University teams up with Barcelona (and Blades) in educational project

A YORKSHIRE university is announcing a link-up with one of the planet’s biggest football teams in order to promote the educational possibilities of sport.

The University of Sheffield’s 
Department of Hispanic Studies is joining forces with FC Barcelona and Sheffield United 
Football Club to promote the new initiative.

A public lecture at the University of Sheffield entitled Barça, Sport, Culture and Education recently attracted over 100 people to the university to listen to and debate with Ramon Pont Amenós, Vice-President of the FC Barcelona Foundation and member of the club’s board of directors.

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He said: “We have a strong responsibility to the young players, towards their families who have allowed us to educate them both in football and in life, and towards their future.

“We are their family, and therefore we have a responsibility towards everything that they do now, and towards what they will be able to do in their future.”

He answered questions from the audience, particularly on an inspirational example of the educational potential of sport, the Masia.

Dr Louise Johnson from the Department of Hispanic Studies explained: “The Masia is what we might understand as the academy, but it’s much more than that. It’s where young sporting talents from outside the city of Barcelona and from all over the world, live and eat together, train at the nearby facilities and do their additional school work. It’s an intellectual and sporting home from home.” She said former manager Pep Guardiola and top players Xavi, Iniesta and Messi were “formed” in the Masia.

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Patrick Piearcey, Community Health Officer for the Blades, who are currently re-launching their community initiatives, also attended.

The university was presented with an FC Barcelona shirt with “University of Sheffield” printed on the back and is forging further links with FCB and Sheffield United following the success of this event.