Athletic Bilbao donate shirts for Non-League Day

Athletic Bilbao's Spanish defender Yuri Berchiche celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between Athletic Club Bilbao and AS Roma at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao. — Athletic Bilbao have sent football shirts to Sheppey United and Steyning Town [Getty Images]

A top division Spanish club has donated football shirts to two teams in the South East in celebration of Non-League Day.

Athletic Bilbao, who sit fourth in La Liga, have sent one men's jersey and one women's jersey to Kent side Sheppey United and West Sussex side Steyning Town.

The shirts are to be part of a raffle at their respective fixtures on Non-League Day.

The celebration, who first took place in 2010, encourages fans of Premier League or English Football League teams to attend their local football club.

The day traditionally takes place during the international break, when the top two divisions of English football do not have matches scheduled.

All three sides play in red and white stripes.

James Bessey-Saldanha of Sheppey United celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup First Round match between Sheppey United and Walsall at Holm Park on November 3, 2023 in Isle of Sheppey, Kent. — Sheppey United currently play in the seventh tier of English football [Getty Images]

Lee Allen, interim co-vice chairman of Sheppey United, said: "We would like to thank Athletic Bilbao for not only finding the time to reach out to us, but also their interest in our club and of course their generous offer.

"Non-League Day is very important as it helps raise our profile and gives us an opportunity to welcome supporters from other sides, like the Premier League."

The funds Sheppey United generate will be donated to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in honour of a local six-year-old girl named Joules, who recently passed away after she was diagnosed with an incurable illness.

Mr Allen added: "Joules had the nation dancing with the Dancing for Joules campaign that had the whole nation filming various dance videos, including celebrities and us."

'Heart of community'

Steyning Town chairman Paul Hart said: "The fantastic support and link up with Athletic Bilbao for Non-League Day will hopefully really benefit the clubs and encourage people to come to watch a game of football that they may not usually attend.

"We both share the same important identity of wearing red/white stripes as our home shirts and we will auction off the tops for a local charity, which we will be doing on the day of the game.

"Like all non-league clubs, ours is at the heart of the local community and run by dedicated volunteers who give up their time & effort to make sure everything runs smoothly."

In 2023, Athletic Bilbao offered its members free tickets and a bespoke travel package to London to watch a fixture between Dulwich Hamlet and Oxford City.

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