Issue date: 16 May, 2014
SPORTS
The popular Sports philatelic series, which covers all fields of competitive sport, has been extended with a stamp commemorating the centenary of the Biscay Football Federation, also known as the Bizkaiko Futbol Federakundea.
On 21 August 1913, the same day as the the legendary San Mamés field was inaugurated, the Northern Football Federation, the original name of the current federation, was founded in Bilbao.
The association was founded by various clubs in Biscay, Guipuzcoa and Logroño, among which were: Athletic Club of Bilbao, Arenas Club of Getxo, Club Deportivo of Bilbao, Real Sociedad of San Sebastián, Real Racing Club of Irún and Irún Sporting Club, all in the premier league. The following from the first division also took part: Jolastokieta of Alza, Ariñ Sport of Bilbao, Recreation Club of Logroño and Club Deportivo of Portugalete. These founder members also agreed to join the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (Royal Spanish Football Federation).
In 1918, on the last day of the Northern Championships, disagreements between Real Sociedad of San Sebastian and Athletic Club of Bilbao, and between the Northern and Spanish federations, on who to declare champion, led to the Biscay and Guipuzcoa clubs separating, with the latter creating their own federation. That same year, at the same time as the Guipuzcoan clubs left, membership of two Cantabrian teams was approved and these stayed in the federation until the 1922 season. After that, the Cantabrian clubs separated to form their own federation.
Continuing with the chronological order of the famous Northern Football Federation, on 26 August 1923, it officially changed its name to the Biscay Football Federation. Over the last one hundred years, the federation has been strongly dedicated to maintaining and improving football in Biscay. At present, it boasts 258 member clubs, both men's and women's, and has recorded over 34,000 files on players in its various divisions.
The stamp depicts an old, leather-lined ball and the logo of the Biscay Football Federation (FVF), with the dates of the centenary, 1913-2013.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.