A hundred supporters representing 22 penyes gathered in Sant Corneli, in the municipality of Cercs, to take part in the 2nd Joan Casals Memorial, an event paying tribute to the figure of the “Avi del Barça” a little more than two years after his passing. In this second edition, the event was organised by the Penya Blaugrana La Baells-Cercs, with the collaboration of the Federació de Penyes del Bages, Berguedà i Cerdanya, the PB Guardiola de Berguedà and the Ajuntament de Cercs.
The institutional act began with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the 50th anniversary of the charity match between Barça and Barça Atlètic, held following the accident at the “Mina Consolació” (Consolation Mine) in Fígols in 1975. This tragedy claimed thirty victims among the workers there, and all the proceeds from the match between the two blaugrana teams were donated to their families.
Historical memory act
Afterwards, a historical memory event in remembrance of Joan Casals took place. First, journalist Arcadi Alibés dedicated a few words of tribute to him, highlighting the importance of his figure within the blaugrana movement. Then, historian Pol Navarro explained in detail the context and consequences of the aforementioned accident at the mine in Fígols. Finally, Antonio Olmo, former player and member of the Agrupació Barça Jugadors, shared his personal testimony about his participation in that charity match half a century ago.
The event continued with the participation of several representatives from the penyes and institutional world, including Toni Valverde, president of the Federació de Penyes del Bages, Berguedà i Cerdanya; Salva Torres, vice president of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes; the aforementioned Antonio Olmo; Jordi Casals, board member of FC Barcelona; Esteve Ripoll, president of PB La Baells-Cercs; and Urbici Malagarriga, mayor of Cercs. The closing remarks were delivered by Joan Casals, son of the Avi del Barça, who expressed his gratitude to all participants.
The day concluded with a fellowship lunch at Restaurant Santa Bàrbara in Sant Corneli. It was the final touch to a day filled with emotion, remembrance and blaugrana spirit, once again highlighting the relevance that Joan Casals had within the FC Barcelona social movement in general and within the penyes in particular.
