A newly formed club from the banlieue shocks fellow Parisians in the Coupe de France
After a dramatic derby win over Red Star in the Coupe de France, fourth-tier Bobigny 93 are now hoping for a dream tie against PSG in the Round of 64 just before Christmas.
Bobigny represent départment 93, Seine-Saint-Denis fringing north-east Paris, just beyond the terminus of métro line 5. While Red Star have won the French Cup more times than either Bordeaux, Nantes or Nice in a history dating back to 1897, Bobigny are a recent construct.
Formed in 2013 when the football section separated from the local sports association amid the communal housing blocks on the outskirts of the French capital, Bobigny joined forces with other clubs from their départment, Bagnolet Académie and USM Gagny, to create ‘FC 93’ in 2020.
The Balbynians had just won back-to-back promotions to reach the fourth tier. Players, equipment and supporters were pooled, and a new identity forged. Ironically, the new club approached fellow Parisians Red Star to join, too, but was rebuffed.
The aim is to create a high-level operation capable of challenging for a place in Ligue 2, where Red Star now compete with the likes of Metz, Caen and Bastia.
League status counted for nothing on a cold November afternoon in Bobigny. After a decisive penalty shoot-out, fourth-tier FC 93 swept aside the disappointment of conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to their American-owned visitors, causing wild scenes in the single stand at the modest Stade Auguste Delaune.
A crowd of 2,000 had gathered for the game, just beyond the ring road that delineates Paris from the banlieue. Literally meaning ‘suburbs’ but carrying negative connotations of riots, crime and urban deprivation, the banlieue has produced some of the world’s greatest players, Kylian Mbappé, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté included.
Usually the amateurs of FC 93 attract a few hundred spectators for their fixtures in National 2. Most seem to know each other as they shake hands and exchange greetings before each game, nearly all of African or Maghrebi descent.
The players, too, will acknowledge the familiar faces over the touchline. Hero of the hour against Red Star, attacking midfielder Sayon Keita, scorer of the 93’s second goal, is a tow-truck driver whose Sunday-morning shift outweighed any thought of post-match celebration.
Next Sunday, December 8, the little municipal ground the wrong side of the Périphérique ring road welcomes Thionville Lusitanos as FC 93 battle to regain their place at the top of National 2. With only the champions of this three-division, all-amateur tier promoted, Bobigny need to put all thoughts of cup glory to one side and concentrate on the job at hand.
