- “Exciting” night in store for those attending Football v Homophobia Awards at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Friday, says The Sideline’s Amanda Aitken and Megan Thomas
- Amanda and Megan talk on a new episode of the FvH Podcast about the city’s superb LGBTQ football scene; listen now!
Glasgow is gearing up for an unforgettable get-together as the Football v Homophobia Awards comes to the city on Friday night, says The Sideline podcast’s Megan Thomas.
Megan presents and produces the dedicated Scottish women’s football pod alongside her Camp Hellcats FC co-chair Amanda Aitken, and the duo are guests on a new episode of the FvH Podcast previewing LGBTQ+ football’s annual gala ceremony.
After two years in Manchester, the sixth edition of the event heads north of the border for the first time, organised by FvH Scotland at the iconic Oran Mor arts venue in Glasgow’s West End.
Last remaining tickets are on sale now!
Around 200 people will be in attendance to recognise outstanding achievements in inclusion by clubs, fan groups, community foundations and organisations, as well as individuals making a difference.
The Hellcats are shortlisted for a second time at the FvH Awards, this time in the Scotland-specific category. “It feels like a huge achievement,” says Amanda.
“We’re in tough competition alongside Saltire Thistle and Glasgow Community Football League, which is the 7-a-side league we play in. To be recognised in this way is great and we’re all very excited!”
There really is no better showcase for the city’s inclusive football scene than The Sideline, which started last summer while Amanda was recuperating from an ACL injury.
“While I was awaiting surgery, Megan and I talked about just doing a few episodes as a ‘summer series’ – this is now a notorious phrase, because we’re coming up to our one-year anniversary!
“We didn’t anticipate this happening, but we’re very passionate about women’s football in Scotland and about the grassroots inclusive scene here. When we began, the reception for the podcast was so good.
“People like footballers kept saying ‘yes’ to coming on and having conversations with us, so we thought we’d just keep going, and here we are.” The Sideline is now into double figures for episodes and has already attracted some elite-level guests, such as Glasgow City’s Scotland international forward Fiona Brown and Rangers’ Dutch midfielder Tessel Middag, known for her advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues and social causes.
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Another star turn who features on a recent episode is the ‘grand dame’ of the Glaswegian panto and comedy circuit, Elaine C. Smith, who unfolds the fascinating story of how she became patron of the Women and Girls’ Programme at Celtic FC.
“Elaine is a household name so speaking to her was certainly a big moment for me,” says Megan, “but everyone we’ve had on has been fantastic. I get quite easily overwhelmed interviewing people because I’m such a huge football fan!
“Elaine had so many cracking stories so that was a tricky one for Amanda to edit down.”
A section of each episode also digs deeper into the grassroots scene, and several of the Sideline’s guests so far are also shortlisted at Friday’s FvH Awards.
“There’s more crossover than you might think,” says Amanda.
“We interviewed Linzi Taylor, who’s a key player at Hibs but up until a couple of years ago, she was the Camp Hellcats football coach.
“It shows how physically close that grassroots and professional can be. That was really important for us to highlight and in every conversation we have, we find everyone’s so interesting.”
Listen to the episode in full here!
Further reading and listening…
FvH Awards 2025 – shortlists announced
FvH Special with Partick Thistle’s LGBTQI+ Supporters Group Proud Jags and FvH Scotland (The Sideline podcast)
A version of this article first appeared on Sports Media LGBT+.
Notes for editors
About Football v Homophobia
Football v Homophobia (FvH) is an international initiative that exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression at all levels of football.
We want football to take a clear stand against homophobia and transphobia so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful game and football leads the way in removing discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more here.
The annual Month of Action for the FvH campaign is held every February, in what is also LGBT+ History Month.
FvH provides tailored education sessions for people in football of all age groups.
For more news and content relating to FvH, as well as our Football v Transphobia initiative, visit our archive.