Rainbow Laces

Dorset Clubs Wearing Their Rainbow Laces in Support of Inclusion in Football

Wear yours on the weekend of 24th and 25th November

Dorset Clubs Supporting Inclusion in Football

Clubs across Dorset will be showing their support for inclusion in football by lacing up Rainbow Laces for games this weekend (24th & 25th November) as part of the national Stonewall campaign!

37 clubs and 5 leagues are supporting the weekend of football with clubs supplied with laces from The FA. The campaign is a way for everyone involved in sport to show their support for LGBT equality and inclusion.

Keen to find out more about Stonewall and the Rainbow Laces campaign, check out the Rainbow Laces Sports Toolkit. 

Rainbow Laces Sports Toolkit

 

Dorset FA Inclusion Advisory Group Secretary and County Development Manager Justine Mosley commented:

“It’s fantastic how many clubs and leagues have signed up to support this campaign across all areas of the county and all age groups. We want to make sure that football is accessible to everyone who wants to be involved so campaigns such as this are a great way to raise awareness of some of the challenges that individuals may face when playing or volunteering in football. Thanks to The FA for supplying our clubs with laces and thanks to all the clubs who have committed to wearing their laces this weekend.”

The FA’s partnership with Stonewall includes becoming a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champion programme which aims to create a game where everyone can be themselves. As part of this The FA have invited Stonewall FC, Britain’s most successful LGBT football club, to play one of their league fixtures at Wembley Stadium which will be the first time a regular non-league fixture has been hosted at the stadium.

The game will take place on Friday 30 November with a 7.45pm KO with Stonewall FC taking on Wilberforce Wanderers AFC in what will be a top-of-the-table Middlesex County Football League Division One clash. 

Paul Elliott, Chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board [IAB], said:

"This new relationship presents an opportunity for football to help change hearts and minds beyond the stadia, as well as ensuring that everyone who makes football happen feels included. Whether players, supporters, members of the vital volunteer workforce, employees of The FA, contract staff or anyone else connected to the game, no one should be left behind. The principle behind this partnership therefore embraces the philosophy that the game is for anyone, anytime, anywhere.

"The FA is extremely excited to mark this move by welcoming Stonewall FC to play under the lights at Wembley Stadium. This is the first time we have invited a non-league side to play a league fixture at the home of football and it is shaping up to be a truly iconic and memorable evening for everyone involved."

Stonewall Director of Sport, Kirsty Clarke, said:

"It’s so important that we’re now working with The FA. We need everyone involved in the national game at every level of football, from the community to the elite, to feel included and welcome. To have Stonewall FC invited to play at Wembley is a symbolic demonstration by The FA and it sends a powerful message that LGBT people are a welcome part of the football family. We now want to see everyone who plays a part in football showing their support and helping celebrate this momentous occasion."

Stonewall Football Club Manager, Eric Najib Armanazi, said:

"Stonewall FC is honoured and excited to be invited by The FA to play a home fixture at Wembley Stadium. This event is a landmark moment for all those who have worked tremendously hard to eradicate all forms of discrimination within football, including our sponsors TeamPride. We are delighted that Stonewall FC will be able to showcase our talent under the stadium’s famous arch. This game will mark the pinnacle in my 12 and a half years as manager of the Club and I am extremely thankful to all those involved that made this happen."

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