Celebrating community football with Dulwich Hamlet

102 years ago on March 28, 1921, Dulwich Hamlet played the second of two friendly matches at San Mames, both of which they won (2-3, 2-4).

Three days ago on Non-League Day, March 25, 2023, a group of 30 Athleticzales were among the 3,500-strong crowd at Champion Hill in south London cheering on Dulwich during their 2-2 draw with Oxford City. Both centenary clubs currently play in the National League South, England's sixth division. Pure Non-League football.

But what is Non-League Day? It is an initiative that has been supporting British non-professional football since 2010 by taking advantage of a weekend without Premier League or Championship fixtures. The day is promoted by the top clubs, their players and the nation's media, helping to raise awareness around grassroots football and encouraging attendance at lower-league grounds.

Athletic Club, aware that youth and grassroots football is the cornerstone of our philosophy, is working to implement the first edition of Non-League Day supported by a LaLiga team, with it set to take place in Bizkaia on September 9 and 10. However, before that, the Club wanted to live the experience first-hand, doing so through Dulwich Hamlet FC, one of our most charming historical opponents.

Jon Ruigómez, who stood alongside the Athleticzales throughout the match, said: "It is well known that football was created here and that through industry links it came to us. So, we have a strong and deep-rooted relationship with the UK. Moreover, our values are very much in line with those of the Non-League Day movement, which was created here and helps to promote the type of youth and grassroots football that is so important to our philosophy."

Before the match, Dulwich arranged a small historical exhibition with artifacts from their visit to Bilbao in 1921, along with a speech by their club historian. After the presentation, Athletic Club vice-president Jon Ruigómez gave a small lion statue to Dulwich chairman Ben Clasper. On the base of the figure it says: "From the Pride of Biscay to the Pride of South London, celebrating community football on Non-League Day."

The Club's commitment to Non-League Day UK and the initiative with Dulwich also received nationwide attention with articles on The Athletic, BBC Sport and Crystal Palace's websites, among others.

Ben Clasper, chairman of Dulwich Hamlet FC, thanked Athletic Club for the support on such a special day, singling out the common values both clubs hold dear.

"It’s fantastic. One of the things that people like about this club is that we treat away fans the same as home fans, so they love coming here," he said. "But to have visitors, especially from Athletic, is just superb. They’ll fit in really well. We looked into the way the clubs are run, the supporters. I think it’s a really good fit and they’ll have a fantastic day."

Athletic's fans, who went around the ground giving out club badges to anybody who enquired about their attendance, were treated outstandingly well by Dulwich Hamlet and their supporters. On the weekend of September 16-17, Biscay football will hold its own version of Non-League Day. The passion and spirit on display at Champion Hill bodes well for what could be achieved when the initiative reaches our shores.