Peña Internet of CD Tenerife
Interview with founder Andy Woolley

by Chris Todd

(This article appeared in the TENERIFE SUN newspaper Vol2. Issue 16 - 16th October 2008)


The pioneer CD Tenerife website was created in  the 1994-5 season by British follower of the Club, Andy Woolley.  The Peña Internet will go down in history as being the lead for many other football fan websites on the Island.  The Tenerife Sun caught up with Andy Woolley to ask him about the idea for the site and his passion for football.


Where did the idea for your website come from?

When I was on holiday I went to a match with my friend Jeff Nixon and loved it.  However, even though I had just passed GCSE Spanish (at the age of 44), I found it difficult to find out how to get tickets, etc.  So when I got e-mail and there was free web space I decided to do a little page on how to watch Tenerife play when you are on holiday.  I put my e-mail address on and, as it was the only site about the club, I received lots of e-mails and was encouraged to make it much bigger and better and it has just gone on from there.


When did you first see CD Tenerife play?

Easter 1994 - a 5-3 win with two goals for us in injury time.  I remember Oscar Dertycia celebrating in front of us at the Herradura end of the ground with his eyes bulging out from his bald head.  Zaragoza finished third that season so it was a good win for us.


Do you travel to the mainland to watch the Blanquiazules?

Recently I have seen about 2 or 3 matches in Tenerife each season and between 2 and 4 on the mainland.  The first was at Espanyol when we were in the Primera División.
How many times have you seen them on your travels?


What has been your favourite ever match ...?

Tenerife 5 Lazio 3 in the UEFA Cup in October 1996 without a doubt - maybe the best game of football I have ever seen (although Wales 2 Italy 1 in a World Cup qualifier runs it close).  I was lucky enought to be on holiday when the game took place and was there to see it.  We were 1-0 down from the first leg and went another goal down soon after the start then things swung one way and another until we triumphed and eventually we went on to the semi-final of the competition.

I still think we could have won that if Jupp Heynckes hadn't got the team to play defensively in the second leg at Schalke 04 when we were 1-0 up from the first leg.


.... and favourite player?

This is difficult;  Julio Llorente a great defender, "Colo" Lussenhoff in the centre of defence, Pablo Paz for those great runs from defence to attack and Juanele who somehow captured my imagination.  Roy Makaay was good too.  At present Nino is, of course, a superstar in this division.


In 2001 you were lucky to witness the last time Tenerife gained promotion in that epic match in Madrid.  What do you remember of that day?

I had booked flights to go to the last game of the season at Leganés well ahead.  The previous season I was there and we won 4-0 in front of about 1,500 people.  This game turned out to be a vital promotion game with our rivals being Atlético Madrid who were away to Getafe and all their fans could not get to watch them so many bought up tickets and filled up the Leganés ground to cheer them on against us.

On the Friday night I checked on the internet and the game was sold out.  I went to Madrid as planned and went to Leganés where I tried every way to get a ticket, including telling my story to the TV crews setting up for the game later that day and all to no avail.

In desperation I range the a friend in Armada Sur Fan Club who found out where the team was staying and I went across Madrid to their hotel.  They were eating lunch but eventually one of the officials came out and gave me a ticket for the game.

I then met up with two of the British supporters who had come over from Tenerife and we saw some of Madrid together beforre going to the match.

It was a tense affair but eventually Hugo Morales scored from a free-kick and we went wild and then nervously waited for the end of the game.  A win was enough for us to get promoted whatever Atlético did.

After the game we were kept in the ground for about 2 hours whist Atlético fans burnt the surrounding scrub grass and threw rocks into the stadium.  Eventually we were let out and I decided to play safe and not go back directly into Madrid on the train from Leganés but first went back to the airport with the other fans where we met and celebrated with the team.  I remember Colo Lussenhoff dancing with everyone.

Then I went back to the centre of Madrid passing the same security guard at the entrance to the Metro who had seen my Tenerife scarf two days before and told me that we had no chance of winning and that Atlético would be promoted - he had the good grace to shake me by the hand and congratulate me when I went up to him.


What do you like about Spanish football ...?

The crowds though often smaller, are generally more animated.  I just love the atmosphere.  Also, despite the odd experience of being freezing cold in Albacete and Elche, I love watching in the warm.  I once won a year's subscription to Four Four Two magazine with my reason for supporting my team being "I can't buy an ice cream at half-time anywhere else"!!! 


.... and dislike?

To many yellow and red cards.  More importantly, there is still too much racism from some supporters (although not those we associate with at Tenerife) and this is something I detest.


What do you think the future holds for CDT?  Is promotion a possibility?

I am really impressed with what I have seen this season live at Elche and on video from other games.  I think we have various goal scoring options and won't just rely on Nino.  Kome looks a rellay good player and we have some excellent young players who can be drafted in from Tenerife B  (Ed.  Who are currently top of their respective league).

I have the last two weekends of the season pencilled in my diary for trips to what might well be a promotion party if we cankeep up the much better away form we have shown in our first few games this season.