THE Bohemian Football Club was founded on September 6 1890, they are the oldest football club in Dublin, Ireland. The club are located at Dalymount Park in the Phibsborough area of North Dublin City. Most recently they have made stunning news, announcing a game that is due to be played on May 15. This is a historic friendly match between Bohemian FC women’s team and the Palestinian Women’s National team.

Daniel Lambert has been the chief operating officer at Bohemian Football Club since 2020 and is a great advocate for Bohs. He writes: “To me, this is a club like no other. A fully members-owned club that is operated sustainably, profitably, democratically and with a big net positive impact on society.” Is it any wonder then that they made a decision to give solidarity to Palestine?

Lambert described how the game has come about: “Fans have had Palestinian flags at the games for years and we obviously see strong solidarity in Ireland for Palestine, with fans across the League, not just Bohemians. We’ve got a track record in supporting Palestine and working with Palestine Sports For Life and then we thought, given what’s been happening in the last six months, we should invite the Palestinian National Team. We knew they’d never played here.”

“We’ve had a perimeter sign it says ‘Visit Palestine’ in Dalymount for the past four years and then, in 2023, we teamed up with Palestine Sports For Life. Some profits from sale of the away jersey went to the charity. The reason for that was we supported migrants coming to Ireland for a long time and, given the solidarity here, and the fact that a lot of people in Palestine can’t leave, we thought we’d work with a charity there to help kids get involved in football.”

This match will mark the 76th anniversary of Nakba, and highlights the human rights violations in occupied Palestine.

“When we went to meet the ambassador here we suggested the women’s team given the size of the stadium and women’s football is growing here, and also when you think of football in large parts of the world, you still think of men. When we brought that to them we thought it was a brilliant idea and that’s how the game came about.”

On April 3, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said: “I am very proud to welcome our women’s football team that will be playing in Ireland for the first time in its history. I am thrilled to work with Bohemian FC who facilitated this match for the first time in Europe. 

“There is no better way to commemorate the Nakba than by having our national team come to one of the few countries in Europe that is constant and consistent in its solidarity with our just cause. Thank you, Ireland, thank you to the Irish people, and thank you Bohemian FC.”

In response to the question how active is the Palestine women’s team normally, Lambert said: “Similar to the men’s, they play games in the Middle East regularly. I have no idea how good they are or are not. It could be a 4-0 or 5-0 either side, we don’t know a lot about them.”

Regarding travel, he explained that “some of the team are based in Europe, some are based in Jordan, there are no Gaza-based players travelling obviously, they fly out of Jordan. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs is fast-tracking the visas.”

Ticket sales have been healthy, with more than 3,000 bought at the time of publication. It is hoped that it will be a 4,500 sellout with the ultimate aim to raise awareness as well as funds, and also to provide a powerful show of solidarity.

Lambert said: “Yes, it is a demonstration of solidarity through sport. We see solidarity in terms of marches and protests but I think a game of football, that people can go to, is a bit different and it’s obviously a break for the Palestinians coming.

“They’re coming for four nights; we’ve arranged a schedule. They’ll visit Glendalough — an area of outstanding beauty — they’ll go for breakfast in the Mansion House, the official residence of the Dublin’s Lord Mayor. 

“They will also go to FAI [Football Association of Ireland] headquarters and train in the Sport Campus. There’s going to be a few other cultural things as well. It’s just a demonstration of solidarity. It’s a remarkable fact that a senior Palestinian team has never played in Europe, given Israel play in Europe multiple times every season.”

As if the game is not enough, Bohemian FC have announced that Irish folk singer Christy Moore will play at half-time. While Radie Peat, from Irish folk band Lankum, and Irish-Palestinian singer-songwriter Roisin El Cherif will sing the Irish and Palestinian anthems respectively.

All three artists have previously been involved in multiple fundraising efforts and events in solidarity with the people of Palestine. The club have also stated that more performers are set to be announced. Bohs have also shown solidarity with other causes.

All round this is a win-win situation, this show of solidarity, culturally and in sports will not go unnoticed. It exposes once more how people are supporting in the Palestinian people against the unjust and unhuman action of Israel.

Tickets for the historic friendly match between Bohemian FC women’s team and the Palestinian Women’s National team are now on general sale from tickets.bohemians.ie.