The editorial team of Deportes COPE Bilbao will pay tribute this Thursday afternoon to the Athletic Club squads that won the Superliga and Women's Football League championships in the 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07, and 2015-16 seasons. This recognition, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the last trophy, aims to settle a historical debt with women's football, remembering not only the champions but also the pioneers who started the journey more than half a century ago, in the 1970s.
The origin of women's football in Bizkaia dates back to a group of women from Sondika who, at that time, began to play with a charitable purpose: to raise funds for good causes. Linked to the town's parish, these young women played friendly matches without resources, without coaches, and without official competitions, unknowingly laying the foundations for a professional future.
“"It started almost without us realizing it, simply out of passion and because we wanted to play."
In 1982, the Bizkaia Football Federation officially recognized women's competition, marking a turning point. This guaranteed players the right to mutual insurance in case of injury, an unthinkable advance in the early years. A pioneer from that era has stated that they played almost without knowing what could happen if they suffered a serious injury, highlighting the vulnerability they faced.
The great boost for women's football in Bizkaia came in 2002 with the creation of Athletic Club Femenino. The red-and-white club's commitment not only brought sporting successes, such as the five leagues now being commemorated, but also served as a catalyst. From that moment on, more teams emerged in Bizkaia, and many more women were encouraged to train as coaches, consolidating the growth of the sport. Today, the legacy of those teenagers who played for a social cause in Sondika lives on.
