Maria Teresa Andreu, Marta Mestres and Àfrica Ocaña, three veteran former Barça femení players, were the main guests at the event “From the pioneers to the future stars of Barça femení”, organised by the ImpulSa – Dones de La Sagrera association in collaboration with PB Districte XXVII La Sagrera and PB Tsunami Blaugrana. The event took place at Espai 30 in the Ateneu Sagrerenc, home of PB Districte XXVII La Sagrera, which was filled with attendees keen to revisit the beginnings of Barça femení football and trace its development through to its current success.
The event was attended by David Angulo, president of the Federació de Penyes del Barcelonès Est and PB Districte XXVII La Sagrera, and Núria Salas, president of PB Tsunami Blaugrana, who moderated the discussion. Representatives of other supporters’ clubs also attended, including Jordi Garcia, president of PB Gavanenca (Fed. Baix Llobregat). Around fifty people attended the event in total.
A journey full of obstacles, from the early days to the present
The event’s three guests represent different generations in the history of the Barça team: Maria Teresa Andreu played for Barça from 1971 to 1981; Marta Mestres from 1982 to 1987; and Àfrica Ocaña wore the blaugrana shirt from 1989 to 1998. During the conversation, they recalled the difficulties faced by women footballers at the time, including dirt pitches, a lack of resources, no pay and social prejudice against women who wanted to play football.
The event provided an opportunity to contrast that reality with the current position of Barça femení, which officially became part of FC Barcelona’s structure in 2002 and turned professional in 2015. Thanks to the path forged by those players despite all the obstacles, the women’s team has gone on to compete in major stadiums, win four Champions League titles and achieve far greater visibility than those first generations ever enjoyed.
At its first public event, the ImpulSa – Dones de La Sagrera association sought to honour the memory of the women who planted the seeds of Barça women’s football and to highlight their legacy for present and future generations. This vision is shared by the Barça penyes, which have accompanied the team’s development and continue to support Barça femení unconditionally, both at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and on away trips in the Spanish league and Champions League.
