Athletic and Sheffield FC celebrate the spirit of football together

‘First in the World’ met ‘Unique in the World’ for a celebration of grassroots football in Sheffield this Non-League Day 2026.
Athletic Club, represented by club director Gorka Cubes and Mr Pentland Club, our UK-based supporters’ group, were present at Sheffield FC’s match against Tadcaster FC at the Home of Football Stadium on Saturday March 28.

At half-time during the fixture, Gorka was invited on pitch for a small ceremony in which he and the Yorkshire club’s chairman, John McClure exchanged meaningful gifts.

Athletic presented Sheffield with a small statue of our players stood in front of a stand filled with fans, as well as a 2026 home jersey with Sheffield FC and the no.1 printed on the back. 

In return, the Lions received a commemorative Sheffield FC jersey along with a replica of the club’s iconic 1859 rulebook, the founding regulatory pillars of the modern game.

‘First in the World’ and ‘Unique in the World’

This collaboration sought to recognise Sheffield’s origins as the world’s first football team and honour the club’s ongoing commitment to the city it represents. 

These are values which resonate deeply at Athletic Club. Fundamentally, the reason why Athletic only fields players born or developed in the Basque Country – the nation we represent – can be traced back to the spirit of Sheffield FC's foundation in 1857, that of a football club created to serve its community.

We would like to thank Sheffield FC for the fine treatment bestowed on our representatives, who, in addition to watching the match, were given a tour of the ground, shown some of the sport’s oldest artefacts and got to meet some of the club’s most important figures.
Athletic Club have invited John McClure and Matt Roney, the club’s business manager, to attend a match at San Mames in the future so they can see first-hand how we look to maintain the grassroots spirit of football in Bilbao.