The Supporters’ Clubs in the Balearic Islands took advantage of the fixture between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona on Saturday to hold their annual gathering the day before at Maria de la Salut. The meeting was a celebration of all things Barça and was attended by several representatives from the Club, led by president Joan Laporta.
More than 450 Supporters’ Club members
The 16th meeting of the Barça Supporters’ Clubs from the Balearic Islands took place at the Plaça del Mercat with more than 450 members present from more than 23 Clubs from around the region. President Joan Laporta was accompanied by Josep Ignasi Macià, director responsible for the Social Area, and Mateu Mas, member of the FC Barcelona Social Commission. The meeting took place with various former Barça players from the area present such as Miguel Ángel Nada and Josep Estella (football); Juan Domingo de la Cruz (basketball) and Octavi Tarrés (roller hockey).
Also present were Jaume Bauzà, Sports and Tourism minister in the Balearic Government, José Marcial, Tourism Councillor for the Consell Insular in Mallorca, as well as Juame Ferriol, mayor of Marias de la Salut, and Catalina Soler, mayoress of Felanitx. Also present was well known Balearic musician, Tomeu Penya.
The event began with the president of the Maria de la Salut Supporters’ Club, hosts of the meeting on their 35th anniversary, Pere Jordà, welcoming the guests. There was also a contribution from Oscar Escoda, Consultative Councillor for the Balearic Islands’ Supporters’ Clubs as well as from the four former Barça players present.
Joan Laporta highlights the strength of the Club
President Laporta rounded off the meeting with a speech that highlighted the Club and fans’ vitality and how the Club has recovered financially and institutionally with the new Spotify Camp Nou project, and La Masia’s success. Laporta went on to reaffirm the Club’s strength and the determination of the Board of Directors to finish off the work carried out before thanking members, fans and Supporters’ Clubs for their help in defending the Club’s symbols and very essence, as well as the Club’s athlete’s and coaches, in the case of the first team, who have put the club back amongst the elite.
After the event there was a commemorative dinner and an awards ceremony for the participants.