As shiny as a stadium

Let's go for a little wander through a little town that in its field is one of life's over-achievers.

Villareal is the home of ceramic tiles, and it's made the 50,000 strong town prosperous. Four of Spain's top 500 businesses are based here, all working in tiles. But what to do with that all that success?

How about developing building a world-class football team?

Wandering along Pg. de l'Estació with its planched plane trees takes you past the church of San Jaime which looks decidedly more finished on the inside than the rough and ready exterior. If only they could get some nice tiles from somewhere.

The Europa winning Villareal is one of football's over-achievers and what better way to celebrate its 100th birthday than by getting a new makeover.

The stadium is being given the shiny bright yellow tile treatment to match the shiny bright yellow interior and it's getting a new name. What was El Madrigal (named after the local district) is becoming La Ceramica.

For English visitors, it's a chance to reflect on stadium renames back home.

Where once they could proudly pass through the turnstiles of Highbury or Maine Road just like their parents and grandparents before them, now they line up to at the Etihad, the Emirates, the King Power, the Select Car Leasing and yes, even the bet365. But surely Bolton Wanderers have topped the table by renaming their stadium Toughsheet - don't like it? Toughsheet.

At least English fans can join in with the locals singing their anthem, 'Yellow Submarine'.

Any guesses why?

On the way back to the train station, is the Basílica de Sant Pasqual, which was rebuilt after the Spanish Civil War and is a good place to pick up a souvenir, like a nice Grolsch bottle cover.

How to get here

Villareal is an hour away from Valencia and just 8 minutes from Castellion de La Plana.

For purchasing tickets here's a link to the Trainline