UE Sant Ildefons
Ground: Stadium
Capacity: 4,000
Club Founded: 1963
League: Tercera Catalana Grupo X - 9th Tier (current level)
UE Sant Ildefons is one of Barcelona's many clubs with a strong connection to youth football, as they continue to play a big part in the local community.
UE Sant Ildefons Club Background
Unificació Esportiva Sant Ildefons is a football club that was formed in 1994 following the merger of three other local clubs: San Ildefonso, Satélite y Can Mercader and Bambú. The history of those clubs can be traced back to 1968.
UE Sant Ildefons represents the neighbourhood located in the district of Cornellà de Llobregat in the Catalan city of Barcelona. The club has its own Escola de Fútbol to offer local youngsters opportunities to continue their progression in the game.
The first team worked their way through Catalan regional football before winning promotion from Segunda Catalana in 2013-14, where they quickly consolidated. A poor 2021-22 season saw Sant Ildefons relegated to Segona Catalana, which was the third tier of regional football
The team did enough to win promotion to Primera Catalana after one season before the appointment of new manager Miguel García Villarejo in June 2023. Twelve months later, Sant Ildefons dropped back a level before being relegated to the ninth tier, Tercera Catalana, at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
My visit
Saturday 20th January 2018
The weather was getting warmer all the time on the first full day of my visit to Barcelona. I was in good form after a sightseeing walk and gaining access to the El Moli home of CF Can Vidalet, as I alighted at Sant Ilfedons.
The barrio was high above the city and revealed views all the way to the water. Within a few minutes, I’d walked from the station along Carrer dels Almogàvers and arrived at the grounds entrance on Av. de Salvador Allende.
My biggest fear when planning such a trip is a venue with no access or views inside. However, it was quickly becoming apparent that football clubs in Barcelona were open all weekend and that the artificial pitches meant that a plethora of junior sides could enjoy the facilities.
The open gate was in the highest corner of the venue. A path led down to the changing room and club facilities behind one goal, where paths and steps were in place for spectators wanting to access the main viewing area.
The main pitch was split into two, as at Can Vidalet, with two games going on at the same time. The near pitch saw an intriguing contest between a visiting girls' team and a home boys' team. The girls went ahead while I was looking around and played some smashing football. I could just imagine the lads taking stick off their mates at school the following Monday!
The main spectator facilities were built into the hill down one side, with a raised cover and seating provided at the nearest end. There was access via a narrow path around the far end and sides.
The near goal end was busy. The club bar and café were doing a roaring trade, with many parents and supporters sitting, enjoying the sun while having food and drink. The changing rooms were down the far side of the pitch.
Again, I left the venue in a really good mood, having seen how football clubs should be part of the community by making the most of their facilities.
