Exeter City take a stand against homophobia on and off the pitch

EXETER City Football Club said “no to homophobia” at its home game with Mansfield on Saturday, February 17.

The match was designated as the Club’s annual “Football v Homophobia” fixture and a number of initiatives to mark the day were organised by Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, its One Game One Community (OGOC) Group and Proud Grecians, the club's newly formed lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT+) and allies supporters group.

It was the ninth time that an annual Exeter City home game has been designated as a Football v Homophobia match.

Players from both teams warmed up in Football v Homophobia t-shirts.  These were then thrown to the crowd before the start of the game.

First team player and the Club's OGOC Ambassador Troy Brown backed the initiative and said: “Homophobia like all discrimination, has no place in football. It's time to call full-time on hate.”

The OGOC Group welcomed guests from Devon FA, Intercom (LGBT Support Organisation), Exeter Pride, Exeter University LGBTQ+ Network and the Devon Lions, the local gay friendly football club.

Volunteers handed out Football v Homophobia leaflets, rainbow laces, stickers and badges and to those attending the game. Articles about the FvH campaign featured in the match programme.

The Exeter City Ability Counts disability teams backing the campaign earlier in the week.

Alan Quick, a member of the Supporters Trust and its OGOC Group, founder of Proud Grecians, co-founder of Exeter Pride and local co-ordinator for Football v Homophobia, said: “Exeter City has a great record on opposing homophobia and last year the Club was recognised with an award for its long-term commitment by Lou Englefield, Director of the national Football v Homophobia campaign, who presented the OGOC Group with a commemorative pennant.

"The OGOC group and the Club have a proud record of making sure football is welcoming for all."

Exeter City’s One Game One Community Group works with the national Kick it Out campaign to address all types of discrimination in football including race, disability, gender, age and sexual orientation.