Berks and Bucks FA has joined forces with four clubs from across the region to become ‘BBFA Ally Clubs’, working together with the County FA to proactively promote Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign and support allyship for LGBTQ+ inclusion in football.

To date, more than a million people have laced up in support of the campaign and two thirds of sport fans who’ve seen it believe they have a responsibility to stand in solidarity for LGBTQ+ fans of the teams and sports they follow. However, research conducted in 2017 showed that 43% of LGBTQ+ people think public sporting events aren’t a welcoming space for them. (YouGov for Stonewall, 2017).

To help change the statistics, Maidenhead Utd, Holyport FC, MK City FC and Caversham United have all pledged to work with the County FA as Ally Clubs, to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion & awareness in sport and to help make football everyone’s game. 



During the campaign, our BBFA Ally Clubs are dedicating a male and female first team match as a Rainbow Laces fixture where they’ll be lacing up in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion, and promoting awareness of the campaign through their social media channels.

Berks & Bucks FA, Communications Officer, Steph Clark, said; “As a County FA we are committed to driving inclusion across the sport and to ensuring that football provides safe and welcoming environments for all to enjoy.

“We believe that sport, and in particular, football, has a truly unique ability to connect people from all walks of life and change lives through shared passion. Football is everyone’s game, and no one should feel excluded from taking part because of who they are.

“We are proud to be working closely with our BBFA Ally Clubs during the Rainbow Laces campaign to help ensure that football in our region really is a game for all.”

Anyone can join us in supporting the campaign through a few different ways; you can help us raise awareness through liking and sharing our social media posts, you can purchase Rainbow Laces from Stonewall UK, or you can start a conversation about why you wear Rainbow Laces which is the call to action of this year’s campaign, ‘Lace up and Speak up’.

If you want to share your support for the campaign with us on social media, don't forget to use the hashtags #EveryonesGame, #RainbowLaces and #BerksBucksFA.

For more information about the Rainbow Laces campaign, please visit stonewall.org.uk.

Alternatively, to find out more about the County FA’s inclusion work, please visit Berks-BucksFA.com.