NEWPORT'S LONGTIME BASQUE FRIENDSHIP:

A BOND ROOTED IN WARTIME HUMANITY

May 13, 2026

I definitely gravitated towards this story, the kit launch, and, frankly, the history lesson. The connection Athletic Bilbao and Newport County share is rich and genuine. I learned a lot taking a deeper look at the Children of ‘37.

I think the Basque people share quite a lot with the Welsh, in that they’re deeply passionate about where they come from, generous in what they give, and have seen some hardships over their history.

“The (Euskaldunak) are an indigenous European ethnic group taking up residence in the western Pyrenees, spanning Spain and France, renowned for their ancient, non-Indo-European language (Euskara) and for their unique genetic isolation.”
-The Art of Being Human

Bilbao is one of those Basque cities that’s been through a lot and has the scars to prove it.

During the Spanish Civil War, as Francisco Franco (backed by Nazi Germany and a Fascist Italy) bombed Bilbao and the surrounding Basque region, Wales was among the nations that opened its doors to thousands of displaced Basque children.

Of the 236 children who went into exile in Wales, 56 were housed in Caerleon, about 5 miles from Newport County's Rodney Parade.

‘El niños vascos’ came under the care and protection of the community, most prominently Maria Fernandez, a Bilbao native who had settled in Wales, and played a significant role in caring for and fostering these kids.

Bilbao and the surrounding area had suffered constant bombardment, as Franco’s forces closed in. Exile became a matter of survival. Maria was one of the heroes who saved the children forced to leave their homeland.

Now, in 2026, we see this selfless act honored by both Athletic Club and Newport County, recognizing this time in history. A special story that connects two special clubs.

When Newport County's creative director, Neal Heard, reached out to Athletic Club to propose a collaboration, the result was a red-and-white away kit in Bilbao's famous colors, highlighting the names of the refugee children and adults who cared for them.

The shirt carries a saying that embodies its spirit:

"In 1937, when the Basque people needed help, Wales responded." The collaboration between VX3 and Lover's F.C. has since gone beyond just kit design.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan personally delivered a commemorative shirt to Athletic Club during a visit to the Basque Country in January 2026. A Newport delegation, including a descendant of the original refugee children, also traveled to Bilbao to present the shirt to Athletic Club's museum.

“Football is more than a game, it’s about the club serving the community and recognizing the good in people, many of whom form part of our growing fanbase.” - Newport Chairman, Huw Jenkins

I know this story means so much to so many people associated with both clubs. Football is at its most human when it’s not all about trophies or what league you play in. Some of this ‘goodwill’, however, must have rubbed off on the Exiles this year as they survived a long, relegation-threatened campaign.

Here we have two nations defined by language, identity, and a fierce sense of belonging. Cymru and the Basque people found each other, once again, through the beautiful game. Having this bond rooted in wartime humanity gives the two clubs something to hold onto that’s far greater than any surface-level relationship.