Industrias Santa Coloma is a team of the national futsal league of Spain, located in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona, Catalunya). “Futsal”, is a type of soccer that is played indoors on a basketball-like court, smaller than a football pitch. It is played between two teams of five players each, with  one of whom is the goalkeeper. Industrias is the oldest futsal club in Europe and the second oldest in the world. This club’s history dates back to 1975, when a young businessman, Vicenç García Grau, Industrias president since its foundation, embarked on the adventure of creating a futsal club from nothing. He was born in Es Mercadal (Menorca) in 1945. Many years have passed since that moment, and now the club remains in the first national division of futsal, of which Industrias is the dean. Currently, it is a team well recognized for its sporting achievements, but above all its values, history and the importance of its social responsibility towards its city, Santa Coloma. Industrias, an almost 50-year-old team, has managed to remain in the most important futsal competitions during the last decades with a lot of sacrifice from its president. Vicenç García has a metals company (Industrias García Grau) that is the main sponsor of the club. The history of the oldest club of Spanish futsal is linked to that of the metal parts factory of Vicenç García, and to that of a self-made city such as Santa Coloma de Gramenet. 

The team that grew up in the shelter of its factory is today one of the main attractions of a competition in the First Division of futsal. However, the history of this historic team was never easy; the difficulty of maintaining this type of club in the highest professional categories is a day-to-day challenge, and it is a true success that today it remains where it is. Without going further, last August, Industrias Santa Coloma was proclaimed Champion of the Copa Catalunya, a very significant title for this entity. Industrias has always been a humble club that has grown and maintained itself with limited resources and is faithful to its philosophy of betting on young people, doing a good job with them in lower categories and giving them priority. Industrias is made by their people, the people who work every day for this club’s maintenance. Starting with President Vicenç García, who I am really proud to know well and whom I admire, has put a lot of effort into the club. Industrias is unique; it started as a street club, supported by Vicenç, who created a team that became the pride of his municipality beyond sports. Vicenç arrived in Santa Coloma de Gramenet when he was barely five years old, and he converted his father’s business into a metal parts factory. Without the help and sacrifice of its president, for 50 years, Industrias continuity would be impossible. 

I think that this kind of initiative with sports is definitely necessary in our society. The merit and value of this project that unites the people of the city of Santa Coloma around futsal are really great. This is a clear example of the desire to promote the values of sport for many years by Vicenç Garcia, who is one of those people who are worth knowing in life.

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