Local club Altrincham FC has scored a huge collaboration with a major Spanish side to mark Non-League Day this year, teaming up with none other than Athletic Bilbao for a special crossover.
Altrincham are well and truly on the up, establishing a stronger foothold in the non-league ranks and English footballing pyramid, in general, but we all know how the grassroots game and local clubs need our continued support.
Despite being a much bigger operation and being currently busy battling it out for Champions League places in La Liga, another footballing organisation that knows the vital importance of this and supporting your region is Athletic Club Bilbao.
Joining forces with a handful of smaller UK-based teams sharing the same iconic red and white club colours, Bilbao are helping shed some light on upcoming non-league fixtures, including Alty FC’s home game against Barnet this month.
So why the British-centric collab? Well, as well as being famously and fiercely loyal to their unique region of Spain (only signing players born in the Basque Country or who came through at Basque club – a rule they’ve maintained since 1912) – they also have deep roots in England.
For starters, that’s why they still go by their Anglicisation and not ‘Atletico’ like their counterparts in Madrid; the club was founded nearly 127 years ago by migrant ship workers from the likes of Sunderland and Southampton as well as students who left the region to study here before eventually returning.
More to the point, as Altrincham wrote in an official statement, “They haven’t forgotten their background, and it struck a chord when they were made aware of English football’s recognition of grassroots football with the inception of Non-League Day.”
Honing in on half a dozen English teams – Bromsgrove Sporting FC, Evesham United, Sheppey United, Steyning Town, Witton Albion and, of course, Alty – all of whom share the same trademark strip style, they have sent each club one men’s and one women’s team kit to raffle off for Non-League Day 2025.
Better yet, through giving them some added exposure during this annual sporting observance, they’re aiming to spotlight how crucial local football is for communities, from Sunday league all the way up to the top flight. Greater Manchester boasts an embarrassment of riches at both ends of that spectrum.
Credit: Altrincham FC
Set to giveaway the two kits on the day of their promotion hopeful’s fixture against the National League leaders on Saturday, 22 March, there’s even more reason for fans to visit the regularly packed-out J Davidson Stadium.
As explained in the official press release, staff at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium are also “preparing an in-depth article about Alty, detailing our history and the tradition behind our home kit, that will be distributed throughout the wide area of their fanatical support at the start of the week leading up to NLD.
In a gesture of solidarity and support, Athletic Club will also be holding their own ‘Basque Non-League Day’ on the same weekend of the match (22-23 March) in collaboration with 93 of their 170 affiliate clubs.
We don’t have a Spanish team per se but it’s safe to say if we did, it would probably be Bilbao.
Speaking on the partnership, Altrincham FC director John Coyne said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Athletic Club Bilbao to promote Non-League Day on March 22nd.
“This partnership not only celebrates the rich history and community spirit of non-League football but also strengthens the bonds between our clubs.
“By joining forces, we aim to highlight the vital role that grassroots football plays in nurturing talent and fostering a love for the game.”
You can grab tickets to the game between Alty and Barnet FC HERE but you best be quick as it is on course to be a sell-out crowd.
Manchester City staff member sacked after wearing Man United shirt to shift
Danny Jones
Man City have divided a fair few supporters after they sacked a barman for wearing a United shirt to their shift during the Manchester derby.
Although it’s not exactly surprising, the decision has ruffled plenty of feathers on both sides, as well as among neutral fans.
The Blues emerged victorious in the 197th clash between the two local rivals, winning 3-0 on an evening that paid tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton, but another backstory looming over the fixture that caught the attention of football fans online was the City staff member who lost his job.
Working on concessions inside the Etihad Stadium before the game, the barman was made known to the official MCFC Matchday Support channel on X, who quickly confirmed he had been let go before the game even began.
In the since-deleted post, the home fan who reported the worker wrote: “Absolute joke – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day.”
Although many City fans applauded the fast action by the club on the day, it’s fair to say that sacking him so soon that he didn’t even last until kick-off has rubbed many others the wrong way.
One Liverpool fan commented: “I hate United way more than City, but to sack him from a job because of an item of clothing is crazy. So, so poor from Manchester City, this. It’s just football lads, he’s not wearing a political or derogatory symbol. It’s literally a football team…”
Another neutral added: “Getting a minimum wage worker sacked for having a bit of fun instead of just winding him up is the absolute sad state this country is in.”
Even the ‘Out Of Context Football Manager‘ parody account chipped in, writing: “The guy’s been sacked for this. All he needed was a formal warning. I get he’s taking the p*ss – but losing a salary he might really need over this?!
While many have been even more outspoken in their response, as you can see, many supporters – be they Red or otherwise – have come up with arguably the perfect solution:
Manchester City are yet to comment on the backlash, apart from the initial confirmation that the still-anonymous staff member has been released from his position, but as for Man United, simply sticking him on the kiosks in the Stretford End could prove to be a very easy bit of positive PR.
Besides the growing frustration around the fanbase, as Ruben Amorim has yet to turn things around at Old Trafford (pressure was growing even before the derby day defeat), the Red Devils could no doubt do with some positive press for a change.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and the wider INEOS Sports administration sanctioned a second round of redundancies at United, with approximately 450 individuals losing their jobs.
That being said, although some have labelled the sacking of the now ex-City barman as “absolutely horrendous behaviour” for Man City, many jumped to quip back that “[United are] more likely to sack more bar staff, not hire them”, as well as simultaneously taking aim at their significant transfer spending.
Featured Images — Mataniels via X (now deleted)/The Manc Group
Sport
Salford Red Devils supporters group outline plans for the next major protest march
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils supporters trust, The 1873, have outlined details of their next major march in protest over the club’s well-publicised ownership troubles and financial crisis.
The fan group, which has mobilised on multiple occasions already this year, is set to hit the streets once again this month and in larger numbers than ever, confirming another big demonstration before their next home game this weekend.
Sharing the update with fellow Red Devils on social media, 1837 leaders are demanding “truth and accountability from the top” ahead of the peaceful protest through Salford.
They have dubbed the event ‘The Last Rally’, but we can only assume there’ll be more fan action as the weeks and possibly months of uncertainty continue.
As you can see, The 1837 are calling for like-minded supporters to rally outside another nearby amateur rugby league football team, Salford City Roosters, before marching on to a second meeting point and, ultimately, the Salford Community Stadium.
Starting in Eccles, with a stop at Barley Farm, before arriving at their club’s home ground in Barton-upon-Irwell, the plan is to gather as much awareness, support and local attention as possible.
Writing in the caption of the above post, they added: “We’ve dominated headlines. We’ve exposed bad ownership. We’ve stood together.
“A history worth fighting for. A future worth protecting. Our last chance to be heard. Don’t stay silent. Make it count.”
Following a recent meeting of the RFL and the two Greater Manchester Mayors, Andy Burnham and Paul Dennett, Salford Red Devils were given somewhat of an even further stay of execution, as it was confirmed that their ‘winding up’/administration deadline has now been adjourned until October.
Nevertheless, the majority of fans are still being kept in the dark about the exact and up-to-date nature of their rugby league club’s situation at present.
Back in June, it looked like new investors could very well still be injecting vital funds to keep key players and staff on the books, but jump to now, and it looks like they don’t know if even things like the big screen even belong to them much longer.
Salford Red Devils aren’t just in debt – our very identity is up for grabs.
The badge. The name. Even the big screen. All signed off as collateral to financiers.
Once again, the march and peaceful protest will take place this Friday, 19 September, prior to the next fixture against Wakefield Trinity.
Getting points on the board will no doubt be a big plus for all, but the game looks like it will very much serve as the backdrop to the wider ongoing saga.
Are you a Red Devils fan, and if so, will you be attending the demonstration? Better still, even if not, what do you make of the circumstances surrounding your side at the moment?
Fantastic to see the fans turn out again, Salford Red Devils will never die 1873 👹🏉 pic.twitter.com/Gne5peQK6u
Danny Jones -
4th March 2025 
