Magazine Blaugranes Number 9

BLAUGRANES OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE FC BARCELONA SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS WORLD CONFEDERATION. NO.9 – JULY 2019

ALWAYS WITH THE TEAM SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS, BARÇA’S SOUL ON THE STANDS • INTERVIEW WITH JULIANO BELLETTI • INTERVIEW WITH JOSEP MARIA BARNILS • MEET THE SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS • EVENTS • LATEST NEWS

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EDITORIAL

Antoni Guil reflects on the importance of fans for FC Barcelona.

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SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS, BARÇA’S SOUL ON THE STANDS

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JOSEP Mª BARNILS We talk to the Director of the Club about the evolution of the blaugrana supporters’ club movement.

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REPORT

We delve into the Penyes Padel Tour tournament.

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ACTIVITIES Overview of the Junts+, Penyes Futbol Games and the #Invulnerables projects, and the “Barça and Catalonia” conferences across the whole of the Catalan territory.

We look back over the mobilisation and unconditional following supporters’ clubs have shown for all teams over the last season.

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BELLETTI The FC Barcelona ambassador

MEET THE SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS

We discover the history of PB El Papiol, PB Villabalter and PB Japó.

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NEWS All the news about the supporters’ club movement.

reveals his story and journey in the Club.

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EDITION FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation PRESIDENT Antoni Guil i Román MANAGER Joan Camps i Reig EDITING FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, LLYC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Communication and Marketing Departments of FC Barcelona COLLABORATORS FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs Federations, Pere Escobar COVER PHOTOGRAPH Dani Aznar PHOTOGRAPHY Germán Parga – FCB, Manel Gimeno, Santiago Garcés, Marc Guillem, Supporters’ Federations LAYOUT DESIGN Bufa Tramuntana Comunicació PRINTING TO+ Creacions Gràfiques LEGAL DIPOSIT B 25197-2017

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E D I T O R I A L

The power of a feeling The mission of the supporters’ club movement is to always be behind our teams. This support has played a decisive role on many occasions over the course of FC Barcelona’s history. Our wide reach and our ability to act around the world ensures that the blaugrana anthem is sung loudly match after match, instilling the necessary strength and courage into our players when facing the most demanding sporting challenges. This season, support has been even more remarkable than ever. Over 40 trips have been organised, following the first team to Holland, Italy, England and France. Those journeys entailed sharing emotions, some moments of euphoria and also some of sadness, but, at the same time, they also offered us a new opportunity to demonstrate our Club’s values abroad.

Those expeditions were not just limited to the first football team. Basketball, handball, roller hockey and futsal have all mobilised good numbers of fans thanks to the enormous work of those supporters’ clubs especially committed to giving visibility

to these sporting disciplines. Without a doubt, the support to women’s football team and the connection with fans at certain key moments over the season has to be highlighted. For example, moments such as the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the historic match against Atlético de Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, a match which smashed attendance records for women’s football at club level. This is yet another example of the important role supporters play in achieving common goals.

Both the ‘penyes’ and the supporters have once again demonstrated our role as an emblem of Barça loyalty. That’s why we spread blaugrana passion around the world, we vibrate with our teams and we contribute to increasing and consolidating the sporting and social leadership of the biggest and best multisports Club in the world, FC Barcelona.

Thank you all for your commitment to our colours.

Antoni Guil

President of the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation

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SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS BARÇA’S SOUL ON THE STANDS

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Supporters’ meeting in Manchester

BARÇA SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS DEDICATION TO FOLLOWING THE TEAM FAR AND WIDE HAS TURNED THE BLAUGRANA SUPPORTERS’ CLUB MOVEMENT INTO ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST GLOBAL MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD It was the final of the 115th edition of the Copa del Rey and, despite the match being held far from the stadiums of FC Barcelona and Valencia CF, the Benito Villamarín Stadium in Seville was packed with people. A great many of the attendees filling the stands were dressed in blue and garnet and were singing in chorus the anthem and chants used to encourage Barça since 1899. They all had one common goal: to see the first team victorious, but they were all from different places.

The majority of them were supporters that had travelled from distant parts of Spain in order to demonstrate that the ‘penyes’ play an essential role when it comes to supporting the team when playing away from home. In total, 21,000 people accompanied FC Barcelona to Seville, of which 8,000 were

Members of the Penya Barcelonista New York

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Supporters in the Fan Zone during the Copa del Rey final

from supporters’ clubs from all over the world. In particular, the Peña Barcelonista de Pedroche and the Penya Barcelonista de Palamós i Comarca were the organisations that managed to bring the greatest number of fans to the Andalusian stadium.

It wasn’t in vain. Members of supporters clubs are fans who are ready to give their all for the team and they support them unconditionally. This support is decisive in the final results of matches and the players hold it close to their hearts. Over the course of the season, many people have travelled to share their players’ euphoria and tears. Specifically, supporters club members have accounted for 50% of the people who travelled to watch Liga games and 70% of those who travelled to watch Champions matches and other sections of the Club. This is clear evidence of supporters clubs’ role in upholding the blaugrana spirit around the world and something that has turned the FC Barcelona supporters club movement into one of the biggest and most global movements in the world.

Travelling throughout the year However, the Copa del Rey final is not an isolated example of the passion shown by members of supporters’ clubs.

Every match throughout the Champions League was another example of the ‘penyes’ lively spirit across the whole of Europe.

Record figures went to Holland for the match between PSV

Supporters’ clubs from the Basque Federation in Seville

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The supporters’ clubs always present in the Camp Nou stands

Eindhoven and Barça at the start of the season. More than 760 people, members of 60 blaugrana supporters’ clubs from all over the world, travelled to Holland to attend the competition.

In other words, almost 80% of the total number of away fans and Club members. Many of those people were from the World Federation, with a particular presence from the three Dutch organisations, the two from Poland and the five from Belgium.

A few weeks later, the Penya Lombarda FC Barcelona welcomed 600 fellow supporters from all over the world to Milan, coinciding with the match between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona. Although the attendees mainly came from blaugrana supporters’ clubs in Italy and nearby regions, organisations from Poland and Hungary didn’t miss the date either.

In February, the city of Lyon welcomed more than 650 supporters for the round of 16 match between Olympique and Barça. With a large number of events headed by the local ‘penya’, the FC Blaugrana “Plus que des Supporters”, the match ended up with an attendance ranking dominated by Swiss and French supporters’ clubs. Of particular note were the supporters’ clubs from Geneva, Vandoeuvre Lorraine, Paris and the Penya “Blaugranor” du Nord de la France. That being said, many international organisations also travelled to the metropolis in the east of France.

In addition, the Manchester-Barça match, played in April, brought more than 600 fans from supporters’ clubs all

over the world to the city in the north of England. And, even though 38% of the away fans were members of the Polish ‘penya’ Fan Club Barça Polska, the quarter finals brought together supporters from organisations in London, Budapest, Newcastle, North France and the Penya Gastronòmica, as well as from places further afield such as Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Cali and Beirut.

Another example of the convening power of supporters’ clubs was demonstrated on Member Solidarity Day, which was celebrated on the occasion of the FC Barcelona-Cultural Leonesa Copa del Rey match. In total, 16,000 people from collectives, organisations, schools, associations and socialaction institutions from all over Catalonia made their way to Camp Nou. Altogether demonstrated Barça supporters’ clubs are united and committed to their surroundings besides playing a fundamental role in supporting the teams.

Supporters’ rallies are another, more characteristic, example of the ‘penyes’ support. Virtually every time fans follow the Club to a new location, there is a meeting of traveller supporters which warms up the engines before facing the most difficult and complex matches. The nature of these gatherings may be very diverse: from rallies in busy places in the host cities to different types of sporting events, such as the five-a-side match organised between Inter Milan and Barça Legends ahead of their Champion’s League clash in Italy.

Meeting of Russian Supporters’ Clubs in Moscow

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SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS DON’T JUST SUPPORT FOOTBALL

Supporters’ clubs supporting hockey

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Although the first team in undeniably the reason behind the movement of the greatest number of fans, the blaugrana penyas have also demonstrated unconditional support to other sections of the Club. Over the course of the season, thousands of supporters have accompanied and supported the teams of the four sections of the Club: basketball, handball, roller hockey and futsal, as well as those of amateur sports. Among the supporters clubs that carry out important work in terms of supporting other sections are PB Meritxell, PB Sang Culé Cor Català, PB de Móstoles, PB Soses, PB Osos Rusos from Noginsk and PB El Racó.

The Penya Blaugrana Sang Culé Cor Català at the Palau Blaugrana

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Supporters’ clubs supporting the women’s team

Over recent years, women’s football has been gaining followers within the supporters’ clubs. FC Barcelona Women were the first female Spanish League club to reach a UEFA Women’s Champions League final. The final took place on 18th May just gone, and even though the team didn’t come away with a positive result, they still managed to congregate a large number of supporters who wanted to share the emotion of those sports women in that historic moment.

On the occasion of the match played in Budapest against Olympique Lyonnais, more than 250 FC Barcelona supporters’ club members travelled to the Hungarian city. Amongst which it’s worth mentioning the strong presence of the Penya Blaugrana Budapest, host of the event, that accumulated more than 170 fans in the Groupama Arena.

In celebration of the match, the Hungarian supporters’ club organised an intimate traditional meal that was attended by various representatives from the Club and the Confederation.

They also encouraged fans to meet at Orczy Garden park so that they could walk to the outside of the stadium together.

This event and another more recent event, the historic match against Atlético de Madrid in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, which smashed attendance records for women’s football at club level, are clear examples that prove the importance of women’s sport at the heart of supporters’ clubs.

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At the Wanda, at the women’s football match with the largest audience in history

WOMEN ALSO MOVE THE MASSES

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The hero of Paris Juliano Belletti may have just turned 43, but he’s still in the same shape as he was when he was 25.

There isn’t an ounce of fat on him.

“I work a lot, more than I did when I was a footballer.” He’s a Barça Legends player, an ambassador for the Club, the creator of football schools and artificial turf and has a thousand other things on the go, such as giving company talks in which he aims to teach all that he’s learnt throughout his career as a footballer. Among other things, his portfolio includes championships in three different countries, a Champions League, and a World Cup.

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“I SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH COMPANIES, FOOTBALL CLUBS OR SCHOOLS... BASICALLY WHEREVER I’M NEEDED. I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF TRAINING, TEAMWORK AND COMPETITION. I TELL THEM THE STORY OF A BOY WHO STARTED OFF AS A FUTSAL GOALKEEPER AND ENDED UP SCORING THE WINNING GOAL IN A PARIS FINAL.” Juliano Belletti

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That Paris goal, oh my! Do they still mention it to you?

Every day! People are very kind. When I’m at Barcelona airport there’s always a police officer or somebody around who greets me with a “look, it’s Belletti, the hero of Paris!” And the same happens when I’m out and about. I feel very much appreciated here.

Maybe that’s the reason why you’re an ambassador for the Club. A Brazilian ambassador.

Indeed, in my own country they still don’t quite understand, and I’m often asked, “but if you’re Brazilian, how come you’re an ambassador for Barça?” Well, because it’s global and exists around the world. They know that I like working and love what the Club does, and I want to help because I believe in the same values.

It’s important to contribute to society. And I try to do so, just like Barça. It’s not about just turning up for events. There are days when you spend five hours out in the sun, and others when you don’t eat. It’s not always easy, but it doesn’t bother me because I know the brand’s power to contribute to society through football.

If they still turn to me, it’s because I’m doing a good job: I travel a lot with the Club, the Academy, the Foundation, the supporters’ clubs and the Legends. We’ve been to Greece, to refugee camps, Uganda, India, China, Japan, the United States...

You must have a good understanding of what the Club aims to transmit...

And to believe in it! I wouldn’t be able to do it otherwise. You can’t lie when talking to children: you need to know how to converse with them, to come up with an idea, understand it, share it and

Belletti plays with children at the Barça Academy

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Celebrating the Champions League in Paris (2006), where he scored the winning goal

work on it, depending on who it’s aimed at. Once I went to Miami, and on the way to the academy I studied for an hour a half in order to understand what I should say to the children and how to go about it. It’s not about fooling them into wanting to play for the first team, because only a selected few can actually achieve this. However, on the way there you can pick up a lot of extremely valuable life skills, which will leave you well equipped for the future and will always come in handy sooner or later.

You also visit supporters’ clubs. This is actually a new experience because the players are very far removed from the supporters.

Indeed, the player is isolated out of necessity. You have to withstand the pressure of the results, the people, the boards, the press, the fans... The pressure forms a bubble around you that makes you feel safe, comfortable and ready to work when the time comes. You also have to perform well on the pitch, so it’s important to be focused. When this is all over and you don’t have to win, you no longer have this responsibility; you don’t get torn apart by the press, your job’s not on the line, and this is when you emerge from the bubble. When you’re a player and things aren’t working out, you start to doubt everything and everybody, even those closest to you: the looks, the people... they don’t remember what you’ve done in the past, they only see the present. The football world has a short memory, but this also has its advantages. When you retire, they miss you. When you’re over as a footballer you’re booted out, but after you’re gone and there’s no longer so much pressure, they miss you.

And what about when you come out of the bubble?

That’s when you realise that the world is much simpler than you thought when you were a footballer. The people want to talk to you, get to know you as a person, take photos... but when you’re a

footballer it’s impossible. Now I get to enjoy this each time I visit a supporters’ club.

And, of course, they also ask you about the Paris goal... So allow me to do the same... what do you remember about that goal?

They’re interested in my reaction to the goal in Paris, about what was going through my mind at that time. I know I never really stood out as a player, I was working for Ronnie, for Samuel, for Deco, and I wasn’t looking to take the spotlight just for myself.

They were three years of hard work, and the only thing that is remembered is that goal. When I started the game on the bench, Valdés worked miracles with some incredible saves, and when I came on, I scored five minutes later. The feeling is just indescribable.

Weren’t you upset at having been left on the bench?

I was so happy that it didn’t even cross my mind I’d been left on the bench. It’s true that I thought I’d play as a starter, but I understood Rijkaard’s decision, and in the pep talk before the game he convinced me that I shouldn’t think negatively, that the team could need me at any moment. I remember that I was extremely focused on the bench, watching every tackle, every move. When I went on, it felt as if I’d already been playing.

Some players go on and hardly even touch the ball because the pressure is so great, but not me. What’s a right-back supposed to do when you’re losing 1-0 and there’s only a fifteen minutes left in the game? It doesn’t cross your mind that you’ll go on and score two goals. I went on to attack, to play, to help out my teammates: Ronnie, Samuel, Iniesta... and in the end I got my chance. To keep control of a ball when it’s raining, at speed and with your left foot, is very difficult. The first option was to look for someone in a Barça shirt further down, but that’s not the way we

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work and we know it. There wasn’t anybody, so I didn’t have any choice but to shoot, and that’s what I did. It was all over in less than a second, but it was as if time stood still. You have to be ready. I hadn’t prepared myself for that moment or that final in a day, a week or a month. I’d been preparing for it my whole life.

Ten months before, Oleguer was playing instead and I had to fight hard not to be upset, to come back stronger, to regain my position and play when I needed to: I prepared for that final all season.

That’s what football teaches you, and that’s what I explain in my talks.

I was indeed, I’ve never been intimidated by change. That’s another thing football taught me, and it’s been a process of constant preparation, of gathering skills. In China, they say that everything you learn ends up coming in useful at some point, and it’s true. I’ve done marketing, communications, social networking... I’ve studied a great deal and become involved. When they’ve come along asking to use my name, I’ve always said that only if I can chip in, use my experience. It happened with Arena Belletti, the football school, which is now a school for very young children and adults.

A right-back who turns a final around, and one who started off as a futsal goalkeeper...

For adults?

That’s right, a right-back who at eleven years old won a Brazilian league and three leagues in Paraná. My father was an 11-a-side football goalie and in the 1970 World Cup, he almost made it to third place in the national team. I wanted to be like him. When we were little, he sent all three brothers to a football school.

The eldest was selected to play futsal for Cruzeiro when he was 18, and I was 15 at the time, and I spend the holidays there. But in order to stay at the academy I had to go try outs, and I was accepted. By brother didn’t let me try out as a goalkeeper in case I robbed him of his place, so I played as a central midfielder. As I didn’t know how to dribble, pass over long distances or score goals, I went easy on myself and just played as part of the team: kick and receive. I passed the ball to whoever was in the best position, and I never lost it. The coach noticed this, and I was signed. “You never make a mistake,” he told me, and that’s how I ended up changing position.

That’s right, for adults. We all like playing football, and we all want to lose weight. So, instead of going to the gym, I encourage them to keep fit on the football pitch. Along with the exercise, they learn to take responsibility for their own work, to relieve stress, manage pressure, overcome fears, work in a team and find solutions. Football offers you all these things: if you improve the coordination of your whole body, your fitness levels and concentration, you’ll be able to lead a better life. It’s a very exciting project that’s been spectacularly well-received. It’s a franchise, and we’ve received offers from all the states in Brazil.

While you’re here, by the way, what do you think of the new Barça shirt?

(Laughs) I love it! I’ve always been open to new, more daring ideas, so I like it very much.

Listen, before you go, tell us about Messi...

I wonder how much remains of that young goalkeeper.

According to the cliché goalkeepers are a little unhinged...

Yes, I’m insane. When I was nineteen, I went international as a pivot, but at twenty-three I decided to change position, and moved up the pitch. I scored numerous goals and was named best player in Brazil. That’s how I ended the season, but my club had a problem with the right-back and just a month later I told my coach not to worry, that I’d play in his position. He said that it was impossible, that they couldn’t play the best midfielder in the country as a right-back. I did it to help out but ended up enjoying it. Six months later, I was playing as right-back on the national team.

When I was playing and Messi came on the scene, he was already the same as he is now. And that’s the difficult thing. Every time, every year, every game... I’ve known him for a long time and he still manages to impress me. The hardest thing is to keep that up.

I’ve played with and against great players like Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, who have only lasted a few years at the top. But he stays at the same level. Maybe the titles aren’t coming our way, but that’s football: you lose more than you win. Messi is different, he’s the greatest player I’ve ever seen in my life. I didn’t have the good fortune to see Pelé, but Messi is the greatest of them all. That’s why we must carry on enjoying every game and everything that he does, because it’s unlikely to ever be another player like him.

When you played futsal, you were already an innovator without knowing it...

By the way, Belletti has four children. The eldest, aged fourteen, is a goalkeeper. Just like his grandfather.

The 1st Pan-American Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs

Belletti admired by Barça fans from around the world

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“The Confederation has played a key role in the internationalisation of the supporters club movement” Josep Maria Barnils may be a lawyer by name, but he’s most certainly a culer by nature. In fact, it could even be said that FC Barcelona is part of his DNA. Born in Barcelona in 1964, he was raised amidst the blaugrana passion and values thanks to his father, Carles Barnils, one of the Club’s most prominent figures. Josep Maria Barnils has instilled this legacy into Barça fans from all over the world, and has done so with the help of the supporters’ clubs, a movement he has been in charge of overseeing, improving and internationalising since 2010. Thanks to him, today there are thousands of culers across the globe whose hearts belong to Barça, and he’s certain that they’ll only get bigger and better.

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“I’M STILL AMAZED THERE ARE PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM BARCELONA WITH SUCH GREAT LOVE FOR OUR CLUB “ Your history with Barça goes back a long way. How did you use to experience the blaugrana spirit at home?

Indeed, I’ve been surrounded by Barça my whole life. In fact, I’ve been a member since the day I was born, some 55 years ago. I started going regularly to the Stadium when I was 7, and still continue to do so today. What’s more, my father, Carles Barnils, was the editor of Barça magazine, founder of the magazine Barcelonista and patron of the Barça Foundation, from its beginning right up until his death in 2012. At home we lived and breathed Barça every single day, so much so that our weekends even revolved around matches. We suffered for many years, until we started winning regular titles in the nineties.

You became an executive of the Club in 2010, when you were made head of the International Supporters’ Club Area, and you’re currently Chief Executive of the Social Commission.

What have been your duties so far?

Over recent years I’ve mainly been in charge of our supporters’ clubs overseas. I think the main goal has been to show them they’re still an essential part of the Club despite being a long way from Barcelona. There may be many miles between us, but we’re never very far away in spirit. It’s vital that they know they’re held in high regard and aware of the important role they play, and this is why we want to listen to them and look after them. Once we’ve achieved this, it will be easier for these supporters’ clubs to get more involved, and become better ambassadors for the Club in each territory. On the other hand, of course, I’ve also assisted the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation. I’ve contributed to the growth of the movement on an international scale and have participated in the various events that have taken place overseas. I’ve also helped to improve the organisation, among other things. In this regard, I’d like to point out that 50 supporters clubs have been created all over the world since 2015.

You’ve had the opportunity to visit supporters’ clubs all over the world. What traits would you say they all have in common, and what differentiates the supporters’ clubs here from those in the rest of the world?

What they all share, obviously, is the Barça sentiment; a love for the colours and the defence of our values in each territory.

On the other hand, I’d say that the structure has changed.

The first international supporters’ clubs were founded with the help of Catalan people who’d moved to these countries for family or professional reasons. Nowadays, it’s the local people themselves who establish them. Maybe another difference is that the supporters’ club members abroad are generally young, something which means they’ve grown up

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watching the Club’s victories over the past few decades.

They’re very enthusiastic, they travel a lot (this can be seen during the Champions League), and they’re very optimistic; it never occurs to them to throw away their membership card after a defeat, as the Catalans have been known to do on certain occasion.

Outside Catalonia and Spain, where have you seen the greatest Barça following?

There’s a very strong fanbase in Europe. Probably because Barcelona is so close. Although saying this, over the last few years we’ve also seen rapid growth in other regions, such as those encompassed by CONCACAF, (particularly the US), and Africa (mainly Morocco, which is currently the country with most official supporters’ clubs along with France). Asia is still the continent where expansion is more needed.

The officialization of the Federations, in 2013, implied a significant change in the structure of the supporters’ club movement. Particularly on a global level, you’ve worked very closely with the World Federation in order to grow internationally. What would you say have been the most important changes over the last years?

With the greatest respect, I’d say that with the officialization of the Federations our work has become more “professional”.

One example of this can be seen with the World Federation, whose board of directors is currently undertaking a huge task, not only to maintain the high quality of the existing supporters’ clubs, but also to keep growing and increase the number of supporters’ clubs on a global scale.

We’ve also heard that some organisational changes are in the pipeline on an international level. Could you tell us what these are? What’s the objective?

One change will be the coming into effect of the new Statutes and Regulations, which need to be approved at the World Federation Congress. This will take place in Barcelona on 3 August, to coincide with the Supporters’ Clubs World Congress and the Joan Gamper Trophy. They include the creation of five areas in the World zone, each with their own jurisdiction and board. The five areas are: Europe, South America, Asia and Oceania, CONCACAF, and Africa. In my opinion, the establishment of these areas will help to strengthen the existing supporters’ clubs in each territory, as well as offer more opportunities for the creation of new supporters’ clubs in these regions. The goal is that, within a few years, when these areas are fully structured and operational, with a minimum number of established supporters’ clubs, they will gradually break away from the World Federation until eventually having their own Federation in each area.

FC Barcelona has also decided to link various projects with overseas supporters’ clubs to highlight the Club’s social influence outside of Spain. One example of this is the significant collaboration between the Barça Academy and the supporters’ clubs. How do you rate these alliances? What do you think the future holds for them?

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That’s correct. I think it’s very important for international supporters’ clubs to be associated with other initiatives that the Club carries out in each territory. Not only with the Barça Academy, but also with the Foundation. In the specific case of the Academy, obviously they need to work hand in hand with the supporters’ clubs. By doing this, the children and parents won’t just get to know the football side of FC Barcelona, in terms of style of play and behaviour on the pitch, but also the social aspect of the Club, such as its history and values. We already have some good examples of places (the Dominican Republic, Nigeria), in which the Academy has played an essential role in the creation of other entities. We are moving in the right direction, and I know that the boards of the World Federation and the Academy are working together to bring other projects to light.

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During the pre-season tour in the United States

What role do you believe the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation has played since its creation?

One that is very important. It was an essential and significant step towards improving the supporters’ club movement. If we take a look at the international side of things, the Confederation has played a key role in the huge development of the movement, which now boasts over 130 supporters’ clubs overseas. It has also been fundamental in always supporting the initiatives (events, zone meetings etc.) organised by the board of the World Federation.

I’d also like to point out the support that Jordi Cardoner and Pau Vilanova have given to this international growth.

At the 2nd Pan-American Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs

How essential are the supporters’ clubs when it comes to supporting the teams?

They’re fundamental. When a team plays away, be it for La Liga or the Champions League, the supporters’ club members are always at hand to lend their support. But I’d say that what stands out above all is how they support all the FC Barcelona teams (whether it be football, the other professional sections or youth football) that visit each territory. In terms of support, I’d give the supporters’ clubs 10/10.

What do you think the supporters’ club movement will look like in ten years’ time? Will it have grown?

I see a movement that is increasingly more structured, and which will have grown in both quality and quantity. It’s also likely to be rejuvenated, very socially active and it will play an important role in the community of each territory.

With the PB Sfax at the 8th Congress of Francophone Supporters’ Clubs

And finally, what is your favourite anecdote relating to the supporters’ club world?

More than an anecdote, it’s the way that I’m still surprised, even after so many years, by each foreign supporters’ club that I visit. The love these people have for FC Barcelona (even though they’ve often never even set foot in the Stadium or Barcelona), is incredible. What’s more, they also know about the history and identity of our Club. I’m still amazed there are people thousands of miles from Barcelona with such great love for our Club.

Members of francophone Barça supporters’ clubs

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PB EL PAPIOL The perfect blend of locality and globality WITH ALMOST 150 MEMBERS AND OVER 35 YEARS OF HISTORY, THE PENYA BLAUGRANA EL PAPIOL REMAINS A SYMBOL OF CULTURE AND BLAUGRANA SPIRIT “We’ve followed Barça by car, by coach, by train and by plane,” says Antonio Lorenz, president of the Penya Blaugrana El Papiol, a supporters’ club that has been accompanying the Club of its dreams for over three decades, and celebrates the blaugrana spirit and passion from the heart of El Baix Llobregat. These

#Invulnerables talk by Sister Lucía Caram at the supporters’ club

journeys, have held at times a great deal of significance for its members, in allowing them to combine their passion for sports with their personal life: “The trips to the US with the supporters’ club have been very special. I have especially fond memories of our latest visit to Dallas, Washington DC and New York. I have two grandchildren over there, one aged eight and the other aged three, whom I don’t get to see as often as I’d like, and that’s why these trips are so important,” explains the president, clearly moved.

A dream fulfilled “We’ve been supporting Barça around the world for over 35 years. For us, the common denominators of the blaugrana spirit are the people, the feeling, the love for the colours and meeting fans from other supporters’ clubs who become lifelong friends,” says Lorenz.

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“MORE THAN 35 YEARS SUPPORTING FCB ALL OVER THE WORLD” PB EL PAPIOL Photo: Castle of El Papiol

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This supporters’ club, which currently boasts 146 members, was officially founded in November 1983, thanks to the determination of a group of culers who had always closely followed their team; whether it be at Camp Nou or from the bar in the local town square. “The main goal of creating a supporters’ club was to bring more people together to enjoy the games and organise group outings,” says the president.

Today, the now-consolidated supporters’ club still remains fully active. The entity organises all kinds of initiatives with which it maintains a bond with the community, such as botifarrades (where people get together to eat traditional Catalan sausages), food drives and meetings. Moreover, it also boasts a firm friendship with other supporters’ clubs in the area, such as those from Berguedà and Maresme, and has established a now-iconic tradition: visiting the restaurant of the Avi del Barça (Grandfather of Barça). Once a year, the club meets up with Joan Casals, the real name behind this vital character in culer history, to enjoy a day that allows them to share the sentiment that brings them together.

At the last meeting, they climbed to the Pedraforca lookout point before sitting together around the table.

Culer traditions at El Papiol Located in El Baix Llobregat, El Papiol, currently home to just over 4,000 inhabitants, was formed on a 160-metrehigh hill around a castle that dates from 1115. For the inhabitants of a town that breathes history, one of the most important events of the year is Cultural Week, a festival that was established in 1978 to promote the various cultural aspects of the area, and above all, to unite all local entities. The Penya Blaugrana del Papiol, which always plays a central role in the social and

Members of the Penya Blaugrana El Papiol

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cultural life of the town, has actively participated in this significant event for many years. As tradition dictates, the supporters’ club members conduct a guided tour of the castle; an ideal setting for sharing culture and Barça sentiment. After the visit, they organise a talk in which a different personality or charity participates each year. At last year’s event, fans were given the opportunity to meet Sister Lucía Caram, who explained her own personal trajectory whilst also raising awareness of the reality of child poverty, in an event which remains engraved in the memories of the supporters’ club members to this day.

Culture and history form the foundations of this versatile supporters’ club that remains committed to its community whilst also aware of its place in an international context, with the organisation also taking part in all the activities organised by the Supporters Clubs of World Confederation.

Warming up for the World Congress of Supporters Clubs On the weekend of the 18th of May, the blaugrana supporters’ clubs within the Federation of Supporters’ Clubs of El Baix Llobregat gathered in the gym of the Escola Pau Vila in Papiol to take part in the eSports tournament, Penyes Futbol Games. Over 31 blaugrana fans, each with a special knack at the gamepad, signed up for this event which eventually saw four winners. Prizes were awarded by the Federation of El Baix Llobregat to these finalists, who will go on to represent the supporters’ club at the 40th World Congress of Supporters’ Clubs.

In short, over the years this supporters’ club has grown little by little to achieve the purpose for which it was born: “To make a great Barça family.”

The Penyes Futbol Games tournament at the supporters’ club

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PB VILLABALTER 31 years, 1 book and a lot of passion JOHAN CRUYFF WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE HE WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES OF THE PEÑA BARCELONISTA VILLABALTER THAT CURRENTLY COUNTS WITH OVER THREE DECADES OF HISTORY AND BLAUGRANA TRADITION Curiously, the story of the Peña Barcelonista Villabalter begins far way from the province of León where it grew up. The early days coincided with the declaration of FC Barcelona as the new champions of La Liga in the 1984-85 season, after the historic penalty save which will forever be recorded in our memories thanks to the famous phrase uttered by journalist Joaquim Maria Puyal “Urruti t’estimo” (Urruti, I love you). Many

Supporters at the Copa del Rey 2019 final

Barça supporters’ from the town of Villabalter had travelled to Valladolid to share this decisive match with the local supporters’ club “El Botijo”. That intense day left Leonese fans with a real urge to continue following the club of their dreams, something which later led to the creation of the PB Villabalter. However, several years passed before the organisation was finally born and validated.

Cruyff, the Leonese legend During the 1988-89 season, there was an event that had a huge media impact in the world of football: the naming of former Barça player and football legend Johan Cruyff, as coach of the first team. The Dutch coach was unaware of it, but his appointment played a huge part in the definitive creation of the Leonese supporters’ club.

With the arrival of “El Flaco”, the town of Villabalter completely threw itself into Barça and the desire to establish an official supporters’ club became increasingly obvious. Preparations

Project “Christmas Solidarity” with the State Centre for Disability and Dependence

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“CRUYFF, THE LEONESE LEGEND” PB VILLABALTER Photo: Santa Maria de León Cathedral, right on the Camino de Santiago, near Villabalter.

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The supporters’ club committed to education

began to make the dream of having their own supporters’ club a reality, in a town that had no more than 700 residents at the time.

That dream was achieved in the summer of 1988, after a group of friends led by Pedro González –the first president of the organisation–, Manuel Ibán García, Alfonso de la Mano Barazón, Antonio Oblanca Fernández, Luis Fernando García and Isidro Oblanca Peñalosa approved, after various meetings, the founding act and statutes. The Peña Barcelonista de Villabalter was established on 23 June 1988.

Barça supporters without bounds “We’re fans, supporters’ or members of Barça and we’re united by a flag. What connects us to FC Barcelona, ‘more than a club’, is the organisation, the colours and one distinctive feature: the multisport character, the democratic, human and charitable values, and the loyal fans, the Barça supporters’,” confirms Jorge Moreno, president of the PB Villabalter.

According to its members, what unites the Peña Barcelonista Villabalter to the Club is much stronger than the miles that separate them from Barcelona. Solidarity, one of the values promoted by FC Barcelona, is one of those reasons, and the supporters’ club has turned it into their badge of identity.

Over the 30 years since its foundation, the supporters’ club has led many social initiatives endorsing blaugrana values with the rest of the world and using them to help the neediest. This type of actions began in 2004 when the director of a local school, Pedro Ángel Deza, got in touch with the supporters’ club to request a donation of materials for a charity bingo event in order to raise funds for the San Miguel de Sucumbios (Ecuador) “Child Health

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The supporters’ club headquarters

Project”. “We believe that education is fundamental in the development of these neighbourhoods. That’s why we want to contribute to the improvement of the overall education of the children and young people, whether that’s their intellectual, human, physical education or recreation,” states the organisation president.

Two years later, the president travelled to Cuba to meet the Santiago de Cuba FC Barcelona supporters’ club, an organisation with blaugrana spirit that has adopted Catalan traditions. According to Moreno, “despite their distance from Barcelona, the Cubans are excited by the games and FC Barcelona’s victories, even if with two days’ delay.” The PB Villabalter delivered a box containing 40 kg of materials including medicines, teaching materials, FC Barcelona sports equipment, as well as other basic necessities to a children’s group in the town.

The official supporters club book In addition to charitable initiatives, the supporters’ club faithfully gathers together at their headquarters to share the emotions of each FC Barcelona match, and they have organised so many seminars and trips over the last 30 years that it would be impossible to summarise them all in this article. For that reason, and on the occasion of their 25th anniversary, the organisation published their own book. With almost 400 pages, the book encompasses their spirit and the activities carried out over all these years of fraternity.

The title is: 25 Aniversario Peña Barcelonista Villabalter: “años de peña, años de barcelonismo” (25th Anniversary Peña Barcelonista Villabalter: “years of the supporters’ club, years of supporting FC Barcelona”).

All of this has consolidated the PB Villabalter as a lively supporters’ club of 88 members that has been colouring León with blaugrana for over three decades.

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PB JAPAN A supporters’ club loyal to Catalan traditions WITH LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF HISTORY THE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB IN TOKYO WAS THE FIRST PENYA BLAUGRANA IN ASIA AND HAS REACHED OVER 600 MEMBERS “My company asked me to relocate to Barcelona in 1992, which coincided with the era of the Dream Team. Cruyff had always been my idol and relocating to the Catalan capital was a dream come true for me,” remembers Hiroki Nakano, president of the Penya FC Barcelona Japan. “The day I arrived, the sky was full of fireworks and I found out through the newspapers that Barça had won at Wembley.”

In this historical context, Nakano arrived in Barcelona without knowing that he’d stay for a whole decade. During that time, he adopted Catalan traditions and fell even more in love with the

First vice president of FC Barcelona, Jordi Cardoner, with the supporters’ club

city he now considers his second home. In 2002, he returned to Japan with one dream: to create a blaugrana supporters’ club in his country. Nakano remembers that moment: “My love for Barça was undeniable, and I asked Gaspar, president of the Club at the time, if there were any supporters’ clubs already in existence. He replied that there wasn’t a single blaugrana organisation in the whole of the Asian continent.”

FC Barcelona in Asia That’s how Penya FC Barcelona Japan was born in 2003. “In the beginning, we were just five members and almost nobody in Japan knew of FC Barcelona. Today, we’re more than 600 supporters,” confirms the organisation president. What started out as a project and a personal dream has become one of the largest FC Barcelona supporters’ clubs in the world in terms of numbers. Japan is also one of the territories with the largest number of members after Spain.

The supporters’ club, now completely consolidated, organises activities and events. Despite the time difference, members get

Members of the Penya FC Barcelona Japan

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“ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS CLUB MOVEMENTS” PB JAPAN Photo: Sensō-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo - Credit: cowardlion / Shutterstock.com

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Retransmission of El Clásico in Japan organised by La Liga

together to watch the most important first team matches online, even though they are streamed in the early hours of the morning. And, despite the huge distance, the association feels strong ties with the Club because, as they claim, FC Barcelona is the sports club with a philosophy closest to that of Japanese culture.

Stronger together With the constitution and growth of the supporters’ club, interest in football has grown significantly in Japan.

Fully aware of that, the association is working every day to instil blaugrana values into the Asian continent. “Our mission is to be the ambassadors of FC Barcelona in our country and to convey to every citizen what it is that connects us to the Club, something which goes much further than just football. It involves values that, in my opinion, are fundamental,” assures Nakano. The Club’s corporate culture became even more explicit when Japan was struck by an earthquake in 2011. It only lasted a few The Barça Academy Japan during a visit to Barcelona

minutes but, registering a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale, it was sufficient to devastate the country. In the light of that natural catastrophe, the Club decided to take part and become directly involved with the population. For the first time in the history of FC Barcelona, a huge reception was arranged to demonstrate the Club’s commitment to and solidarity with all the victims, especially the children who were affected. According to the president, that event was of vital importance to the Japanese. It’s possible that, as a consequence, Japan now has the largest number of FC Barcelona football schools in Asia, with a total of four in Shinagawa Oimachi, Fukuoka, Katsushika and Nara.

In addition, the supporters’ club is preparing for what it considers to be a very important occasion: Barcelona’s pre-season tour will be in Asia this year. “We want to make a mosaic like the ones they make at Camp Nou, and we want to try en ensure that the children can go to watch a training session, or even the match,” the Japanese supporters’ club president concludes emotionally.

Meeting between the supporters’ club and the Japanese Barça Academies

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Penyes Pàdel Tour The Penyes Padel Tour tournament offers unique days of sport HE NEW FORMAT OF THE SPORTS TOUR IS CONSOLIDATED AS AN INTIATIVE THAT PROMOTES THE SOCIAL VALUE OF PADDLE TENNIS AMONG MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS AND FC BARCELONA FANS Last May saw the start of the new format of the Penyes Padel Tour, the paddle tennis tour organised by the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation. The objective of the tour is to give members, supporters and fans of the blaugrana Club the opportunity to enjoy unique days of sport across the length and breadth of the geography of Catalonia.

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won by FC Barcelona, and another area with electronic devices for participants to play various eSports such as ProEvolution Soccer. Prizes on offer to winning pairs include tickets for a Champions League trip, for Camp Nou or the Camp Nou tour; commemorative trophies, a racket and a racket bag. In addition, there will be a raffle among all participants for two football shirts, one from FC Barcelona’s first kit and another from the second kit, as well as other prizes.

A renewed initiative The social, non-competitive tournament started this May in Lleida with the presence of the chairman of the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs Federation of Lleida Sud and La Franja, Claudi Bosch. Until August, the Penyes Padel Tour will visit various towns across Catalonia, including Sant Just Desvern, Girona, Tarragona, Premià de Mar and Barcelona. The Supporters’ Clubs Federation of Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla will also organise a tournament. The new format of the tour consists in five tournaments and the Master Final, where the finalists from each of the categories –gold, silver and bronze– will compete in pairs in two major categories: men and women.

On a competition level, the clashes between teams will consist in a minimum of three matches. The competition will begin with a group phase and, at the end, it will move to a knock-out stage to determine the winner. The Master Final, where the definitive winners of the tournament will be decided, will be held in August on the Gamper weekend. The selected venue is the Club Esportiu Laietà, which has a floor space of almost 30,000 metres squared and various different facilities, most notably, eleven paddle tennis courts.

The purpose of the tournament is to defend this sport as a social event between members of the Confederation as well as promoting an increasingly popular sporting activity. This involves paying close attention to every detail of the tournament, both on and off the court, and shining a spotlight on FC Barcelona’s values.

Throughout the competition, exclusive experiences will be available to all participating sports people around the Village zone, where there will be parallel activities providing Barça fans unique experiences and a real feel of the blaugrana colours.

As well as the Penyes Padel Tour, the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation organises other activities throughout Catalonia. Such is the case of Junts+, a project that supports youth sports and improves supporters’ clubs’ presence in local towns, as well as simultaneously promoting good habits; Junts+ runs the Penyes Futbol Games, a ProEvolution Soccer championship, and the “Barça i Catalunya” (Barça and Catalonia) conferences which review the history of the Club and the importance the supporters’ club movement has had over the years.

More specifically, there will be a designated area where participants can take photos with the La Liga trophy

You can find further information about the initiative on the website: www.penyespadeltour.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR FEB-JUN 2019 PB Santomera – 15/03/19 PB Calafell – 23/03/19 PB Montgrí i comarca – 29/03/19 PB SB Castellar del Vallès – 04/04/19 PB Casal de Tarragona – 11/04/19 Fed. Lleida Sud i la Franja – 23/04/19 PB La Societat – 05/05/19 PB Maresme – 09/05/19 PB Sant Adrià del Besós – 10/05/19 PB Golmés – 19/05/19 PB Colbató – 07/06/19

Conferences Roots, history and “Catalanism” are the common denominator of blaugrana talks THE CONFERENCE “BARÇA AND CATALONIA” HAS MADE ITS WAY THROUGH A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE TERRITORY, INCLUDING THE PENITENTIARY CENTRE MÚRCIA I Every culé wishes to know about the roots and origins of the Club that has captured their hearts. And the “Barça and Catalonia” conferences came along with the goal of satisfying this need - being an opportunity to take stock of the history of FC Barcelona by exploring the passionate origins, anecdotes and circumstances that have marked the course of the Club’s constitution as we know it today.

A broad spectrum of speakers ranging from World Confederation of Supporters Clubs representatives to journalists, historians, writers and personalities linked to the Club talk about themes such as the socio-political

situation in Barcelona at the time the Club was first founded, the role of feminism in the Barça’s formative years and the Club’s relationship with “Catalanism”, as well as many other interesting topics. The activity has already made its way through a large part of Catalonia, having visited entities such as the PB Calafell, PB Montgrí i Comarca, PB Casal de Tarragona, the Federació de Lleida Sud and la Franja, PB La Societat, PB Maresme, PB Sant Adrià del Besós, PB Golmés and PB Collbató. It has also stopped off at one of the movement’s oldest supporters’ clubs, the Penya Solera Barcelonista de Castellar del Vallès, which this month celebrates its 67th anniversary.

As well as covering Catalan territory, the conference has also made an appearance in the city of Múrcia, and not just at any old venue. The Penitentiary Centre Múrcia I was the backdrop for the event organised by local supporters’ clubs, PB Totana and PB Santomera, in collaboration with the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation. Inmates were given the opportunity to learn about the origins of the Club and to interact with the speakers.

The fact of the matter is that, to quote the motto, FC Barcelona is indeed “more than a Club,” and since its inception it has aimed to become actively involved with society, being yet another agent at the service of not only of those who form part of our blaugrana family, but also across the whole territory.

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Junts+ Handball takes centre stage as the new season of Junts+ kicks off throughout Catalonia CHILDREN FROM THE ESCOLA DE FUTBOL ARBUCIENCA AND FUTSAL SCHOOL TECLA SALA HAVE BEEN COACHED BY YOUTH FOOTBALL TRAINERS FROM FC BARCELONA With the aim of promoting youth sports and transmitting the blaugrana values and sentiment to youngsters throughout Catalonia, the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation has launched the project Junts+. Participating supporters’ clubs collaborate with a youth team from their area, as well as forming ties with one of the Club’s five professional sections: football, futsal, basketball, handball and rollerhockey.

This year, the Junts+ project kicked off at the end of March, with handball taking centre stage. On the one hand, the PB de Berga facilitated the participation of the male under-12 and under-10 teams from Handbol Berga, and on the other, the PB El Perelló collaborated with the under-14 and under-12 teams of the Handbol Club Perelló, an entity which is predominantly

female. In both cases, the youth handball coach from Barça Lassa conducted a training session and gave a talk about team play, sporting techniques and blaugrana values. In the case of the Handbol Club Perelló, the young players rounded off the experience by attending a first-team match at the Palau Blaugrana in early May. All the activities were carried out with the involvement of the FC Barcelona Federació de Penyes Barcelonistes de Bages, Berguedà and la Cerdanya, the Federació de Les Terres de l’Ebre, and representatives from FC Barcelona.

In terms of football, the Junts+ project repeated the experience with the PB d’Arbúcies from the Federació del Gironès, Selva, Garrotxa i Pla de l’Estany, and the Escola de Futbol Arbucienca, which took part for the second year running. The 40 children from the under-10 teams began by attending a training day at the Mini Estadi and received a visit several weeks later from two coaches of the Barça Escola, who conducted a training session and gave a talk.

Finally, the Junts+ project made its way to the futsal school Tecla Sala in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, in the first week of June. The group of children from the school’s under-12 team were paid a visit by the futsal youth team coach of FC Barcelona, who conducted a training session and gave a talk about the values that must be taken into account on the court.

All the participants of the Junts+ project and their families have received an honorary Penyista Card from the supporters’ club that promoted the initiative.

EVENTS CALENDAR FEB-JUN 2019 CH Berga 25/03/19 CH Perelló 27/03/19 Escola de futbol Arbucienca 04/05/19 i 31/05/19 Escola de Futbol Sala Tecla Sala 05/06/2019

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EVENTS CALENDAR FEB-JUN 2019 PB Vall de Bisaura – 02/02/19 PB Vall del Tenes – 15/03/19 PB SB Castellar del Vallès – 21/03/19 PB Joves de Ponent – 22/03/19 PB Alella – 04/04/19 PB Bellvisenca – 06/04/19 PB El Papiol – 13/04/19 PB L’Estany – 01/06/19

Solidarity #Invulnerables makes its way through Catalonia in order to raise awareness about child poverty THE VISIT OF SISTER LUCÍA CARAM TO VALLÈS WAS MET WITH UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS, BRINGING OVER 200 PEOPLE TO BIGUES I RIELLS AND MORE THAN A HUNDRED TO CASTELLAR Solidarity is one of the most fundamental and defining values of FC Barcelona, and it is also a key feature of the supporters’ club movement which encourages it. This being so, one of the initiatives organised by the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, in collaboration with the Barça Foundation, includes the #Invulnerables project, which over recent months has been presented by Sister Lucía Caram all across Catalonia. By way of talks which aim to raise awareness among ‘penyistes’ and blaugrana supporters about various social problems, the initiative aims to assist in eradicating child poverty and promote equal opportunities for children, break the cycle of inherent destitution and foster

public-private collaborations. With this goal in mind, the nun, social activist and patron of the Barça Foundation has visited a substantial part of Catalonia. The towns and villages all share one common denominator: a passion for Barça and the will to do one’s bit for society.

In Vallès, the talks were met with unprecedented success.

In Bigues i Riells, over 200 people turned out to listen to Sister Lucía Caram, while in Castellar the talk was attended by an audience of over a hundred. The PB Vall de Tenes, in collaboration with Bigues i Riells Town Hall, organised a day of social awareness in which Sister Caram described the initiative as being both “a dream and a challenge, as in Catalonia poverty is showing itself through children, and behind every infant there is a family with its own crisis.”

The event also implied a turning point for the ‘penyistes’ of Papiol, who welcomed the Dominican nun in the context of the town’s Cultural Week. As well as bringing them closer to the reality of child poverty, Sister Lucía Caram also showed her more intimate side by sharing her own personal story, in an account which left all of the attendees greatly moved.

In fact, Sister Lucía Caram has already conquered Osona, el Vallès, Lleida, el Maresme and el Barcelonès, a fact which proves her commitment to the values of FC Barcelona in general and those of the supporters’ clubs in particular.

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eSports The Penyes Futbol Games tournament brings eSports closer to the youngest ‘penyistes’ THE EVENT HAS NOW CROSSED THE ATLANTIC TO ARRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BRAZIL, THANKS TO THE PB SAO PAULO The FC Barcelona supporters’ clubs movement has become a far-reaching experience that accommodates everybody from the most veteran culers right down to the very youngest. In fact, Barça’s youngest and most diminutive followers are one of the most important engines behind the movement, being the ones who will continue the supporters’ clubs legacy and transmit it to future generations. Fully aware of this, the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation promotes the initiative Penyes Futbol Games, a project which aims to bring the youngest ‘penyistes’ closer to the movement through video games, with the collaboration of the territorial Federations.

The project has grown over recent years, with every edition now seeing an increasing number of supporters’ clubs willing to take up the challenge. So much so, in fact, that the initiative has made its way across the Atlantic. The

Penya Barcelonista Sao Paulo held its first Pro-Evolution Soccer 2019 (PES19) eSports tournament in April. The Brazilian entity succeeded in bringing together some 24 children and teenagers who competed in the group stages and knockout rounds, in an event that culminated in a “great, festive experience” for all the players, according to the president of the Brazilian entity, Miquel Pardina. This blaugrana supporters’ club, the only official entity in the country, already boasts some two-hundred ‘penyistes’, and with its willingness to act as a bridge between the Club and its Brazilian fans it has shown that the passion for the blaugrana colours knows no boundaries, and stands as a clear example of the internationalisation of the movement, which has now spread to all five continents.

The tournament is also firmly established in Catalonia, with many Federations submitting the results of their qualifying rounds in order to participate in the final stage, which will take place within the framework of the World Congress of Supporters’ Clubs on the day of the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Among these are the Federations of Les Terres de l’Ebre, el Vallès, Ponent Nord, el Baix Llobregat, Tarragona Nord, el Maresme, Lleida Sud and la Franja. The tournament has undoubtedly become one of the most popular events among our youngest ‘penyistes’. The four finalists from each Federation are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the World Congress of Supporters’ Clubs, so that they can show off their skills with the gaming pad and do battle against ‘penyistes’ from all over the territory.

EVENTS CALENDAR FEB-JUN 2019 Terres de l’Ebre – 09/03/19 Federació Vallès – 24/03/19 PB de Sao Paulo – 04/04/19 Federació Ponent Nord – 01/05/19 Baix Llobregat – 18/05/19 Federació Tarragona Nord – 19/05/19 Federació Maresme – 01/06/19 Fed. Lleida Sud i Franja – 08/06/19

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BARCELONA

• Successful participation in the “culé blood drive” • The Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation welcomes acts of solidarity for children with rare diseases and unaccompanied minors

MATARÓ

• The 1st Special Barça Supporters’ Club International 7-a-side Football Tournament held in Mataró

ZARAGOZA

• PB Tarazona celebrates their silver jubilee and hosts the 4th Supporters’ Clubs Meeting of Aragón, Navarra and La Rioja

LLEIDA

• Almacelles dressed in blaugrana colours for the 13th Gathering of Lleida Sud and La Franja Supporters’ Clubs

MARRAKECH

• The 8th Congress of Francophone FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs takes place in Morocco

BADAJOZ

• PB Puebla de la Calzada celebrates 25 years of history

ROQUETES

AN ACTIVE MOVEMENT The FC Barcelona supporters club movement is present in all five continents and continues to grow. To emphasise its presence, supporters clubs organise hundreds of events throughout the year. In this section we’ll highlight some of the latest events:

• The Supporters’ Clubs Meeting from Les Terres de l’Ebre celebrates its 25th anniversary

GALICIA

• The 29th Xuntanza brings together over 20 supporters’ clubs from the Federation of Galicia

SANT CUGAT

• More than 200 teenagers took part in the 6th Mixed Seven-a-side Night Tournament in Sant Cugat

RIUDECANYES

• Celebration, history and blaugrana spirit at the 18th Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs in Tarragona Nord

RODA DE TER

• The Penya Barcelonista Roda de Ter i les Masies celebrates three decades as a family

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BARCELONA Donation campaign

Successful participation in the “culé blood drive” DIRECTOR PAU VILANOVA, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATION AND 20 FC BARCELONA SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS TOOK PART IN A CHARITABLE INITIATIVE PROMOTED BY THE BARCELONÈS EST FEDERATION The Supporters’ Clubs Federation of Barcelonès Est, presided

by Jordi Monturiol, in collaboration with the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation and the Blood and Tissue Bank, promoted a blood drive. The successful campaign took place

at the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona and saw a total of 60 donors taking part. Director Pau Vilanova; the president of the Confederation, Antoni Guil; the chairman of the Barça Foundation, Antoni Tombas; and the former player and member of the Barça Players’ Association, Paco Fortes, were all present and donated blood in support of this charitable event.

20 FC Barcelona organisations from the Catalan capital took part in this blood donation campaign, which was given the slogan “culé blood drive”. There were more than 80 donations in total, demonstrating once again that supporters’ values and principles go much further than just following the team.

During the event, the director of the Hospital de Sant Pau, Laura Medina, expressed her gratitude for the work carried out by the supporters’ club over the course of the day and she highlighted the social importance of donating blood.

Supporters’ clubs from the Barcelonès Est Federation at the “culer blood donation” marathon at the Hospital Sant Pau

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BARCELONA Visibility for rare diseases

The Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation welcomes acts of solidarity for children with rare diseases and unaccompanied minors THE CONFEDERATION CELEBRATED, ALONGSIDE THE SPANISH FEDERATION FOR RARE DISEASES, A CHARITY RECEPTION FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVENTY CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND PEOPLE AFECTED BY THESE ISSUES The Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation once again set the standard for the blaugrana values of solidarity and social inclusion through the promotion of a charity event that welcomed children, families and people affected by rare diseases. The Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases (FEDER), an

Pau Vilanova and Antoni Guil in the family photo during the World Day for Rare Diseases event

organisation that unites families suffering from these problems in Spain, was responsible for organising the event. The aim was to give visibility to the needs of those who suffer them and provide improvements for quality of life.

The Confederation also welcomed 50 foreign unaccompanied minors (MENA), as well as members and representatives from the Antonio Moreno Foundation. This organisation aims to address the development of centres and programmes for the prevention, treatment and integration of people at risk of social exclusion, focusing on children, young people and their families.

The events were attended by leading figures from FC Barcelona and from the supporters’ club movement. Among the attendees was Barça director Pau Vilanova; the president of the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, Antoni Guil; various presidents of FC Barcelona supporters’ clubs; as well as the president of FEDER, and member of the Confederation’s Solidarity Board, Juan Carrión. Various representatives from the Antonio Moreno Foundation also participated.

The foreign unaccompanied minors enjoyed a visit to the FC Barcelona museum. While the children from the rare disease collective had the opportunity to step out onto the pitch at Camp Nou and have a photo taken with the Barça first team.

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Participants of the 1st International Football Tournament, organised by the Penya Special Barça, at the Salesians School in Mataró

MATARÓ Unmissable event for the promotion of solidarity and cooperation

The 1st Special Barça Supporters’ Club International 7-a-side Football Tournament held in Mataró THE MATCH, ORGANISED THANKS TO THE FEDAMAR FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH ”LA CAIXA”, BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED SPORTS PLAYERS AT THE SALESIANS SCHOOL IN MATARÓ Last February, the 1st Special Barça Supporters’ Club International 7-a-side Football Tournament was held at the Salesians school in Mataró. The event was aimed at people

with functional diversity. The celebratory, family environment welcomed more than a hundred sports players from all over Catalonia and Italy; the players, families and spectators were a clear example of the ability and virtues of the collective. The Fedamar Foundation, with the voluntary collaboration of “la Caixa”, was responsible for organising the tournament and they gathered together more than 200 spectators and fans who created an unbeatable atmosphere of fellowship.

The Penya Barcelonista Special Barça works to promote the well-being of its members and is dedicated to promoting sporting activity between associates; a large number of its members suffer functional diversity, mainly of an intellectual character. Thanks to this first tournament, it has been shown that sport has the ability to connect communities from different corners of the world and full inclusion and integration of people with disabilities is possible.

The event couldn’t be missed by a figure such as former FC Barcelona player Juan Manuel Asensi, who presided the event along with three of the Club’s most important trophies: the La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

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ZARAGOZA Double celebration in Zaragoza

PB Tarazona celebrates their silver jubilee and hosts the 4th Supporters’ Clubs Meeting of Aragón, Navarra and La Rioja LAST MARCH, THE ORGANISATION FROM ARAGON LED A DAY FULL OF ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THEIR ANNIVERSARY FOR THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE TERRITORIAL MEETING PB Tarazona, located in the province of Zaragoza, celebrated their 25th anniversary in March. As part of their celebrations,

Supporters from Aragón, Navarra and La Rioja in front of the cathedral of Tarazona

the organisation also hosted the 4th Supporters’ Clubs Meeting of Aragón, Navarra and la Rioja, bringing together more than 250 supporters from north-east Spain. Representatives from FC Barcelona participated in the event, as well as the supporters’ clubs’ ombudsman, Ramon Térmens, and the former players and members of the Barça Players’ Association, Pere Valentí Mora and Samuel Okunowo.

The day was led by the president of the town’s supporters’ club, Miguel Lancis, and the president of the Supporters’ Clubs Federation of Aragón, Navarra and la Rioja, Marta Gajate. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed a cultural and gastronomic tour of the town and a celebratory gala dinner. In addition, attendees paid tribute to the president and the five founding partners of the supporters’ club, which was formalised with the presentation, on behalf of the Club to the penya, of an institutional pen and an updated crest.

To round off the day, a selection of souvenirs were distributed among attendees and a monetary donation was made the to the social association Centinela Tarazona.

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Supporters from the Lleida Sud and la Franja Federation at the commemorative dinner at the Meeting in Almacelles

LLEIDA Barça spirit and strength in Lleida

Almacelles dressed in blaugrana colours for the 13th Gathering of Lleida Sud and La Franja Supporters’ Clubs LAST MARCH, 200 SUPPORTERS TOOK PART IN SEVERAL EVENTS THAT DEMONSTRATED THE PASSION FOR FC BARCELONA IN THE REGION

Two hundred blaugrana supporters and fans took part in a double celebration which tinted Almacelles with FC Barcelona colours.

The event was in celebration of the 13th Gathering of Lleida Sud and La Franja Supporters’ Clubs, and the 25th anniversary of the town’s Penya Blaugrana “La Clamor”.

Over the course of the day, supporters enjoyed a topical debate called “Show Trident” at the cultural centre in Almacelles. There was also a reception at the town hall, with the town mayor, Josep Ibarz.

A visit to the headquarters of the local supporters’ club preceded a group dinner where the closing events took place. The president of the Supporters’ Clubs Federation of Lleida Sud and La Franja, Claudio Bosch, was in attendance, as well as the president of the PB Almacelles “La Clamor”, Javier Navarro; and the Avi del Barça (Grandfather of Barça), Joan Casals, among others.

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MARRAKECH Visit to Marrakech

The 8th Congress of Francophone FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs takes place in Morocco THE PENYA BLAUGRANA MARRAKECH ORGANISED, TOGETHER WITH THE WORLD FEDERATION AND THE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB WORLD CONFEDERATION, THE 8th CONGRESS OF FRANCOPHONE SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS IN MOROCCO Last March, the Penya Blaugrana Marrakech, in collaboration with the World Federation and the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, congregated a total of 24 French-speaking supporters’ clubs in Marrakech. All the clubs were from North

Firework display organised by the Penya Blaugrana Marrakech

Africa and France, and they met to celebrate the 8th Congress of Francophone FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs.

Over the course of the congress, supporters had the chance to do some sightseeing in Marrakech, which included visiting the Medina and other important landmarks in the city. The most exciting moment came at nightfall when, in an area surrounded

by Bedouin tents, several horse riders performed a show with the flags of Barça and Morocco. Later, there was a firework display in which, after the explosion of the last firework, you could read “Long live Barça” in the sky. All of the people present, thrilled by this moment, sung the blaugrana anthem at the top of their lungs. After this improvised recital, representatives from the supporters club movement and from FC Barcelona signed the City Hall’s visitors book.

The blaugrana entourage was led by the director of the Social Commission, Josep Maria Barnils; the president of the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation, Antoni Guil; the president of the World Federation, Antoni Freire; the presidents, executive boards and members of the host supporters’ club and the rest of the francophone supporters’ clubs in attendance.

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The traditional cutting of the cake in Badajoz

BADAJOZ Anniversary in Badajoz

PB Puebla de la Calzada celebrates 25 years of history BADAJOZ SUPPORTERS’ CLUB COMMEMORATED A QUARTER OF A CENTURY WITH A DAY FEATURING THE SPECIAL APPEARANCE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM FC BARCELONA PB Puebla de la Calzada organised an intense day of events to celebrate their 25 years of history. An intimate dinner held in a local restaurant opened the celebrations last March, which saw participation from members of the supporters’ club and representatives of the FC Barcelona Supporters

Clubs Federation of Extremadura. Following the dinner, the FC Barcelona and the supporters’ club entourage, led by the delegate for institutional relations with UEFA, Amador Bernabeu, and the former player and member of the Barça Players’ Association, Juan Manuel Asensi, went to the town hall where the mayor, Juan María Delfa, offered a reception.

Later, the celebration moved to the supporters’ club’s headquarters for a visit that mobilised a large number of young people and neighbourhood families, demonstrating the relevance of the organisation as a nerve centre and as a place where the whole town comes together. As a symbol of the penya’s close ties with other clubs, the presidents of the area’s Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid supporters’ clubs also attended the event.

The day concluded with a drinks reception at the supporters’ club’s social headquarters and a group dinner which gave diners the chance to share their experiences of the organisation’s quarter of a century of history.

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ROQUETES A quarter of a century of supporters’ club meetings in the south of Catalonia

The Supporters’ Clubs Meeting from Les Terres de l’Ebre celebrates its 25th anniversary FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB, JORDI CARDONER I CASAUS, PRESIDED AN EVENT WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PB MONT-CARO This past June the town of Roquetes hosted the 25th Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs from Les Terres de l’Ebre. The event was held to coincide with the 25th anniversary celebration of the Penya Barcelonista Mont-Caro, which has its headquarters in the town and was responsible for organising the ceremony. The day kicked off with a colloquium led by former FC Barcelona players Pere Valentí Mora, José Joaquín Albaladejo and Félix Palomares,

all three of whom were playing on the team when Barça won its first UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1979. Afterwards, the attendees paid a visit to the Ebre Observatory, a meteorological institute founded in 1904 to research sun-earth relationships, which now forms part of the University Ramon Llull.

The official acts were rounded off with a reception at Roquetes Town Hall presided by Francesc Gas, the local mayor. In representation of the Club the event was attended

by Jordi Cardoner i Casaus, first vice-president of FC Barcelona and the Barça Foundation; and, representing the supporters club movement, Ramon Fibla, president of the Federation of Supporters Clubs of Les Terres de l’Ebre, and Ramon Pardo, president of the PB Mont-Caro. After the corresponding speeches and exchange of commemorative gifts, the party moved on the Pavelló Municipal de Roquetes, where the three former Barça players, the president of the PB Mont-Caro and the president of the Federation of Les Terres de l’Ebre each said a few words in honour of all the presidents. This was followed by closing speeches from the town mayor and vice-president Cardoner.

The celebration wrapped up with the handing out of commemorative neckties to the 39 entities in attendance, and an honorary lunch enjoyed by 220 guests.

First vice president of FC Barcelona Jordi Cardoner with representatives from the 39 supporters’ clubs in attendance

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The 20 supporters’ clubs from Galicia with their commemorative gifts at the 29th Xuntanza

GALICIA Latest blaugrana news in Galicia

The 29th Xuntanza brings together over 20 supporters’ clubs from the Federation of Galicia THE TOWN OF VIMIANZO WELCOMED OVER 200 ‘PENYISTES’ IN JUNE FOR A DAY THAT ALSO SAW THE AWARDING OF THE BARÇAGALICIA AWARDS The 29th Xuntanza, the annual meeting of supporters’ clubs from Galicia, took place this June in the town of Vimianzo hosted by the Peña Barcelonista Irmandiña. Over 20 supporters’ clubs from the Federación de Galicia attended the meeting, which saw the local streets decked out in blaugrana in order to mark the occasion. One of the highlights of the weekend was the talk on

the 1979 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, led by former players and members of the Agrupació Barça Jugadors Juan Manuel Asensi, Rafael Zuviría and Paco Méndez, and moderated by journalist Joan Poquí.

In a nod to Galician culture, the attendees visited the Castelo de Vimianzo, where a historical re-enactment took place before a large audience of local residents and ‘penyistes’.

Following this, acting town mayor Manuel Antelo received the penyistes at the Casa de la Cultura. Board member Jordi Casamiglia attended the event in representation of the Club, while the supporters’ clubs movement was represented by the president of the Federación de Galicia, Salvador Cerviño; the president of the Federació del Bages, Berguedà i la Cerdanya, Ramon Burniol; the president of the Federación de Castilla-la Mancha, Daniel Peinado, and the vice-president of the Federación de Andalusia, Ceuta y Melilla, Rafael Pichardo.

The event wrapped up with the handing out of the BarçaGalicia Awards, an annual gala in which the Federación de Galicia honours four of its supporters’ clubs. A moving and unexpected homage was also paid to the Avi del Barça (‘Grandad of Barça’), Joan Casals.

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SANT CUGAT Night football in Sant Cugat del Vallès

More than 200 teenagers took part in the 6th Mixed Seven-a-side Night Tournament in Sant Cugat

people from the local area to take part in a day of sport full of blaugrana values. One of the primary characteristics of this initiative is the transmission of values, education and respect – such as fair play – a target that explains the motto “Get hooked on good habits”.

“GET HOOKED ON GOOD HABITS” WAS THE MOTTO OF THE LATEST EDITION OF THE CONTEST ORGANISED BY THE TOWN’S SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

In this spirit, one of the rules of the game is that each team must have at least three girls on the side. The objective of this is to encourage inclusion and gender equality in the world of sport.

Similarly, and in order to avoid promoting competitiveness, focusing instead on the fun side of sport, each team can only have a maximum of four federated participants. Additionally, several awareness workshops were carried out over the course of the day, which were dedicated to self-control, first aid and understanding our anatomy and its functions.

The boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18 from schools and education centres in Sant Cugat, as well as young people’s day centres, community centres and sporting and cultural organisations, were the stars of the 6th edition of the Mixed Seven-a-side Night Tournament. The Sant Cugat del Vallès supporters’ club, that are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, promoted the event. The supporters’ club, that received the Best Social Outreach Prize for the same tournament last year – granted by the Esport en Marxa awards of Cugat.cat – achieved record figures for participation in this latest edition.

The event gathered together more than two hundred young

The supporters’ club in charge of organising the event didn’t want to miss the opportunity to liven up the event with a touch of humour. Therefore, one of the requirements for signing up was that you had to have a funny name, a challenge that was won by two teams: the Cabehsitos and the Bebesita FC, which were considered the teams with the most original names. There were also prizes for the team that showed the greatest amount of fair play and the one with most interest in the awareness workshops.

All in all, it was a day dominated by sport, fun and equality that was organised in collaboration with the local council, FC Barcelona and the Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation.

All the teams of boys and girls who competed in the tournament in Sant Cugat

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Pau Vilanova with the ex-players and representatives of the supporters’ clubs present at the Meeting

RIUDECANYES Supporters’ club meeting and anniversary in Riudecanyes

Celebration, history and blaugrana spirit at the 18th Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs in Tarragona Nord AROUND 170 SUPPORTERS GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE 6th ANNIVERSARY OF THE AREA’S SUPPORTERS’ CLUB Blaugrana spirit and passion surrounded the Penya Barcelonista Riudecanyes as they commemorated their 6th anniversary on 16th June. At the same time, the club welcomed more than 170 supporters to celebrate the 18th Meeting of the Federation of Supporters’ Clubs in Tarragona Nord, their hometown.

The earliest risers among the supporters started the day off with a guided tour of the castle monastery Sant Miquel d’Escornalbou. Later, fans met in the social club hall for a talk

on the final in Basel in 1979 moderated by journalist Marçal Lorente and led by the three key players of that team, Asensi, Zuviría and Martínez, who shared their emotions about the final with the fans. They also thanked them for the support they received and recalled various anecdotes, both about the match and their sporting careers in the Club of their dreams.

Their stories really moved the supporters, several of whom were present at the final, something which really surprised the players.

Time set aside during the day for an institutional celebration, which took place at the town hall and was attended by the Barça manager, Pau Vilanova; Ernest Roigé, mayor of Riudecanyes; Sergi Pitarch, president of the Penya Barcelonista Riudecanyes; Josep Borrull, president of the Federation of Supporters’ Clubs in Tarragona Nord; and Josep Maldonado, patron of the Barça Foundation.

The Meeting concluded with the traditional commemorative dinner and a few encouraging words from the manager Pau Vilanova, who assured: “This Meeting culminates a season of hard work for all those supporters’ clubs that are constantly striving to spread our passion for FC Barcelona throughout the region. It has also been an opportunity to bring together a large number of supporters’ clubs as ambassadors for our Club, and moments like this allow us to exchange experiences and ways to take action.”

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RODA DE TER 30th anniversary in Osona

The Penya Barcelonista Roda de Ter i les Masies celebrates three decades as a family THE PENYA FROM RODA DE TER WAS INAUGURATED IN 1989 WITH JUST 9 MEMBERS, A FIGURE THAT HAS NOW REACHED 250 ASSOCIATES WHO TIRELESSLY FOLLOW THE CLUB OF THEIR DREAMS One hundred supporters gathered together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Penya Barcelonista Roda de Ter i les Masies, celebrated last June at the Les Masies de Roda town

Director Maria Teixidor presents a gift from FC Barcelona to the president of the PB Roda de Ter

hall. The celebration was attended by Isidre Costa, president of the supporters’ club being honoured; Xavier Canudas, president of the FC Barcelona Federation of Supporters’ Clubs in Osona and el Ripollès; as well as the mayors of the neighbouring towns, Jordi Vistos, mayor of Les Masies de Roda, and Albert Serra, mayor of Roda de Ter. Chairing the event was Maria Teixidor, secretary of the FC Barcelona Board of Directors and head of FC Barcelona women’s football, who highlighted the sporting achievements of the Club in the feminine context.

Teixidor recalled the success of the blaugranas, the first Spanish women’s team in history to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League final and emphasised the Club’s work in encouraging women’s football.

The Les Masies de Roda town hall was the backdrop for the informal snack, which also saw Maria Teixidor dedicating a few words to supporters’ clubs. The highlight of the celebration was the traditional commemorative dinner and the cutting of the cake in commemoration of the anniversary. It was a day full of solidarity and blaugrana spirit that was also attended by the explayer and member of the Barça Players’ Association, Paco Clos.