FC Barcelona is going in an important direction with their away jerseys this season, for both the first team and the Femení. The jersey honors the members of the Seleccio Ciutat Barcelona, which was the first group of women to play in an organized and officially recognized contest at the Camp Nou. The match took place against Unio Esportiva Centelles on Christmas Day in 1970, and it was played in front of an audience of 60,000 people. Legendary goalkeeper Antoni Ramallets served as the coach.
The unfortunate reminder of that match is that for as groundbreaking as it was, the team wasn’t a part of the club and could not wear the colors or use the name. It wasn’t until 1988 when Barcelona finally integrated a women’s team into their set-up, and finally in 2015 they became a professional team. In defense of FC Barcelona, they have always been close to the forefront of investments in women’s football in Europe, and that investment finally paid off with the Champions League trophy this year.
The best part of the away jersey unveiling was the incorporation of Lolita Ortiz, Pilar Gazulla, and Consuelo Pérez, three women that played in that match 50 years ago and laid the foundation for women’s football in Catalonia. Honoring these figures of the past is essential to recognizing what could have been done better, and using those lessons for a better future for women in football.
It’s a positive sign that the away shirt for the club this season supports the Femení. They won the treble and the jersey rightfully celebrates that feat. As the club said, “The design of the jersey is framed under one of these pillars, ‘More than empowerment’, which highlights FC Barcelona’s commitment to women’s football and the role of women in sport.”
If you’re looking at grabbing one of the new away jerseys, make sure to use the link below!
