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Harry Gillies. Athletic hold values and principles rarely seen in the modern game. The club fields only homegrown players. That is, Basque players from their academy or players who have developed at other clubs in the region. All must have a family link to the Basque Country if they have not grown up in the club.

The origin of this structure goes back to the 1911 Copa del Rey final when Athletic were accused of fielding ineligible English players. The Spanish Football Federation set a new rule that made clubs only play Spanish citizens. Bilbao enjoyed the wealth of talented Basque players and even when the rules were relaxed, they kept their system which has become the club’s guiding principle.

Football was introduced to the Basque Country by English miners and shipyard workers. Like much of the British Constitution, the ‘only Basque’ rule isn’t written down officially, and it doesn’t need to be.

The Academy and Club Ethos

The idea of a young, Athletic fan one day becoming a player isn’t just some romantic dream. Many clubs make a token gesture at youth team promotion. For Athletic, around 80% of the first team is comprised of players from the famed Lezama Academy.

Commercial Director, German Mugueta told Rank FC: “We are such a small community, so the reality is that a neighbour has all the possibilities to go up to the first team.”

The ethos of the club makes for, educated, self-aware and proud players who know what it means to represent Athletic.

Former women’s captain Garazi Murua said: “In the Basque country we have our own culture and our own language, and I think the club is part of that. The players love it so much and take care of it.”

Murua is not typical of the modern, mercenary player. Athletic players display an inward reflection. A sense of who am I? Why is my community and language important to me? What should I represent?

Sustained Success

The men’s first team have hit a fine run of form. They are fourth in La Liga, having beaten both Real Madrid and their Basque neighbours Real Sociedad in recent weeks. They won 2-0 against Fenerbahçe this week, climbing to second place in the Europa league table.

What’s more remarkable is the success they have maintained over decades. Athletic, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, have never been relegated from La Liga.

The autocrat Franco made the club change its name to ‘Atlético’ Bilbao as part of his Spanish language policy. He banned the Basque Language in his quest for a homogenous Spain. The club claimed back its original name following the demise of the dictatorship.

The Derby

The games against Real Sociedad celebrate Basque culture and identity. Fans are seen mingling in narrow alleys before the game, competing in ‘Bertso-derbia’, a Basque improvised singing and poetry competition.

For all the claimed progressiveness of football in the 21st Century, violent tribalism and masculine idiocy can still run like poison through the lifeblood of the sport. Certainly, in my home city, the idea of opposing fans engaging in poetry before a derby is somewhat of a stretch. More likely profanity towards the Pope or the British monarchy.

Football’s Moral Crisis

At the highest level of the game, the fan is excluded. FIFA give competitions to authoritarian states, as seen again this week with the Saudi World Cup. Fans are priced out of watching games. The sport is in moral crisis. The survival of Bilbao’s model and values are a miracle of modern football.

The Example of Iñaki Williams

Athletic has been accused of discrimination. This is a misinterpretation of the policy. The goal is to promote Basque identity and give opportunities to young players.

Ghanian international Iñaki Williams was born in Bilbao. His parents left Ghana and crossed the Sahara Desert to reach Spain. Iñaki was the first black player to score for Athletic.

He told La Liga’s YouTube: “I’m very grateful to Bilbao because they helped my parents. I feel like one more Basque person. It’s about identifying with the region and playing for the people you know.”

An Inspirational Club

Athletic stands apart from much of what the modern game has become. It is a cultural communicator, a place for young players to grow and one day represent their community.

If clubs across Europe adopted even a watered-down version of this model, how many more young people would have a sporting opportunity?

If we can’t take something from the example of Athletic Bilbao, then we might as well watch team red v team blue every week. No club names, no values, no tradition.

Former women’s coach Iraia Iturregi said: “It’s impossible to win if you don’t have values.”

So, what is ‘a win’ for Athletic? The title for the fans is seeing 11 Basque players lineup and defend the crest, as their predecessors have done for over 100 years.