British amateur football team kit sells out – mainly in Spain – but why?

A UK football team’s new away kit has sold out ringing up £60,000 in sales after the club has been deluged by new-found fans in Spain.
Due to demand the club’s website crashed and they were forced to tweet in Spanish to communicate with their new-found followers.
Clapton Community Football Club’s new away kit was inspired by the flag of the Spanish Republic and is also adorned by the three-pointed star of the International Brigades. It features the slogan ‘NO PASARAN’ (They shall not pass) a phrase first used during the First World War and later adopted by those fighting General Franco’s forces between 1936 and 1939.
The club, based in Walthamstow, east London, play in the Middlesex Counties League 1, the 12th tier of English football.
On their website Clapton CFC described the £30 shirt as ‘something a little more out there.’
They told their fans, “Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Spanish Civil War, it is inspired by the flag of the Spanish Republic and is adorned by the three-pointed star of the International Brigades, who travelled to Spain attempting to hold back the fascist tide of General Franco.”
In a tweet they said, “The last 48 hours has been amazing: over £60,000 in orders for our shirts, mostly from Spain. We are trying hard to answer (and often first translate) everyone’s questions, so please stay patient – our organising committees will reply to you as soon as possible #WeAreTheClapton”
“We started off hoping to honour in a small way the memory of the International Brigades, especially the British volunteers, with our away shirt. Your extraordinary generosity will now help us to build our new club too.”
The club also added, “Replica shirts are currently being sold on a pre-order basis as we do not have much stock, so they could take up to two months to arrive due to the ordering and manufacturing process. Please be patient with us!
“Due to completely unexpected and unprecedented demand we have now become liable to charge 20% VAT on our merchandise. We apologise for the sudden jump in prices but hope you understand that the level of interest has taken us by surprise and is necessary to fulfill our tax obligations.”

Need to start talking to our gaffer @Mr_Ocran about the feasibility of a Clapton CFC Iberian tour in 2019. If it's possible, starting in Vallecas would be incredible. But where else?

— Clapton CFC (@ClaptonCFC) August 28, 2018

The last 48 hours has been amazing: over £60,000 in orders for our shirts, mostly from Spain. We are trying hard to answer (and often first translate) everyone's questions, so please stay patient – our organising committees will reply to you as soon as possible #WeAreTheClapton

— Clapton CFC (@ClaptonCFC) August 28, 2018

A massive shout out to all our new Spanish friends, from Vallecas in Madrid to Bilbao, Cadiz and Valencia, as well as across Catalonia and Euskal Herria

— Clapton CFC (@ClaptonCFC) August 27, 2018

Due to completely unexpected demand over the last 48 hours we have now become liable to charge 20% VAT on our merchandise. We apologise for the jump in prices but hope you understand that the level of interest has surprised us and is necessary to fulfill our tax obligations

— Clapton CFC (@ClaptonCFC) August 28, 2018

don't care if it takes three weeks or three months, i've finally secured a @ClaptonCFC away kit 👌🏾😍 pic.twitter.com/90gT74IQVI

— amadí (@amadoit__) August 23, 2018

My word ..the new @ClaptonCFC away shirts inspired by the flag of the Second Spanish Republic are a bit special and just 25 quid !#wearetheclapton pic.twitter.com/FOmpMTSrZA

— Paul Reidy (@paulreidy67) August 26, 2018