Ceremonial kick-off for Athletic fans

Athletic Club has decided to pay tribute to our fans in order to celebrate their return to San Mamés. One supporter will be given the opportunity to take a ceremonial kick-off on behalf of all the Club’s  43,425 members.

The opponents for such a well-deserved homage could not be more appropriate; FC Barcelona, who, along with Real Madrid, are the side Athletic have faced most times in LaLiga. The match will be played on the weekend of August 21 or 22 and, barring any last-minute restrictions, some fans will finally be able to return to San Mamés.

Although neither the specific kick-off time nor the exact stadium capacity for the fixture can yet be confirmed, there is no doubt that the first LaLiga match with a home crowd at The Cathedral will be an emotional and special event. A day to celebrate after a year and a half of restrictions has prevented the Lions from playing home games in front of their loyal fans. It will also be an occasion to remember those fans who have died as a result of COVID-19 and whose spirit will be present on such an important date.

Athletic Club is aware that behind every person who returns to their seat there is a small story of great sentimental value. For example, those who have lost a loved one during the pandemic and will be going back to their seat without them; friends who only meet at matches and have not seen each other for months; parents who long to return to the stadiums with their children; friend groups who will finally meet again for pre-match drinks on Pozas and so many other stories.

To choose the representative who will perform the kick-off against FC Barcelona, Athletic Club is looking to learn about these stories and select the one that, in the opinion of a commission formed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and representatives of the Club, symbolises Athletic’s values in relation to the milestone of fans filling San Mamés once more.

To participate, interested club members should send an email, along with their member code, name and surname(s), to [email protected] detailing their personal story related to their imminent return to San Mamés. Those who prefer to do so can also send a letter with their story or deliver it in person to Ibaigane Palace for the attention of the “Ceremonial kick-off commission”.

The deadline for receiving these short stories will be Sunday, August 8.

The length of the stories should not exceed 2,500 characters, i.e. approximately one sheet of paper of 30 lines.

If you have any doubts or queries regarding the initiative, please write to the following email address: [email protected]