Nilesh Chauhan
Campaign Manager, Fans For Diversity
Celebrate inclusion in football by ensuring all fans feel safe, welcome and united — no matter their background — creating a matchday everyone can enjoy.
The Fans for Diversity campaign is a partnership between the Football Supporters’ Association and Kick It Out. Its aim is simple: to celebrate diversity in football and to ensure all fans feel safe and welcome at the game, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
Why we need more inclusivity in football
Football tribes, football colours and the love for your team — those are the only things which should separate one fan from another. We understand the euphoria football can bring and the passion of being part of a community; shared experiences; the highs and the lows; all ‘in it’ together. We believe no one should feel excluded from something that connects people in a way nothing else can.
That’s the aim of the Fans for Diversity campaign, to support and empower people to enjoy a fantastic matchday experience — to overcome exclusion or perception of exclusion and engage clubs and other supporters to welcome those who might believe football is for ‘them’ not ‘me.’
We’re all fans with the same
goal: being visible, being
welcomed and being accepted.
Everyone must be welcomed and accepted
This is not about sanitising the game and taking away what makes being in a football ground special; the raw atmosphere of defiance and jubilation, which home teams want to build; and which away teams want to challenge.
It’s about acknowledging and developing matchdays that can be enjoyed by everyone — whether you want to bounce for 90 minutes after a few pints or give the mascot a cuddle and sit with the family. Pies and pakoras; Bovril and beer; a rainbow flag? It does not matter once we’re in the stadium; we’re all fans with the same goal: being visible, being welcomed and being accepted.
Celebrating the diversity of football fans
It’s a difficult journey for some, and we want to make it easier. We want to make football a place where people can enjoy our national game without fear of discrimination and abuse.
Since its debut at Cardiff City, many clubs and fan groups have taken part in My Club, My Shirt producing a wide gallery of supporter portraits from across the country: Newport County, Carlisle United, Nottingham Forest, Bristol Rovers, AFC Wimbledon, Bath City, Blackburn Rovers, Wolves, Lincoln City and Lionesses fans.
Want to get involved in Fans for Diversity?
We have a small grant fund to help with your ideas, so if you would like to create an event, a project or start a supporter group, email: [email protected]
