diversity

Fans For Diversity Campaign

Fans For Diversity campaign releases mini-documentary series.

The Fans For Diversity campaign has today released a four-part mini-documentary series featuring four supporters groups across the country to highlight the diversity of fanbases in English football.

Fans For Diversity, which is run in partnership by Kick It Out and the Football Supporters’ Federation, was launched in 2014 with the aim of supporting and funding fan-led activity that celebrates diversity in football.

The series, which was produced by All Mouth No Action, features fans from four sets of supporters groups – Crawley Town Disabled Supporters Association, Derby County’s Punjabi Rams, Leicester City’s LGBT supporters group Foxes Pride, and Manchester City Women’s Official Supporters Club.

Each film offers an insight into the unique matchday experience of the supporters, as well as exploring the reasons why they love their club and explaining some of the discrimination or barriers faced by those fans in attending football games.

Anwar Uddin, lead on the Fans For Diversity campaign, was thrilled with the films and believes the supporters involved are brilliant examples of the passion that millions of different people have for their club across England.

“Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to work with thousands of fans up and down England who adore their club and would do anything to see them play, home and away. For a long time, football supporters from diverse backgrounds – whether they were disabled, LGBT, BAME, women and other underrepresented groups – did not feel welcome attending football matches.

“I think the documentary series proves that the situation is changing for the better and supporters feel more confident being themselves at a football game. But we can’t be complacent – as people will see in the films, supporters still face discrimination at football matches and it’s important they know how they can report those incidents.”

Anyone sharing the mini-documentary series on social media is encouraged to use the #FansForDiversity hashtag to ensure as many people as possible are able to celebrate the diversity of football supporters in England together.