Grecians take a stand against homophobia

Exeter City Football Club will be making clear its opposition to homophobia in football at its home game with Cambridge United next week. (Tuesday 10 February).

The match has been designated as the Club’s annual ‘Football v Homophobia’ fixture – a move welcomed by the Exeter City Supporters’ Trust and its One Game One Community (OGOC) Group and the Club’s Football in the Community scheme.

The OGOC Group is organising a series of initiatives at the match and is delighted to be welcoming guests from Exeter Pride,University of Exeter LGBTQ+ Society and the Devon Lions, the local gay friendly football club.

Football v Homophobia leaflets will be distributed to the crowd and the players will walk out behind a Football v Homophobia banner. Articles about the campaign will be featured in the match programme.

In a new move the Group will also be asking Exeter City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) fans if they are interested in setting up a Grecian LGBT supporters group. Several clubs now have LGBT fans groups and this is trend is backed by the national Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN).

“I am delighted to see Exeter City taking such a principled stance against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Everyone, be they player, official, employee or fan, should be free to be themselves.

"Exeter City should be congratulated for taking a firm stand against things like inappropriate chanting or hateful or prejudiced language” said Alan Quick, South West Coordinator for Football v Homophobia, a Founding Trustee of Exeter Pride and a member of the Exeter City OGOC Group.

“We are also very interested to hear from LGBT fans about whether they would be interested in forming a supporters group as is happening at several other leading clubs” added Alan.

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.