Glasul roților de tren

Ioan Chirilă tells Rapid’s story from its roots in the railway. He follows the club to its 1967 league title. The club began with workers in Grivița. It also went by the names CFR and Locomotiva. A dressmaker chose the team’s maroon colour. This sports history is for Rapid fans and young readers. It shows them why football draws people in.

Chirilă tells the tale through Ion T. Ion, a railway draughtsman. He links life at the railway depot with busy Obor. The club moves up and down the divisions. It has great wins and losses it could have avoided. It beats Ujpest but loses to Arieșul Turda. Players mark their wins at Luther and Mercur. Those in power put pressure on the team. Four players face arrest before a match. Their rivals have the backing of those in power. Wit and tact help the club push back.

We meet Berilă, Parpală, Baratky, Ozon and Filote. Nichi Dumitriu, Auer and Bauer also feature in the tales. Dumitriu dribbles past a goalkeeper time and again. He draws him beyond the pitch. Another player urges a rival to score on his birthday. At Romcomit, shots break light bulbs. Electricians fit new bulbs during the break. These tales blend match drama with food and humour. They show the bonds that keep fans true to their club.

Chirilă was born in Ismail in 1925. His family moved to Galați in 1940, then to Brăila. He went on to study law in Bucharest. He earned his degree in 1949. He began work in sports editing in 1951. He joined Sportul popular in 1959. The paper later took the name Gazeta sporturilor. He started as a reporter, then held editing posts. He rose to the rank of general director. From 1997, he also served as a senior editor at Pro Sport. He covered nine World Cup finals tournaments and two Summer Olympics.