Unionistas de Salamanca join Common Goal

They become the first Spanish club to join the movement 

On the day before the biggest game in their history, Unionistas de Salamanca have become the first Spanish club to join the Common Goal movement.

The club will play host to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Wednesday but the week is also significant as they pledge 1% to movement that is uniting the footballing world in tackling the greatest social challenges of our time.

In addition to donating 1% of the benefits generated by the sale of match-day tickets, the club will include the 1% pledge ‘opt-out’ in all their contracts for players and personnel.

President, Miguel Ángel Sandoval Herrero said: “We want to give back to society everything it has given to us.

“We understand football as something social and, as an institution, the logical thing is to give back to the people what they bring to us.

“We believe that football should be something for the people. As a club, society bring us great things, so we want to give back that support and trust collaborating with the most needy sectors.

“We have the moral obligation of improving more our environment.”

Unionistas midfielder Cristian Portilla has been a member of Common Goal since 2018 and says he is proud to play for a club that, despite its short history (founded in 2013), is committed to leading change in the football industry.

“This is the most important week in our club’s history as we prepare to play Real Madrid,” said Portilla.

“But it also important for the fact that we are announcing that we are the first club in Spain to join the Common Goal movement and will donate 1% of our revenues to a collective fund that help NGOs that use football as a tool for social impact.

“Our 1% won’t change the world, but it will help thousands of people to have a better life.

“I am proud to be part of Unionistas de Salamanca because we will work side by side with Common Goal.”

Unionistas de Salamanca was founded in August 2013 by several members of the Unionistas Fan Platform and other followers and fans of the Salamanca Sports Union as a tribute to that team, after it disappeared in June of that year.