Last Saturday, the town of Don Benito hosted the XXII Meeting of Supporters’ Clubs of the Federación de Extremadura, which was held in this municipality to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the local supporters’ club: the Peña Barcelonista Don Benito y Comarca. The event, long awaited by the supporters of this territory, counted with the collaboration of the Confederació Mundial de Penyes.
Miguel Ángel Cruz, president of the Federación de Extremadura, and Juan Pedro Sánchez, president of the PB San Benito, attended the event. Also travelling to Extremadura were Esteban García, president of the Federación de Madrid; Ximo Grifoll, president of the Federació de les Comarques de Castelló, and José Antonio Adame, president of the Federación de Andalucía, Ceuta y Melilla. Throughout the day, Barça members and supporters were able to visit the exhibition “Tela de historia azulgrana” (Blaugrana history fabric), by the journalist José Luis Vela, which shows historic FC Barcelona shirts and reviews the 124 years of the Club.
General Assembly
The day began with the general assembly of the Federation, in which reports were reviewed and the accounts were read and approved with 45 supporters’ clubs attending. The present and future of the penyes movement was also discussed, as well as the projects of Aficiones Unidas, of which the Confederation is a member. Afterwards, at noon, the popular lunch was held in a hotel in San Benito, which hosted the rest of the day. During the commemoration, there was an exchange of gifts among the clubs present.
In the afternoon, there was an official reception at the town hall of Don Benito, with the presence of Antonio Escudero, vice-president of the FC Barcelona Social Area, and Rafael Pichardo, member of the Social Commission of FC Barcelona. Also in attendance was Ricardo Serna, former Barça player and member of the Agrupació Barça Jugadors. It was a full perfect day that ended with a gala dinner with more than 250 people.
