Football clubs across the country will lace up and tackle negative perceptions towards gay players this weekend in a bid to kick homophobia out of football.
Village Manchester – one of the leading gay football teams in the country, and member of the Gay Football Supporter’s Network (GFSN) – will join a host of other clubs in wearing rainbow laces to support of the ‘Right Behind Gay Footballers’ campaign.
Although predominantly gay, there are a number of straight players in the club who doggedly support the ethos of the campaign set up by Stonewall and Paddy Power.
James Harden, one of Village Manchester’s straight players, has applauded the values of the club.
“I am proud to play for Village Manchester alongside my gay mates and I completely agree with what the club stands for and represents,” he said.
He also spoke of the ingrained stigma surrounding homosexuality on the football pitch.
“It annoys me that people still look down on gay people and they should accept others for who they are.
“I have made some great mates on the team and they are as tactically and technically as good as anyone else on the pitch and I am proud to be wearing a pair of the rainbow laces in my next game to support them.”
A host of celebrities, players and clubs have also stepped to the fore in support of the campaign.
Steven Fry, England’s Phil Jagielka and Gary Linekar have all thrown their weight behind the campaign.
Linekar also displayed messages of support on twitter having received a pair of rainbow laces from gay rights charity Stonewell.
“My rainbow laces have just arrived in the post. Lord only knows what shoes I’m going to put them in,” he tweeted.
Launched by QPR’S Joey Barton, the campaign has distributed laces to all 134 professional clubs in the UK and GFSN Communications Officer Simon Smith has welcomed Village Manchester’s inclusion in this list.
“It’s great that Village Manchester are going to be wearing the laces. As they are an inclusive team and play in a mainstream league this initiative will send out a great message to opposition players and supporters.
“The club are one of many gay teams dotted around the country and we are proud that teams from London in the south to Glasgow in the north will be donning laces this weekend.”
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