Santa Coloma Industries and indoor soccer: a 50-year love affair

Anyone who has ever played a sport perfectly remembers the first big talk they ever had from a coach. “If you don't enjoy playing in this arena, you don't like this sport,” was the remark of yours truly. That phrase was in reference to the former Pavelló Nou in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (renovated in 2021), the home of Industrias Santa Coloma, the leading club in national and European futsal , which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season.

The history of Industrias cannot be understood without the figure of Viçenc Garcia (Es Mercadal, 1945), a sports enthusiast who emigrated to Santa Coloma de Gramenet at the age of five. After founding a debt-ridden company (Industrias Garcia), Vicenç, who had previously played for Espanyol 's youth team and had also been a coach at Barça 's youth level, decided to create a futsal club in 1975 that has carried the name of the city of Santa Coloma de Gramenet throughout the country: Industrias Santa Coloma. The only club in the world older than Santa Coloma de Gramenet is Peñarol of Uruguay.

"What I'm most proud of is the enthusiasm we've inspired in so many children from Santa Coloma," exclaims an excited Vicenç, speaking to La Vanguardia from the club's museum. The founder of the oldest club in European futsal is clear that Industrias' mantra is "to develop people and then athletes."

Vicenç Garcia created a team in 1975 that began competing in Meiland company leagues with the workers of his own metalworking company, Industrias Garcia, founded in 1969. That competition was a futsal competition, but it was played on grass and during the week, which prevented the president from participating due to work reasons. However, years later, the Menorcan decided to register the team with the Catalan Football Federation (FCF) so he could play on Saturday afternoons and thus play in shorts. Of course, he played as a goalkeeper because "no one wanted to do it." "I hired workers for the company who later played for the club. Today, I still have workers who were former club players," Vicenç recalls.

He hired workers for the company who later played for the club. Vicenç Garcia President of Industrias Santa Coloma

At that time, no one was paid to play, until, over the years, it became the last team to pay its players. “Everyone earned the same, around 30,000 pesetas (180 euros),” recalls the founder. From that moment on, Industrias expanded and became more professional, eventually achieving a runner-up position in the league's top division (1999) with one of the lowest budgets. In short, a successful model based on a strong commitment to youth football, in contrast to the large investments made by other clubs, and without losing sight of the significant social work that Industrias has always carried out in the city. “We have managed to make Santa Coloma known as the birthplace of indoor soccer, just like Badalona is known for basketball or Granollers for handball,” affirms the founder and president.

However, it hasn't all been plain sailing. After a few difficult years, Garcia wanted to put an end to everything and disband the club in 2001, but his love for the sport and the pressure exerted by families associated with the club made him reconsider and continue his love for futsal and Santa Coloma to this day.

To celebrate the club's golden anniversary, Sebastián Domínguez, a club director since 2016, decided that Industrias' history "couldn't go unnoticed" and began working on a book that was released a couple of weeks ago: "Industrias Santa Coloma, Passion for Futsal" (Editorial Base). The book's forewords were written by Núria Parlon (current Minister of the Interior and former mayor of Santa Coloma de Gramenet) and Javier Lozano (former national team coach and president of the LNFS).

The history of Santa Coloma and the club are parallel; both have grown together. Sebastián Domínguez, Director of Industrias Santa Coloma

“The history of Santa Coloma and the club are parallel. Both have grown hand in hand,” explains Domínguez, who was born in Jaén but feels at home in Santa Coloma. The current club director also explains that Industrias Santa Coloma's great social work is that it took people off the streets “who didn't have a good life waiting for them” and turned them “into the foundation of a great indoor soccer club.”

The truth is, there's no better tribute to such an important milestone as the 50th anniversary celebration than the one Xavi Closas's team is holding this season. With bold and uninhibited play, Industrias Santa Coloma qualified for a Spanish Cup midseason, eight years after their last, and still holds the dream of playing in a playoff for the title on the streets of the neighborhood intact.