in a duel that will always be remembered by the famous song of the stands. “Let them kiss!” Chanted Rayo and Getafe, to those who a tie allowed them to fulfill their respective objectives: promotion for some and permanence for others. What was the end result? 1-1.

The protagonists of that time have always denied the pact. Yes, “when two teams need to tie it is rare that it does not happen”, Felines confessed to AS. One of the great heroes of that afternoon because this Ray-Getafe did not take place in the usual morning hours but which was set at 18:00. There were nerves in the ranks of both and that was reflected in a marker that did not move during the first half. He did it in 77 ', when Francisco put a cross into the area that Felines, 1.61 tall, jumped and headed. “I am outraged when they say the ball hit me in the head. If not I finished off prettier in my life! It is my most famous goal, if only for the shooting … “, joked this rayista icon.

Getafe's disgruntled faces said it all. However, the tie was not long in coming. Four minutes to be exact. Polo, who had jumped into the field in the 74 ', took advantage of a hubbub in the area to make the final 1-1. “When things got bad they took me out. None of us paid attention to the little one when we saw him in the area and we think: 'You don't even need to mark it'. Well, he finished like Santillana. We were desperate. And then, a center came from the right, I came from behind and impaled it with the left, which was not my good leg, “says the Getafe salvador.

Vallecas exploded with the final whistle. People invaded the lawn in a tradition always reserved for big occasions. “I never saw greater joy in my neighborhood, it lasted almost two weeks. We all showered with champagne in the dressing room, including Mr. García Verdugo, “confirmed Potele. Through his words those celebrations are drawn. There was a reception at the Town Hall and they cut Avenida de la Albufera so that a caravan of convertible cars paraded to Atocha with the Rayo players. The streets were so flooded with fans that breaking through was an impossible mission. But it didn't matter because Rayo was from Primera and Vallecas, too.