It was August 1986 when a group of young people from Calatayud, all crew members, decided to join forces and enthusiasm to establish a new San Roque Crew.
Most of these young people came from Cachirulo Crew, Los que Faltaban Crew and Rouna Crew.
Several names were considered, but they soon agreed to revive the name NOGARA ("Aragón" spelt backwards), a crew that had already existed, having first been founded in 1960 with an initial membership of 17 people, although it eventually grew to 46. Its presidents included Ramiro Zaera and Juan de la Fuente. A few years later, it ceased to exist.
Nogara Crew originally wore white trousers and a green shirt. However, when the new Nogara was created, those colours were already being used by another crew. Although an attempt was made to find a different shade of green to distinguish the two, the Inter-Crew Federation rejected the proposal and required a colour that was not already in use. It was therefore decided to adopt a white shirt with two horizontal blue stripes, white trousers, and a blue neckerchief and sash.
The same emblem used by the original Nogara was also adopted: a double circle enclosing the silhouette of the Castle of Ayud.
Work then began in earnest to make the project a reality. On 10 May 1987, the Government Delegation of Aragón approved the crew's statutes. Article 3, concerning its objectives, established the following aims:
- To promote and enhance the San Roque Festivities.
- To collaborate, whenever possible, with the other festivities celebrated in Calatayud.
- To organise and sponsor cultural activities throughout the year.
- To promote and support sporting events organised by other associations.
- To support and encourage newly created groups, as well as existing youth associations.
The first president of Nogara Crew was José Antonio Garrido. There were 150 founding members, but even more obstacles to overcome before appearing in the streets for the first San Roque Festivities in 1987. The Inter-Crew Federation required every crew to have an enclosed headquarters (something that, thirty years later, was no longer compulsory), a brass band and at least one live performance.
Without financial resources, experience or even legal adulthood, since most of the members were under age, but with tremendous determination, enthusiasm and hard work, the crew managed to meet every requirement imposed by the Inter-Crew Federation. There were live performances, an enclosed headquarters made with reed fencing, and there was a brass band.
And so, after the tremendous effort required to take to the streets for the first time, the presence of Nogara's members has continued year after year in the streets of Calatayud, with 2021 marking the crew's 35th anniversary.
The first president was José Antonio Garrido, followed by Raúl Navalpotro, Oscar García, José Carlos Badesa, Gerardo Bernal, José Antonio Escobedo, Michel Arenas, Ernesto Alba, Alfonso Blas, Luis Collado, José Manuel García and Francisco Javier Latorre.
Throughout these 35 years of history, Nogara has experienced considerable fluctuations in its membership. Although it was founded with the intention of remaining a small crew, it eventually exceeded 850 members during 1999 and 2000.
Many activities have also been organised outside the San Roque Festivities over these three and a half decades. The crew has taken part in five-a-side football competitions, organised photography contests, and actively participated in fundraising and food collection campaigns for charitable organisations in collaboration with the Red Cross, among many other initiatives.
Today, the future of Nogara Crew is assured thanks to its new generation of young members, who have grown up alongside their parents, embracing the spirit of the San Roque Festivities and enjoying the friendship and welcoming atmosphere that have always characterised their crew.
Group photographs through the years
