Euskal Non-League Day: CD Basconia
Euskal Non-League Day: CD Basconia
Few affiliate clubs have a more important place in Athletic’s 125 years of history than our current C team
Location: Basauri
Ground: Polideportivo de Artunduaga
Division: 3rd RFEF (Fifth tier)
Match: CD Basconia vs CD Derio (Sept 10. 11:30 CEST)
Athletic Club's history is deeply linked to that of Basauri's Club Deportivo Basconia. Founded in 1913, Basconia have been Athletic's third team since 1997, As a result, most Lions to have come up through Athletic's youth academy in recent times have also worn the black and yellow stripes of Basconia.
Basconia's first season attached to Athletic was one to remember. Coached by none other than José Luis Mendilibar, players like Fran Yeste, Dani Aranzubia and Luis Prieto turned out for the side.
However, Basconia's historical importance dates back to long before it became an Athletic affiliate and, like all the other clubs taking part in Euskal Non-League Day, many of Athletic's most prominent players featured for Basconia before they became Lions.
Without a doubt, the most famous example is that of Jose Angel 'El Txopo' Iribar, who excelled in goal for Basconia during the 1961/62 season. Those brilliant performances led to the shotstopper signing for Athletic, marking the beginning of a career that would make him a legend at the Club.
La Basconia factory
Like many of the world's iconic football clubs, CD Basconia's origins trace back to local industry, in this case the La Basconia factory.
Basconia experienced their golden age in the 1950s, winning the Bizkaia and Spanish Amateur Championships in the 1950/51 season and then promotion to the Segunda División in 1956/57, remaining there until 1963.
Among the most memorable highlights of that period was a Copa elimination of Atlético Madrid, thanks in large part to some stellar performances by a young Iribar.
In addition to El Txopo, other footballers from that era would become Athletic legends. For example, Josemari Argoitia, who scored 70 goals in his 12 years at Athletic, and Koldo Etxeberria, who made 341 appearances in 11 seasons as a Lion.
Isaac Oceja, Jesus Larraza, Victor Manuel Urquijo, José Pablo Otaolea and Carlos Meléndez are other notable players who played for Basconia before they became Athletic's third team.
It's not just players who learnt their trade at Basconia before moving to Athletic, the Basauri-based outfit have also provided invaulable opportunities and experience to a host of Los Leones head coaches - Javier Clemente, who led the side in 76/77, perhaps the most famous case of all.
Once Basconia became an Athletic affiliate, it maintained it place as a testing ground for aspiring coaches, such as Mendilibar, Joseba Etxebarria, and most recently, Carlos Gurpegui.
Euskal Non-League Day match against Derio
The 3rd RFEF fixture list has pitted Basconia against CD Derio for the Non-League Day match on September 10. The fixture will take place at Basauri's Campo de Artunduaga on Sunday morning at 11:30 CEST.
As with all the Euskal Non-league Day clashes, at half-time Basconia will raffle off Athletic first team shirts and double VIP tickets for Los Rojiblancos' match againt Cádiz CF at San Mames. As if that were not enough, Iribar himself will be in charge of handing out the prizes.
