Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo

Escuela de Fútbol de Mareo sits in the Mareo de Abajo area of Gijón. The complex covers a large patch of land, but the attention here is on the smaller grounds within it.

The main field, known as Campo Pepe Ortiz, holds just 3,000 spectators. This is not a shortfall; it is a feature. It is where Real Sporting de Gijón B plays their home games. It is also the base for the Under-19 squad and the women’s team. The first team uses the facilities for training, but the stadium itself belongs to the development side.

The pitch is natural grass. It has been that way since the complex was opened in 1978. The design was the work of Miguel Díaz-Negrete. The building cost was covered by the sale of older club grounds and state subsidies. The city council took ownership of the site in 2001, but the lease remains with Sporting.

There is a specific memory attached to this ground. On June 25, 2017, the crowd swelled to around 4,000 for a Tercera División playoff. Sporting B faced SD Beasain. The result was a 5–2 win, securing promotion to Segunda División B.

The facility hosts the Torneo Marea Rojiblanca. It is a place of work, not a monument. You can hear the players on the training pitches next door. The separation between the academy and the senior squad is visible, but the connection is clear. This is where the next generation learns the game in Gijón.