Lionhearted South East Athletic mark 20th anniversary celebrations by visiting Spanish club, who threatened legal action over use of club crest

KIDBROOKE based Kent County League side South East Athletic are marking their 20^th anniversary next month by travelling to Spain to visit Club Athletico Osasuna.

South East Athletic – currently sitting in sixth-place in the NRG Gyms Kent County League Division One West – technically the 12^th tier of English football – were subject to legal action from the Spanish La Liga outfit after the London minnows early choice of crest was copied from Osasuna’s badge.

“What began years ago with a computer game, became a polite cease-and-desist over a lookalike badge that turned into a warm friendship between clubs, fuelled by Osasuna’s fanbase, who championed our club on social media and helped turn a copyright dispute into an unlikely cultural exchange,” explained South East Athletic’s vice-chairman Steven Daley.

“The club flies out to Spain on 4 December and return on the ninth and has been working with CA Osasuna officials to make the trip a memorable one for all involved.”

Mr Daley added:  “What became a legal request to change the crest has since become a cross-border friendship, embraced by supporters and Spanish media alike.

“How it started, after the club’s founding in 2004, the club adopted the crest of Osasuna, making some minor adjustments before celebrating it as its own for many years.

“Many grassroot football teams utilise versions of professional teams’ badges but Osasuna was a rare choice to copy.

“It was selected after a random game of the popular game EA Sports FC, then known as FIFA.”

The club published a posting on Twitter, now called X, back in September 2019 to publicise a Veterans game away to New Park Veterans.

“This was the post that first started to draw attention to the use of the Osasuna badge and as the lookalike spread online, Spanish media outlets picked up the story and Osasuna fans discovered and largely celebrated the tribute, sparking a good-natured relationship on social media with exchange of gifts between the clubs fans,” said Mr Daley.

“In April 2020, Osasuna formally asked South East Athletic to discontinue the near-identical crest, a step reported locally and as such the club subsequently unveiled a new badge in 2020, keeping some of the Osasuna badge elements but whilst moving to a distinct design.”

Osasuna play their games at the 23,576 capacity El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona in northern Spain and are currently sitting in 16th place in the table, Osasuna are the fourteenth highest supported club out of the 20 top-flight clubs, with average attendances of 20,234.

Osasuna lock horns with some household names, including Real Madrid and Barcelona – a million miles away from England’s grassroots football.

“I never imagined a small design decision would lead to such friendships across countries,” added Mr Daley.

“Five years on from changing our crest, we’re honoured to celebrate our 20th year in Pamplona with the people who turned a tricky moment into a bond between clubs.

"We have had nothing but love from the Osasuna fans and we can’t wait to join them at El Sadar for an amazing occasion for all connected to South East Athletic.”

Sixth-placed South East Athletic’s last home game – played at Long Lane Football Club’s base at Kidbrooke Playing Fields on Dursley Road – saw 45 people watch their 2-1 defeat to Bermondsey Town.

A South East Athletic statement said: “South East Athletic were formed in 2004 as a family club, made by the combining of three Irish families.

“Badges and social media didn’t really exist back then and the team began life as just a group of mates and brothers all playing football together in South London.

“The club, who were a single team playing in the District League, stumbled upon the Osasuna badge in a video game and fell in love with the simple, yet beautiful design. A proud lion on the crest invoking images of strength, pride and togetherness - all characteristics we want our club to embody.

“We also knew that the Osasuna club and badge weren’t particularly well-known in England. We never intended to breach copyrights or steal intellectual property. We adopted the badge in good faith that it would bring us good fortune.

“Since then, the badge has given us an identity recognised across the footballing community in South London and Kent. We have earned the respect of others due to how we approach games, run the club and hold true to our solid family ethos.

“We never imagined the growth of the club a few years ago and today we have an adult Saturday team, two Veterans teams, and a Sunday team.

“The spotlight on social media meant our badge was bound to be picked up by the Osasuna faithful one day.”

South East Athletic are next in action on Saturday 22 November (2pm) when they travel to Dulwich to tackle Peckham Town, who are managed by former England international Mary Phillip.

Visit South East Athletic’s website:  www.southeastathletic.co.uk