A stage set in stone, a cathedral-like silence, and, in the stands, nearly 40,000 pairs of eyes filled with tears. Saturday 23rd of November 2019, the spectators who made the trip to the stade Bollaert-Delelis of the Racing Club de Lens, are not only coming to the 15th day of Ligue 2 between the club of the Pas-de-Calais at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. They also have been held to pay tribute to the man known as ” the druid “, Daniel Leclercq, who died the day before. Leclercq and his blond mane, player iconic of Blood and Gold (1974 to 1983) and that, once you become a trainer (1997 to 1999), won the single championship of France of the club in 1998. During the minute of silence which was dedicated, not a sound does fuita, as if time had stopped inside the enclosure. But there was no less than one club RC Lens, which was founded in 1906 and originally composed of the employees of the mining Company, now defunct, but the values immortal ? It is a fragment of this long history that have wanted to wear François Pesenti (former director of sports services on the RMC), Luc Dayan (former president of the RC Lens from 2012 to 2013) and Nicolas Duval (producer) in the series in Lens, blood and gold in four episodes of 45 minutes, broadcast on the chain Team on the 24 and 25 June, from 21 hours.

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The three French have chosen to surf on the success of the series devoted to sports that have experienced a rousing success, as Sunderland : against all odds (Sunderland ‘Til I Die in VO, around this football club in the north of England) ouThe Last Dance (dedicated to the last season of the basketball player Michael Jordan in Chicago Bulls, both of which aired on Netflix. For François Pesenti, ex-boss of the sport on RMC, the choice of the club of the ex-cited mining flowed from source : “We were looking for a club with a strong social footprint, the bearer of a history, a culture, a tradition, he said during the teleconference presentation of the series. I hope that the film will rehabilitate the football as a crucible of social and the link between the generations. “

The first episode is mainly devoted to the “context” lensois. A city severely affected by the gradual closure of coal mines and a population for which the RC Lens is a beacon of pride. “There was so much struggle that we get to make fun of these galleys “, said Thomas, a touching supporter of 35 years as one follows the course of the episodes and who doesn’t miss a game of Blood and Gold, either with the group of supporters (the Red Tigers) in travelling or in family, with his wife and his two daughters, for home games.

“spread the club beyond the mining basin”

In the second and third episode, it mainly follows the club’s season in League 2, chaired since June 16, 2018 by the founder of the fund Amber Capital, Joseph Oughourlian, quickly seduced by this project of series around his or her club : “It’s going to promote the club beyond the mining basin. It was the best club in France to tell this story, ” says the one who had tried to get the head of the group, Arnaud Lagardère in the spring.

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The viewer discovers, through the hole of the lock, a few scenes such as the traditional lecture from the coach Philippe Montanier (which will also be thanked during the season) to his players at half-time or when it welcomes new players to the club. But also, what is more rare, behind-the-scenes negotiations for the purchase and sale of players, with other club presidents or players ‘ agents. “The club has opened all the doors, without any financial consideration,” says François Pesenti. The only condition was to do nothing to go out during the season so as not to disrupt the team, what we have observed. “

Despite a fourth episode that hangs out sometimes at length, with the suspension of the season because of the crisis, pandemic coronavirus, Lens, blood and gold is part of the lineage of sports documentaries French landmark, like the Eyes in the Blue of Stéphane Meunier in 1998. We would have also liked to discover more about the lives of these fans passionate, capable, for example, to travel more than 700 kilometres of Lens at Brest, at 60, on a Monday evening, simply to support their team ; an atmosphere more palpable in the documentary of Netflix dedicated to Sunderland, for example. But, in the end, it will tip, in the face of the dignity and values of the players, and the coaching leader, fully aware of the context in which they operate. This is cleverly summarized by these words coming to knock the building of the club : “Ambition, loyalty, pride, respect and passion. “

” in Lens, blood and gold “, on the chain The Team, Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June from 21 hours.

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