The neutral BBC Sport has commented on the special bond between Athletic Bilbao fans and Newcastle United fans.
A special bond that spans more than three decades.
In 1994 the two clubs played a two-legged UEFA Cup match.
In both matches, fans of both clubs will have a great time in each other’s cities.
After an article appeared about this relationship between the two supporter groups, BBC Sport is neutral discuss the special bond between Newcastle United fans and Athletic Bilbao fans:
‘I owe this fixture in 1994 to my beautiful wife and children. Without having played Newcastle as an Athletic, I wouldn’t have known where Bilbao was when I first met my wife.
Unfortunately for her, when I asked where she was from, I was the first English person she met who knew where Bilbao was. She and her father were fans of Athletic and her brothers Sociedad… the rest is history as they say.”
‘As a Rugby League fan I have visited Newcastle several times for our ‘Magic Weekend’ weekend. Let me tell you that it is by far one of the friendliest cities in Britain. I was sitting next to a local fan and he insisted on buying me and my wife a drink, I’ve never met him before.’
‘I think a lot of non-Newcastle football fans have a soft spot for Newcastle United and their fans, and who doesn’t love Geordies?’
‘In 1910, Athletic Club de Bilbao switched to the colors red and white. This change was directly linked to Sunderland, as a club director’s family ship, the Bachi, was sent to Sunderland to purchase new red and white shirts for the team, which were the same as those worn by the successful Sunderland AFC team at the time.
‘The Athletic Bilbao website confirms that the club initially wore the Blackburn Rovers kit and then the traditional Southampton kit.
Not Sunderland.’
‘As a proud Welshman, I have lived in Newcastle for over forty years. I love the region and the people. I have some great friends. Work-life balance is important to most people. There are many good people everywhere, but too often the media focuses on the bad people. Good luck Toon.’
“Tough Geordie guys have nothing to prove and are comfortable knowing that, a bit like the Scots. It allows them to open up to strangers. You just have to go there to confirm that this is true. It looks like Bilbao could be the same. When you are secure in yourself, you no longer have to be part of a gang of similarly inadequate people, so you are less and less afraid.”
‘I would say it has a lot more to do with our sense of community in Tyneside: we are close-knit, social and generous. The Scots and the Irish are very similar and this is no surprise as many families from those countries emigrated to Tyneside in the second half of the 19th century to work in the shipyards and coal mines.’
‘What a great story. A refreshing change from all the negativity’
‘I think a lot of non-Newcastle football fans have a soft spot for Newcastle United and their fans, and who doesn’t love Geordies?’
‘It should be noted that Athletic extends this welcome to all clubs. I’ve been to Bilbao a few times with Man Utd and it was a fantastic welcome and they’re so glad you made the effort to travel.”
‘Fair play to all fans involved, great story’
‘Football fans are so often embarrassing, tribal and stuck in the datk eras, so things like this are so refreshing to read. It’s what it should be about, and it was.”
‘Heavy internet use and most media have unfortunately rotted our brains, hopefully we can give each other a boost again’
‘Yes, the same bond was formed when they came to the villa park in 98. It’s not unique. They are.’
‘The fans/people from Bilbao were great for the Spurs supporters in the recent Europa League final – a good news story among football fans who get a lot of bad publicity.’
‘Thank you for this uplifting article, which shows the good side of humanity. A refreshing change from the horrific abuse perpetrated against TAA last night. Good old Geordies, I just love it.”
‘Nice to see two clubs that respect each other and also to read such nice comments’
‘Hopefully Newcastle can get the Basque win tonight.
After comments in Sunday’s HYS from both West Ham and Newcastle fans about how respectful the opponents were, both on the pitch and in the comments, let’s hope this type of non-combatant exchange becomes more common.
Of course, some fanbases are lost causes…’
‘I love the Geordie fans. When they come to my club in Ipswich there are loads of them queuing for a photo next to the statue of Sir Bobby Robson.’
‘I fell in love with the Geordies after the 1973 cup final which we, Liverpool, won. Met some Newcastle fans in Trafalgar Square. Good guys. No bitterness towards the Liverpool fans, just enjoyed the experience.”
‘Beautiful memories described here. The people of Newcastle are known for their hospitality. ‘
‘A guy (from Bilbao) called Juan Elorduy bought fifty shirts from Southampton. However, there is another connection: during the Spanish Civil War, five Tyneside merchant ships (ten British ships in all) sailed to Bilbao to rescue children and the elderly from Franco’s forces.’
‘Having been to Bilbao and living not far from Newcastle I can confirm that they are both great cities and have passionate fans who represent football very well.’
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