Surrey FA team up with Pride Sports

Aug 21 2012
Written by PinkNews Staff Writer

The Surrey Football Association have tamed up with Pride Sports with a view to help combat homophobia in sports and encourage LGBT people who wish to participate in football.

This makes Surrey the first ever county to offer football coaching specifically for the LGBT community.

The county’s association was given recognition back in June for its commitment to delivering on equality in sport.

Caroline McRoyall of the Football Association and said: “It’s about making sure there is football for all.

“The FA approached us to ask us if we’d be willing to host a course. We’ve been able to do that and manage to find a suitable venue and tutors and everything else and do it over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

“There will be LGB and T people out there playing – and coaching – football already, but there will be some that will want to get involved but aren’t sure how to get involved so promoting this sort of course just raises more awareness.”

Writing about the proposal for more compulsory sport in schools following the success of the London 2012 Olympics, Chris ward, writing for PinkNews.co.uk said: “[slurs are not just] thrown at gay students of course – they were directed at anybody who couldn’t kick or throw a ball. It’s certainly the reason I avoided football for many years after my compulsory education ended, opting for things like climbing, hiking and endurance running instead.”