HarrogateMackem
Striker
I was just reading this really interesting article from the BBC about Athletico Bilbao, who are in the cup final this weekend, and the Williams brothers who play for them. Would recommend it to everyone, it's a great story and shows the changing philosophy when it comes to "Basque only" players.
www.bbc.co.uk
But this bit of the article reminded me so much of ourselves:
As sporting director Gonzalez puts it: "The first song you learn is the Athletic song. The first jersey you have is the jersey of Athletic. Your first time in a football stadium is always in San Mames."
Even people without a general interest in football see the team as a vehicle for expressing their identity, a sense of belonging. "A religion," one taxi driver calls it. He is at a wedding on Saturday but will join the bride and groom in front of the TV for kick-off at 10pm local time.
"Sometimes you find people who don't really like football, but still they are Athletic fans," explains midfielder Ander Herrera.
"That's unique in the world. You see people who have been season ticket holders all their lives and they don't watch other games; they only watch Athletic.
"In Bilbao, you find a woman who is 60 or 70 years old, she stops you in the street and she says to you that we have to win the cup and we have to qualify for the Champions League."
Right now the city is decorated red and white. Flags hang from apartment windows, offices and council buildings. One metro station is decked out like San Mames, with a backdrop of fans looking over arrivals and departures [...]
Near the stadium, in the heart of the city, banners flutter and even a mannequin in a wedding dress sports an Athletic scarf in a bridal shop window.
The club have been the bridesmaid too many times since their most recent Copa del Rey triumph in 1984.
Six final defeats, including two in as many weeks when the pandemic delayed a heartbreaking loss to rivals Real Sociedad, have followed.
There is a sense that, with Mallorca 15th in La Liga, this is Athletic's best opportunity yet to end a long wait for major silverware.
Two brothers, one club and a 40-year wait
Inaki and Nico Williams' parents travelled to Bilbao from Ghana hoping the city would change their sons' lives. Their sons, in turn, have changed the city.
www.bbc.co.uk
But this bit of the article reminded me so much of ourselves:
As sporting director Gonzalez puts it: "The first song you learn is the Athletic song. The first jersey you have is the jersey of Athletic. Your first time in a football stadium is always in San Mames."
Even people without a general interest in football see the team as a vehicle for expressing their identity, a sense of belonging. "A religion," one taxi driver calls it. He is at a wedding on Saturday but will join the bride and groom in front of the TV for kick-off at 10pm local time.
"Sometimes you find people who don't really like football, but still they are Athletic fans," explains midfielder Ander Herrera.
"That's unique in the world. You see people who have been season ticket holders all their lives and they don't watch other games; they only watch Athletic.
"In Bilbao, you find a woman who is 60 or 70 years old, she stops you in the street and she says to you that we have to win the cup and we have to qualify for the Champions League."
Right now the city is decorated red and white. Flags hang from apartment windows, offices and council buildings. One metro station is decked out like San Mames, with a backdrop of fans looking over arrivals and departures [...]
Near the stadium, in the heart of the city, banners flutter and even a mannequin in a wedding dress sports an Athletic scarf in a bridal shop window.
The club have been the bridesmaid too many times since their most recent Copa del Rey triumph in 1984.
Six final defeats, including two in as many weeks when the pandemic delayed a heartbreaking loss to rivals Real Sociedad, have followed.
There is a sense that, with Mallorca 15th in La Liga, this is Athletic's best opportunity yet to end a long wait for major silverware.
