Clapton CFC's away shirt goes viral in Spain because of anti-fascist message

[erskblue]

Clapton CFC's away shirt goes viral in Spain because of anti-fascist message

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45344696

Clapton CFC play in the Middlesex County League Division One, the 12th tier of English football and are about to start their first season as a club.

So how on earth have they managed to sell over 2,500 replica away kits - mainly to Spanish people - and make £60,000 from it?

"It has been quite the shock for us, as we only expected to sell about 250 shirts in a year," says kit designer and Clapton CFC member, Thom, on the club's website.

 

"We didn't expect our tiny club to be noticed by Spanish football fans but we're delighted nonetheless."

The design of the kit is based upon the colours of the International Brigade, a group who fought against fascism in Spain during the civil war in the 1930s, and it features the slogan 'no pasaran' - meaning 'they shall not pass' - which was used by Republican troops at the time.

The shirt was first worn by Clapton players during a pre-season friendly on Saturday, in front of a crowd of 232 people, and now the club have been inundated with orders. So many, in fact, that it crashed their website.

Because of the demand, the price has been put up from £25 to £30 because they're now being charged VAT, and the club have had to start tweeting in Spanish to get messages to their new supporters.

Clapton, a fan-owned club who formed this year in Walthamstow, have said they have gained 20 new members from Spain, bringing their total to over 400.

Clapton had to explain in Spanish that they had been overwhelmed with away kit orders.

What a story ! Thought this deserved a thread of it's own.

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by erskblue

[erskblue]

Sorry for the gaps above !

[strider6004]

2 hours ago, erskblue said:

Clapton CFC's away shirt goes viral in Spain because of anti-fascist message

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45344696

Clapton CFC play in the Middlesex County League Division One, the 12th tier of English football and are about to start their first season as a club.

So how on earth have they managed to sell over 2,500 replica away kits - mainly to Spanish people - and make £60,000 from it?

"It has been quite the shock for us, as we only expected to sell about 250 shirts in a year," says kit designer and Clapton CFC member, Thom, on the club's website.

 

"We didn't expect our tiny club to be noticed by Spanish football fans but we're delighted nonetheless."

The design of the kit is based upon the colours of the International Brigade, a group who fought against fascism in Spain during the civil war in the 1930s, and it features the slogan 'no pasaran' - meaning 'they shall not pass' - which was used by Republican troops at the time.

The shirt was first worn by Clapton players during a pre-season friendly on Saturday, in front of a crowd of 232 people, and now the club have been inundated with orders. So many, in fact, that it crashed their website.

Because of the demand, the price has been put up from £25 to £30 because they're now being charged VAT, and the club have had to start tweeting in Spanish to get messages to their new supporters.

Clapton, a fan-owned club who formed this year in Walthamstow, have said they have gained 20 new members from Spain, bringing their total to over 400.

Clapton had to explain in Spanish that they had been overwhelmed with away kit orders.What a story ! Thought this deserved a thread of it's own.

For me this is the crucial part of the BBC transcript,

The design of the kit is based upon the colours of the International Brigade, a group who fought against fascism in Spain during the civil war in the 1930s, and it features the slogan 'no pasaran' - meaning 'they shall not pass' - which was used by Republican troops at the time.

[yorkleyblue]

When I saw the topic of this pop up, I thought it was referring to Eric Clapton, and was mightily confused, because he was very much pro-fascist, pro-racist.

[erskblue]

3 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

For me this is the crucial part of the BBC transcript,

The design of the kit is based upon the colours of the International Brigade, a group who fought against fascism in Spain during the civil war in the 1930s, and it features the slogan 'no pasaran' - meaning 'they shall not pass' - which was used by Republican troops at the time.

Totally agree with you.

That's why it has become such a big hit.

[strider6004]

42 minutes ago, erskblue said:

Totally agree with you.

That's why it has become such a big hit.

It does make you wonder how they got those sales, did they promote the kit as being the colours of the international brigade on-line or did someone wear the shirt in Spain, Catalona perhaps and then shared the details after locals being interested. Neat story though.

 

[erskblue]

10 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

It does make you wonder how they got those sales, did they promote the kit as being the colours of the international brigade on-line or did someone wear the shirt in Spain, Catalona perhaps and then shared the details after locals being interested. Neat story though.

 

No idea mate.

This now is world wide !

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12116222

[erskblue]

https://www.claptoncfc.co.uk/2018/08/28/somehow-weve-just-sold-2000-replica-shirts-and-its-nuts/

Somehow we’ve just sold over 2,500 replica shirts and it’s nuts

August 28, 2018August 28, 2018

Clapton CFC have not even kicked a ball in competitive football yet, but we’ve seen an overwhelming demand for our replica shirts, particularly our away strip.

The colourful red, purple and yellow shirt, inspired by the International Brigades and voted for by our members, was formally launched on Saturday at the team’s home friendly against the first FA Cup-winners Wanderers FC, a brilliant occasion in front of 232 fans.

By then members were already overjoyed to have sold over 400 replica shirts, way above our expectations. We are a Step 8 (that is, division 12) club, after all. Before the Bank Holiday weekend was over, however, we had received an amazing 2,600 orders and rising.

To the thousands of you who have bought a shirt, or followed us on social media, or sent us a message, thank you very much.

Our unexpected spot in the limelight has meant lots of frantic planning, working out how on earth we can process so many orders. And we’ve had to rush to register for VAT – we never expected our income to be high enough to need to do so – which has forced a £5 rise in price.

The now-famous shirts did cost £25, but will now be £30 including VAT – still half the cost of many Premier League shirts. They are made in Italy by Rage Sports, a small, ethical manufacturer with material meticulously sourced from companies that pay their workers fairly. Find out more about Rage Sports here.

Most of the demand has come from Spain, due to the design being based upon the colours of the International Brigades, who joined the fight against fascism in Spain during the Civil War of the late 1930s. Over 2,500 men and women from the UK and Ireland travelled to fight, with more than 500 dying for the cause.

“It has been quite the shock for us, as we only expected to sell about 250 shirts in a year,” says kit designer and Clapton CFC member, Thom. “Fans voted from a total of 16 kit designs, but this was by far the most popular. I really wanted to make something that marked the importance of the sacrifice of those who fought against fascism.

“We have always been known as fans who do not accept racism, sexism and homophobia, so it made total sense. We didn’t expect our tiny club to be noticed by Spanish football fans but we’re delighted nonetheless.”

We will use some of the money to help with the running of the club, which is a community benefit society entirely run by volunteers. We also be consulting fully with out members.

However, funds are also earmarked to help the International Brigade Memorial Trust, who work to keep the memory of those who travelled to Spain to fight alive. The IBMT counts actress Maxine Peake and musician Christy Moore among its patrons.

Jim Jump, National Secretary of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, said: “We’re delighted that the shirt highlights the sacrifice made by those who joined the International Brigades, and we are excited that some of the income from the shirts will enable us to work with Clapton CFC on education and memorial initiatives here in the UK.” 

Rage Sports are doing their best to cope with the surge in demand, and Clapton CFC members will do our best to send them out as soon as we can. Further details to follow. Shirts are still available to buy at https://www.claptoncfc.co.uk/store/ but please do be patient as we try to process orders.

The club has also gained 20 new members in Spain, swelling our ranks to over 400, just a few months after being founded. All members have a full and equal say on how the club is run, with volunteer committees overseeing day-to-day business. All you have to do to get involved is to join us, for £5 concessions and £10 waged.

Some people are understandably confused, but just to be clear, we are not the Clapton FC which fields a team in the Essex Senior League.

Our club was established by Clapton FC’s life members, who have hundreds of years of supporting the Tons between them, and who can trace their family links to the club as far back as the early 1900s.

We publicly launched in June 2018 after a long, tightly-observed fan boycott of Clapton FC home games, legal disputes over ownership and membership, and that club’s declared owner forcing a charity that he also runs into voluntary liquidation.

This charity, which controlled the lease on the historic Old Spotted Dog Ground in Forest Gate, east London,, is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission and legal action by fans is ongoing in the High Court.

So this will be Clapton CFC’s first season as a club and the team will compete in the Middlesex Counties League Division 1, at our temporary home of The Stray Dog, Wadham Lodge Sports Ground in Walthamstow, east London.

Clapton CFC’s first competitive home game will be a BBC Essex Premier Cup game against Hutton FC at 2pm on September 22. You can see our full fixture list here.

? Clapton CFC 5 Wanderers FC 2: Glorious start to life at the newly-named Stray Dog

[RMH]

I read it a few days ago in one of the online newspaper (left leaning news paper), and from there even my father wants to buy one.

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

It does make you wonder how they got those sales, did they promote the kit as being the colours of the international brigade on-line or did someone wear the shirt in Spain, Catalona perhaps and then shared the details after locals being interested. Neat story though.

 

This is not a Catalonia Republic (and the nationalists are nowadays not big fans of the Spanish Republic), it was the Spanish Republic which was overthrown by a coup d'etat and civil war forced on the Republic by extreme right wing members of the military helped by Hitler and Mussolini. Many Brits (along with Americans, Germans, Italians, French...) came to fight for the the Republic, and there is a small statue in the park by the London Eye to those Brits fallen fighting against fascism. A nice gesture by Clapton CFC, that I'm not sure why they are doing but was going to have a big impact in Spain's many republicans as soon as anyone heard about the shirt.

[strider6004]

4 minutes ago, RMH said:

I read it a few days ago in one of the online newspaper (left leaning news paper), and from there even my father wants to buy one.

This is not a Catalonia Republic (and the nationalists are nowadays not big fans of the Spanish Republic), it was the Spanish Republic which was overthrown by a coup d'etat and civil war forced on the Republic by extreme right wing members of the military helped by Hitler and Mussolini. Many Brits (along with Americans, Germans, Italians, French...) came to fight for the the Republic, and there is a small statue in the park by the London Eye to those Brits fallen fighting against fascism. A nice gesture by Clapton CFC, that I'm not sure why they are doing but was going to have a big impact in Spain's many republicans as soon as anyone heard about the shirt.

Yes I agree that the Republic was not based on Catalonia yet think they were the most left wing at that time and had big groups like Anarchists that were strongly against the Conservative forces in Spain who were helped by the Nazi bombers and Franco's Moroccan army. Interestingly Franco was flown out of Croydon airport at one time during this period. 

Not sure if Mussolini provided any military support though volunteers certainly came from Italy for the other side.

[RMH]

34 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Yes I agree that the Republic was not based on Catalonia yet think they were the most left wing at that time and had big groups like Anarchists that were strongly against the Conservative forces in Spain who were helped by the Nazi bombers and Franco's Moroccan army. Interestingly Franco was flown out of Croydon airport at one time during this period. 

Not sure if Mussolini provided any military support though volunteers certainly came from Italy for the other side.

He did send troops. Just like Hitler sent the Luftwaffe. Some Italians also came to fight for Franco as “volunteers”, but they were paid by Mussolini and they wanted to earn money. The International Brigadists were not paid by the Spanish government or any other, they were real volunteers and to many Spaniards, real heroes.

[erskblue]

https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/90305/Memorial-International-Brigades-Glasgow.htm

Memorial International Brigades Glasgow

• Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

• Clyde St, Glasgow

• Scotland Glasgow City Glasgow

This memorial ‘La Pasionara’ commemorates the 2100 British volunteers who fought in the International Brigades on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. Of them, 534 were killed.

Text on the memorial:
BETTER TO DIE ON YOUR FEET THAN LIVE FOREVER ON YOUR KNEES

Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries
• Photos: Mary and Angus Hogg

[erskblue]

I used to run past this memorial for about 15 years almost daily when working in Glasgow City Centre.

It was only when we had first visited Spain and actually talked to an old couple, who we knew through relatives.

They had lived through the Spanish Civil War  and so still then vividly remembered. They talked for a short time to us about the International Brigade and it's contribution to the Republic side

It was only then that I began to understand it.

[erskblue]

The 'Condor Legion' was of vital importance to Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

 'Spain provided an excellent training ground for the hundreds of Luftwaffe pilots who were rotated through the Condor Legion and also allowed the Luftwaffe to develop and refine tactics suited to the new generation of combat aircraft. Wolfram von Richthoven, for example , developed dive bombing and close support tactics , while Werner Molders conceived of new and innovative fighter tactics. Like Molders, many fighter pilots who subsequently rose to fame in eth Second World War ( including some of the most successful Battle of Britain Aces (eg Adolf Galland) had their baptism of fire in Spain. Condor Legion veterans then returned to their units and passed on their hard worn experience to others.'

The Battle of Britain, Jon Lake, page 37.

[strider6004]

I went to Spain for a few months in the late 90s on my own in Granada to learn the language and even considered becoming a TEFL teacher. 

Whilst there I used to go to a local bar and met a group of teachers, teaching in a local school and ended up talking with them often.

One of the older chaps probably in his 70s had fought for Franco's side and I was told I could ask him about it, they then added that is was not always about politics yet sometimes just local rivalry. If one town was for the Republic a competitor town would often declare for Franco.

I once read that all wars are bad yet civil wars probably the worst and there were atrocities in that war.

 

 

[erskblue]

'The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939.' by Anthony Beevor.

Read it recently and to me anyway, this book is well researched and a very thought provoking account of The Spanish Civil War.

[Boyne]

1 hour ago, erskblue said:

'The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939.' by Anthony Beevor.

Read it recently and to me anyway, this book is well researched and a very thought provoking account of The Spanish Civil War.

An excellent book. I read it a few years ago and very informative.