ENGLANDFANS FC TO PLAY IN AN OPENLY MIXED STRAIGHT AND GAY FOOTBALL TEAM

Englandfans FC, the official football team for England fans, are very proud to announce that their next fans international fixture against the supporters of Republic of Ireland, will be played in memory of the late Justin Fashanu and will support the 2013 Football v Homophobia (FvH) campaign.  In what may well be a world first, team manager, Garford Beck, will be picking his team from a squad made up of openly straight and gay players. The match will take place on Wednesday 29th May 2013 at The Orchard, home of Bedfont & Feltham Football Club with a 1.00 pm kick-off. The fans match will precede that evening’s international friendly at Wembley Stadium between the two respective countries the fans, themselves, will be representing. The winners of the fans match will be presented with ‘The Justin Fashanu Memorial Trophy’. The match represents a major step in tackling homophobia within the game. Englandfans FC, team manager, Garford Beck, came up with the twin ideas of not only playing the game in memory of Justin Fashanu but also of putting out an openly mixed straight and gay team. “I am genuinely delighted to have Englandfans FC associated with the 2013 FvH campaign and playing for ‘The Justin Fashanu Memorial Trophy’. Justin’s story, along with that of his brother, John, was, initially, one of hope and triumph over adversity. The fact that Justin’s life ended in such tragic circumstances is perhaps something, especially those of us involved in football, in whatever capacity, should ponder. And sticking to football, let’s not forget that Justin Fashanu was one hell of a player. We, at Englandfans FC, are an all-inclusive football club and abhor the idea that anybody might feel unable to take part in a game of football for fear of being targeted in some awful manner. I couldn’t honestly tell you if there are any gay footballers in my team because I’ve never asked. Why should I? I hope that this game can show that players of all backgrounds, abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, or whatever, can come together and celebrate, with us, for one day, at least, that football can be all-inclusive and a force for good. I can tell you that, when I send out my openly mixed straight and gay England team to face Republic of Ireland, it will be one of my proudest moments in football. Apparently, there are 24 recognised representative football teams for England under The FA’s auspices; I think my fans team should be added to that list to make it 25”.

Club captain, Mark Tighe, adds: “It is a great shame that, in this day and age, campaigns like FvH are still having to highlight the animosity shown towards LGBT players in football, at all levels. It is so important that we all support this wonderful campaign, right the way from grassroots level to the professional ranks. I am absolutely delighted, as club captain, that Englandfans FC will be showing their support for this campaign”.

FvH is an international initiative opposing homophobia in football at all levels, from grassroots to professional clubs. In England, it is The FA`s endorsed campaign to tackle such issues. In February this year, England manager Roy Hodgson gave his support to the campaign stating: “I`d never want to see someone excluded from playing or watching the game because they`re fearful of what might be said to them. That’s why it`s important that we`re all supportive of Football V Homophobia”.

More recently the England women`s team also showed their support for the campaign, ahead of their clash with Canada.  Women`s coach Hope Powell and her players wore Football v Homophobia t-shirts during a training session at St Georges Park.

Football v Homophobia campaign director Lou Englefield is delighted to see such support from England fans for FvH, adding: “Homophobia and reaction from the crowd is often suggested as a reason that players do not come out. It’s great to see fans themselves taking the lead on this issue and lending their support to the Football v Homophobia campaign. Inviting members of LGBT (lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender) clubs to play alongside the EnglandFans FC team showcases the involvement of LGBT players throughout the game, and furthers the campaign’s goal of ‘football for all’”.

Admission, as ever, is free, there is ample, free, car-parking and the clubhouse bar will be open with quality hot and cold food available at very reasonable prices. We are producing a commemorative programme which will contain a tribute to Justin. In fact, Justin’s photo adorns the front cover. Our 20-page souvenir programme will be on sale at a cost of only £2.00.

Fan-friendly matches are all about ‘Bringing Fans Together’, making new friends and enjoying the game we all love.

Further updates of this match and other news can be viewed at www.englandfansfc.co.uk.

Directions to The Orchard are as follows:

Bedfont & Feltham Football & Social Club,
The Orchard,
Hatton Road,
Bedfont,
Middlesex, TW14 9QT.

Tel: 020-889-7264.

From M4: Leave the M4 at J3 then at roundabout take the exit onto the A312 (Heathrow/Staines). Continue to traffic signals connecting to A30 and turn right. At traffic signals turn left into Dick Turpin Way. At traffic signals turn right onto Fagg’s Road, turn left onto Hatton Road (sign posted Bedfont FC). The ground is on the left opposite the Duke of Wellington public house.

Report – Homophobic abuse received by Brighton & Hove Albion supporters

Report shows that Brighton fans abused by two-thirds of away supporters.

On Tuesday 2 April, the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club (BHASC) and the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) will send a report to the Football Association, the Football League and the Football Supporters’ Federation into the levels of homophobic abuse aimed at Brighton supporters this season to date.

The Report highlights that Brighton fans have been subjected to homophobic abuse: by at least 72% of opponents they have faced this season; in at least 70% of away games; and in at least 57% of all their matches so far this season.

The aim of the Report, coming just over a year after the issue was raised in the Summit on Homophobia and Racism in Football held at No.10 Downing Street shows that the issue remains widespread.

A copy of the Report, together with statements from the BHASC and the GFSN can be found by clicking this link http://gfsn.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=38d8d5e8ac4afcc7ebb76a252&id=ac5190eda1&e=ed938674d9

Derbyshire CFA support Football v Homophobia

A huge thank you to Derbyshire CFA for their support of the campaign.

Sunday 24th February saw the Football v Homophobia fixture between a Team Derby 11 v Nottingham BallBois at the University of Derby. The fixture took place on the 3G pitch at the Kedleston Road site.

The fixture was organised by Derbyshire County FA’s Women, Girls and Inclusion Football Development Officer Angie Harper after she was approached by the Nottingham BallBois who were keen to play a Derby based team to raise awareness of the campaign.

The game was a close one with Team Derby going into the half time break with a 2-0 lead. Both sides had chances early on with Nottingham BallBois hitting the post and creating a few chances but failed to put them away. Team Derby scored 3 early goals in the second half before Nottingham BallBois hit both the post and crossbar. Team Derby then made it 6-0 before Nottingham BallBois pulled a goal back. Team Derby scored 2 excellent goals before a mix up in the Derby defence gave the BallBois a chance. The final score was 8-2 to Team Derby but football was the real winner on the day.

Click here to check out the pictures from the game!

Mark Farthing, Athletic Union President said” We are really pleased to have the opportunity to get involved with the Football v Homophobia campaign on the pitch to reaffirm the work we have done so far off it. This year we have campaigned against homophobia in sport and at the start of the year, all 33 of our sports clubs signed up to the Sports Charter to signal our intent to stamp out homophobia and transphobia at the University”.

For more information on the Nottingham BallBois, please visit: www.nottinghamballbois.com or follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nottmballboisfc

Team Derby have recently signed up all their Sports teams to the Sports Charter to Tackle Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport. They have also made a short video on this which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgdZYOXf3NE

Football is keen to ensure that it is inclusive and open to all sections of the community. To get involved in football in Derbyshire as a player, referee, coach or volunteer, please telephone Derbyshire County FA on 01332 361422.

Stand OUT! Fanzine Issue 1: Read it here now!

Welcome to the first issue of the Stand OUT! fanzine – written by fans, for fans. We hope you enjoy reading it and if you have any ideas for future editions, please do let us know at info@footballvhomophobia.com, we’d love to hear from you.

Inside the fanzine you will find loads of great articles, including:

• Wycombe Wanderers pledge their support
• One Billion Rising
• Football v Transphobia
• Phil Moss asking when will footballers come out
• Tales of a closet football fan.

Guinness Northern Counties support Football v Homophobia

Arches Housing were declared the champions at a Sheffield charity football match when seven  local organisations teamed up to raise awareness of the international ‘Football vs Homophobia’ campaign, which is aimed at stamping out homophobia in the sport.

Guinness Northern Counties organised the event with help from and Manor and Castle development trust which took place at the Park Community Centre off Duke Street 20^th February. The event was supported by many local organisations including Sheffield Homes, Sheffield City Council, the Fire & Rescue Service, Sheffield Homes, Arches Housing and Pennine Housing.

Football v Homophobia is an international event opposing homophobia in football, which provides an opportunity for individuals, communities and teams the world over to communicate their disapproval of homophobia in football and celebrate football’s diverse following under the banner of Football v Homophobia.

Organiser Brian Hamlin, Guinness Northern Counties’ Community Investment Manager, , said: “It’s been a thrilling day and great to support this initiative locally and raise awareness of homophobia in football. All of the organisations here today are strongly committed to equality & diversity and happy to campaign against discrimination of any sort.”

Jen Watts, Communications Officer for the Justin Campaign, said: “The Justin Campaign is delighted that Guinness Northern Counties is supporting Football v Homophobia 2013. Their support, along with that of businesses, organisations, schools and colleges in the UK and around the world, is key to helping to make football a secure and welcoming space for LGB and T people.”

Football v Homophobia signs with FGG, EGLSF, and AllOut in formal complaint to FIFA regarding exclusion of lesbians from Nigerian football

Valcke (left) and Blatter (right). Photo via CBC.ca

Today, Football v Homophobia, along with the Federation of Gay Games (www.gaygames.org), the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (www.eglsf.info), and AllOut (www.allout.org), delivered the following letter to FIFA President Mr. Sepp Blatter and FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke:

———-

Dear Sirs,

On behalf of the undersigned, we are writing to express our distress about reports of discriminatory behavior by Nigerian Women’s Football League chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma. According to press out of the country yesterday (March 4, 2013), following the recent annual General Assembly, Onyedinma has officially announced that lesbianism is now “officially banned from Nigerian football.” As you know, this is in direct contravention of FIFA’s anti-discrimination policies. Indeed, Mr. Blatter, in an interview on FIFA’s official site, dated August 12, 2011, you state very clearly that “[t]he sexual orientation of a player or coach is a private matter. People have to be able to live their lives free from all forms of discrimination.”

We have broached this subject with you before. In June 2011, just two months prior to Mr. Blatter’s interview, we wrote to FIFA about reports of discriminatory behavior by Eucharia Uche, the coach of the Nigerian women’s football team competing in that summer’s World Cup in Germany. Three months later, Mr. Valcke responded with a request for proof, which we supplied on September 20, 2011. Over one year has passed and we have received no further communication on this matter.

Mr. Blatter, Mr. Valcke, what is the status of the investigation into Nigerian Coach Uche’s discriminatory behavior? And what will FIFA do to sanction Mr. Onyedinma and the Nigerian Women’s Football League in their discriminatory practices ?

We very much look forward to your prompt response

Emy Ritt (emy.ritt@gaygames.net)
Kurt Dahl (kurt.dahl@gaygames.net):
Co-presidents Federation of Gay Games

Armelle Mazé (armelle@eglsf.info)
Klaus Heusslein (klaus@eglsf.info)
Co-presidents European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation

Lou Englefield (lou@footballvhomophobia.com)
Keph Senett (keph@footballvhomophobia.com)
Football v Homophobia

André Banks (andre@allout.org)
Executive Director
AllOut.org

Nigerian Women’s Football League Chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma “Officially” Bans Lesbians: FvH Statement Forthcoming

A story filed by Inside World Football yesterday reports that after the recent annual General Assembly, Nigerian Women’s Football League Chair Dilichukwu Onyedinma announced that lesbianism is now “officially banned from Nigerian football.” He went on to say, “…[a]ny player that we find is associated with [lesbianism] will be disqualified.”

Nigeria’s football program came under scrutiny by Football v Homophobia and other rights advocacy groups during the Women’s World Cup in the summer of 2011, after Nigerian coach Eucharia Uche expressed lesbophobic sentiments. FIFA, the world governing body of the sport, was petitioned at that time to investigate. Though Uche was verbally reprimanded, no other action was taken.

Football v Homophobia is aware of this developing story, and is, in cooperation with other international organizations, preparing an official response.

Football is for everyone at Fisher

Fisher are proud to be supporting the Football vs Homophobia (FvH) campaign at our home match this Saturday.

FvH is endorsed and supported by The FA, The Football League and the LMA. Year round, FvH enables people to take action against prejudice and discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity in football, and to celebrate and welcome diversity in the game.

At Fisher, we are committed to promoting equality and to running a community football club that is truly welcoming to everybody. To mark February’s FvH month, we’re delighted to be welcoming representatives of Stonewall FC – the first gay football club in England – to the match as our guests, and we have extended an invite to other community and footballing LGBT groups to attend the game too.

It has been a positive few weeks for professional sports and equality. First Brendan Ayanbadejo, an imposing 6 foot linebacker with NFL side the Baltimore Ravens, won the Super Bowl with his team. Ayanbadejo has been a tireless campaigner for equal marriage and against discrimination in the USA, despite playing in a sporting culture that does not necessarily welcome outspoken players. He has received widespread support and regularly engages fans in debate on Twitter.

And in football, Leeds United player and USA international Robbie Rogers came out on his blog and explained just how difficult it had been for him to keep his sexuality a secret. He immediately received wholehearted support from his team mates including Adam Drury and former Leeds player Robert Snodgrass. He also received messages of support from other members of the USA national team, and fans of all teams on Twitter.

At Fisher on Saturday we’re happy to try and play a small part in ensuring that football is for everyone.

On the pitch for the Fish, Billy Walton and Martin Ford are still working hard to try and get results back on track and to strengthen the squad, particularly in attacking areas. Fisher will be without Sam Friskey on Saturday, who starts a three match suspension. With the Kent Youth Premier Fisher Under 18s impressing in a 3-0 Kent County Cup win at the weekend, the Fisher management team may opt to give youth a chance on Saturday against a Whyteleafe side that are bang in form.

It’s set to be an entertaining day at Champion Hill and we look forward to welcoming everybody to the game. There is however travel disruption, with no rail services to East Dulwich and no Overground to Denmark Hill, so please make sure you plan your journey in advance and leave plenty of time.

Fans travelling from central areas of London should take a train from Blackfriars or Elephant and Castle to Denmark Hill. You can then catch a bus or walk to the ground.

From Rotherhithe/Canada Water, if you catch the Overground to Brockley you can then pick up bus 484 which will drop you next to the ground, though it takes a while. Rail replacement buses run from London Bridge and South Bermondsey to East Dulwich.

Fisher FC v Whyteleafe
3pm, Saturday 23rd February 2013
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich SE22 8BD

Standard admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions, FREE accompanied under 16s

Hammers back Football v Homophobia

West Ham United’s players showed their support for the Football v Homophobia campaign this week by donning T-shirts promoting the group’s message in a training session at their Chadwell Heath base.

The Hammers are proud to follow on from their lead last year, when they became one of the first professional clubs in England to show their backing for the campaign, which aims to tackle homophobia and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in football.

Football v Homophobia runs around the year to enable people to take action against prejudice and discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity in football, and to celebrate and welcome diversity.

FvH provides support, communication materials, education and training to enable anyone – fans, LGBT communities, grassroots teams, professional football clubs and football authorities – to communicate and promote the message that football is for everybody.

The campaign culminates with a month of action in February, with West Ham United helping with the international show of unity to stand up against homophobia and prejudice against LGBT people in football.

Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan reiterated the importance of the group’s message.

He said: “It’s important that we, as a club and as a squad, support the Football v Homophobia campaign.

“We’re role models and we’ve got to ensure that we respect all members of society and show that we’re open minded.

“If someone came to me and told me – or any of the lads – that they were gay it wouldn’t change our view of them one iota and that’s the only way it can be, so it’s a vital message to push.”

Football v Homophobia director Megan Worthing-Davies said: “In order to effectively challenge homophobia and transphobia in football, it is imperative that clubs and their players support the message of Football v Homophobia.

“We are delighted to see West Ham once again leading the way in standing up against discrimination and congratulate the team for their high profile and clear stance on the issue. Well done lads!”

Team Derby take on Nottingham Ball Bois in FvH month

Derbyshire CFA help organise Football v Homophobia fixture

February is Football v Homophobia (FvH) month. As part of this month of action, the University of Derby will be playing a fixture against the Nottingham Ballbois, a gay-friendly football club with players from across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The club provides an environment where players and supporters can enjoy football regardless of their sexual orientation. The ethos of their club is just as important to them as winning games. They aim to promote an environment where everyone, regardless of background, feels included and are able to enjoy the football and the club’s social activities.

Team Derby 11 vs Nottingham Ball Bois 11

Venue: Derby University | Sunday 24th February | 3.15pm kick off

Mark Farthing, Derby Universities Athletic Union President said “We are really pleased to have the opportunity to get involved with the Football v Homophobia campaign on the pitch to reaffirm the work we have done so far off it. This year we have campaigned against homophobia in sport and at the start of the year, all 33 of our sports clubs signed up to the Sports Charter to signal our intent to stamp out homophobia and transphobia at the University.

“By taking part in this match we hope to demonstrate that people from all backgrounds can come together on a football pitch and compete regardless of personal preferences and in doing so, raise awareness of the work we are doing, in the hope that we can encourage more and more LGBT students to feel comfortable to compete for Team Derby in the near future.”

Derbyshire County FA are very proud to be part of this match. After signing the Charter for Action against Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport, we feel we have a responsibility to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) football community and help break down any barriers to participation. We believe football should be inclusive and open to all sections of the community.

Football v Homophobia is an international initiative uniting fans, players, communities, grassroots teams, professional clubs and The FA in opposing homophobia and prejudice against LGB and T (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) people in football.

FvH is endorsed and supported by Derbyshire CFA, The FA, The Football League and the League Managers Association.

You can find out more about FvH by visiting www.footballvhomophobia.com

To get involved in football in Derbyshire as a player, referee, coach or volunteer, please telephone Derbyshire County FA on 01332 361422.