Six sides set to ‘Basque’ in Non-League Day spotlight!

For the third year running, Non-League Day has once again been handed some high-profile backing from an unlikely source: La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao!

The Basque giants are currently in prime position for a place in next year’s Champions League. But this weekend, their focus is on Non-League.

And in particular, six clubs who share their colours are being championed ahead of this year’s event.

Gorri ta zuria – that’s red and white, in Basque – is a key element of the identity of both Athletic itself and the city of Bilbao. This season they have partnered with six clubs across the National League System who don the same colours.

Our very own Altrincham, who are pushing for promotion in the National League, were first to feature on the Athletic website earlier this week – followed by features on Bromsgrove Sporting (Southern League Premier Division Central) and each of Evesham United, Sheppey United, Steyning Town and Witton Albion (all Step 4).

Each of the six clubs have all received two Athletic shirts (one men’s, one women’s) to raffle off at their respective Non-League Day fixtures.

It’s the latest initiative for Athletic to celebrate their history and ties to England – which include being co-founded by Cornish-born defender Alfred Mills, several exhibition fixtures played against English amateur sides in their early years, and their first ever red and white striped shirt coming from these shores back in 1910… though it remains uncertain whether they came from the Sunderland in the far north or Southampton on the south coast!

And their activities will continue closer to home. For a third year running, Athletic Club Foundation – the community arm of the club – are using their blank weekend to promote the grassroots game through Euskal Non-League Day.

Athletic have affiliate agreements with almost 170 clubs across the Basque Country – a key part of their youth development strategy, which provides a pathway from youth and amateur football to senior-team stardom for players within the orbit of Bilbao.