Dortmund: Follow Something Unique
Dortmund: Follow Something Unique
Athletic Club has organised a Champions League event full of values for fans: Walking Football at Borussia's facilities with Gurpegui as captain, planting an oak tree and a post-match get together
In Europe, anyone familiar with Athletic Club knows that our philosophy is unique, but they may not realise that this approach to competition has meaning and represents a way of understanding football and life.
For the Athletic family a Champions League away game is much more than just a football match, even when the clash takes place in a legendary stadium like Borussia Dortmund's, with its legendary Yellow Wall (Gelbe Wand), the most impressive standing terrace on the continent.
As with the club's philosophy, the journey – the means – is as important as the match – the end – and that is why the Zurigorri fans try to arrive the day before a fixture or very early in the morning. So they can enjoy the day in the city and leave their stamp. We're a mostly family-oriented fan base, respectful, cheerful, proud of their identity and we're eager to make football a celebration.
As part of the #FollowSomethingUnique campaign, the Athletic Club Foundation has organised a Champions League event to go along with the friendly atmosphere that usually surrounds the Rojiblancos' away games.
#FollowSomethingUnique programme in Dortmund
The day will start with some sport: a game of walking football wearing Athletic shirts alongside none other than Carlos Gurpegui as captain.
The venue is Borussia Dortmund's facilities, next to Signal Iduna Park. The time is 10:30 AM, with players asked to arrive at 10:00 AM. to get changed and warm up. The opposition will be fans of the German club.
Anyone interested in playing in this Walking Football match can sign up at the following link:
Registration deadline: Friday, 26 September, at 09:00. If the number of applications received exceeds the number of places available (20), the Foundation will hold a ballot among those registered on Friday at 12:00.
After the match and showers, but before the post-match activities, at around 12:30, there will be a joint planting of an oak tree as a sign of gratitude to the host city. Next to the oak tree, a plaque will be placed with the following message:
“Wir kamen als Rivalen, wir gehen als Freunde. Danke, Dormund, eskerrik asko”
Which means: "We arrived as opponents, we leave as friends. Thank you, Dortmund, eskerrik asko.
An oak tree as a symbol of unity, as the seed of a friendship that begins with the match and grows over time.
Athletic Club intends to repeat this initiative on other trips of interest during the Champions League.