FC Girondins de Bordeaux drew a record amateur crowd of almost 11,000 supporters to the Matmut Atlantique stadium for a sixth tier league match.
The historic attendance came during the club's fixture against Stade Montois, officially known as Mont-de-Marsan, setting a new crowd record for amateur divisions in French football.
Nearly 11,000 spectators filled the stands at the modern venue in southwestern France, creating an electric atmosphere reminiscent of the club's top flight campaigns in Ligue 1.
The remarkable turnout highlighted the enduring commitment of the Bordeaux fanbase, demonstrating that local support remains strong despite the club's sudden exit from professional football.
Record attendance in French amateur football
Crowds in the sixth tier of French football, known as Regional 1, typically number in the dozens or low hundreds on municipal grounds. Drawing a five-figure gate to a modern stadium represents an unprecedented milestone at this level of the sport.
The Matmut Atlantique opened in 2015 with a seated capacity of more than 42,000 spectators and served as a host venue for the 2016 European Championship. Supporters occupied large sections of the lower bowl, singing and waving flags throughout the fixture.
Opponents Stade Montois, based in the neighboring Landes department, traveled to Bordeaux for a regional fixture that took place before a national record crowd for French amateur football.
The rise and fall of a French football giant
Founded in 1881, FC Girondins de Bordeaux stands as one of the most prestigious and historic names in French sporting history. The club has won six French league championships and four Coupe de France trophies across its long history.
Bordeaux also established a rich European tradition, competing in major continental tournaments and reaching the UEFA Cup final in 1996 with a side that featured French football icon Zinedine Zidane.
Severe financial difficulties in recent years had devastating consequences for the organization. Heavy debts and failed ownership transfers left the club unable to meet financial requirements set by French football authorities.
Following the crisis, the club lost its professional status ahead of the 2024 to 2025 campaign and was forced into the amateur sixth division after being removed from the professional league structure.
Rebuilding from regional football
The surrender of professional status required Bordeaux to release their first team squad and rebuild their football operations from scratch at the regional amateur level. The team now competes in the regional leagues of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Despite the painful drop down the football pyramid, the turnout against Mont-de-Marsan showed that the passion of the supporters remains intact as the club begins its long journey back.
