JUST A BALL GAME? award for HYDE FC

                                    

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                                          Just a Ball Game?

Hyde FC presented with JUST A BALL GAME? challenging homophobia in football award 2012.       

                                 

In recognition of all the great efforts Hyde FC have made in the past 15 months to help make Ewen Fields a welcoming safe space for LGBT people to engage in football, Just a Ball game?  are pleased to have presented the club with an award.

Just a Ball game? had this to say about the work that ‘The Tigers ‘ have done:

 ” We are delighted to be presenting this award to Hyde FC who have shown over the last year to be one of the most forward thinking clubs in football by embracing our workload and helping to carry it along. They are happy to acknowledge that challenging homophobia needs to come from many strands and have been only too willing to respond to all of our initiatives.”

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Contact for further information:

Founding Director -Lindsay England

info.justaballgame@gmail.com                       ©

HAPPY FOOTBALL HOLIDAYS

                    HAPPY FOOTBALL HOLIDAYS

                                                                           FROM JUST A BALL GAME?

from HYDE FC OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

Think Before You Chant anti-homophobia campaign comes to Ewen Fields

 

 

 

By Tom | Published: Thursday 13th December 2012

A week on from holding a world Aids day event at our home game against Woking, we became the first senior sports organisation to showcase the Time for Change – Now exhibition as part of the Think Before You Chant campaign.

The day was funded with a grant from the European Gay & Lesbian Sports Federation as part of their Preventing and Fighting Homophobic Violence and Intolerance in Sport project.
The exhibition consists of 6 panels which aim to both raise awareness and educate around the issues of homophobic abuse found in all sport, and a Think Before You Chant banner was put up pitch-side.
The anti-homophobia campaigns group Just a Ball Game? have been co-delivery partners of this initiative with originators AFC Rushden and Diamonds, who hope to send their fans away with the correct messages of what is acceptable to sing at games, and what constitutes as unwanted and unnecessary discrimination.
Lindsay England who is founding director of Just a Ball Game? said:

Sport as a whole at present only touches on diversity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBT, and although a number of LGBT people are involved in sport at grassroots level are “out” to family and friends, teammates and some club officials, those who participate at elite level and are ‘out’ publically are few and far between.
So, with this in mind we are proud to be delivery partners on these initiatives.

from BLUE SQUARE BET PREMIER WEBSITE

                   Think Before You Chant - Hyde FC

Following a successful event day on 1st Dec 2012 which saw HYDE FC host a Blue Square Bet Premier match as part of 2012 World Aids Day, a week later the Ewen Fields side became the first professional sports organisation to showcase the "TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW" exhibition as part of the "THINK BEFORE YOU CHANT" awareness raising day.

The day was funded with a grant from the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) as part of their EU project "Preventing and Fighting Homophobic Violence and Intolerance in Sport.

The exhibition consists of 6 panels which aim to both raise awareness and educate around the issues of homosexuality and homophobia (anti-gay) abuse found in all sport

In addition to the exhibition a "Think before you chant" banner was put up pitch side.

The anti-homophobia campaigns group Just a Ball Game? have been co-delivery partners of this initiative with originators AFC Rushden and Diamonds who hope to send their fans away with the correct messages of what is acceptable to sing at games and what constitutes as unwanted and unnecessary discrimination.

Lindsay England who is Founding Director of Just a Ball Game? said: "Sport as a whole at present only touches on diversity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBT, and although a number of LGBT people are involve in sport at grass roots level are 'out' to family and friends, team mates and some club officials, those who participate at elite level and are 'out' publically are few and far between. So, with this in mind we are proud to be delivery partners on these initiatives."

Posted: Tuesday , December 11, 2012.

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'Think before you Chant'

Think Before YOU Chant: 

TIME 4 CHANGE-NOW Exhibition

Hyde FC December 8th

 

 

 Hyde FC’s home fixture on 8th^t December 2012 against Telford will see the Tigers once again team up with Just A Ball Game? to provide an event day called ‘Think Before You Chant’ which has been funded by the European Gay and Lesbian Sports Federation (EGLSF) grant  : Good Practices Development.

 The funding is part of the EU project “Preventing and Fighting Homophobic Violence and Intolerance in Sport – Pride in Sport” funded by the European Commission (DG Education and Culture – Sport unit).

 

The ‘Think Before You Chant’ initiative will also be a joint venture with  its originators AFC Rusden and Diamonds who will be having a “Think Before You Chant “ Day early next year.

The match ball sponsorship for the game will taken up by Just a Ball Game?

This follows the celebration of  World Aids Day on Dec 1^st  when and this day was recognised with a red ribbon being provided to everyone who attended the fixture against Woking, and match ball sponsorship for the Hyde FC side. 

The Hyde manager and coaching staff will wear special football HIV Sport badges  for the match.

The days events will also show case for the first time to a sporting public another of Just a Ball Game?’s partnerships this time with Olympics legacy anti-homophobia exhibition project:

                                   TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW              EXHIBITION   

 The project was initiated by chance as an outcome of a consultation meeting to discuss preparations for the Olympic Torch passing through Bournemouth. Andrew Williams, Manager of the Safer and Stronger Communities Team at Bournemouth Borough Council, and Alan Mercel-Sanca (chairperson of a Dorset-based multicultural learning society and a trustee of Dorset Race Equality Council) discussing the multicultural preparations for the event. At the conclusion it was suggested that the LGBT population is, along with its ethnic communities and retired population, one of Bournemouth’s major distinctive communities, and it would therefore be good to have it represented in some meaningful way on the day.

Alan began to structure the project in October 2011and in particular to create thematic articles around key topics; the material taking shape over ten months and involving extensive research and the development of a valuable one-stop supportive links resource (found on the Appendix PDF and on the second section of the Using the Resource page.

Just a Ball Game? Organisation anti-discrimination in sport partnership initiative

Campaigning organisation Just A Ball Game?  looks at homophobia and other issues faced by Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT ) people who participate in varying ways in football and other sports is proud to be a supporter and delivery partner for the ANTI-HOMOPHOBIA IN SPORT EXHIBITION project.

 Sport as a whole at present only touches on diversity and inclusion for those who identify as LGBT, and although a number of LGBT people are involved in sport at grass roots level are ‘out’ to family, friends, team mates and club officials, those who participate at elite level and are ’out’ publically are few and far between.

Founding director of Just A Ball Game? Lindsay England says: “We hope to make use of the wonderful and dynamic exhibition as part of our on-going campaign work to raise awareness around homophobia and help mainstream sport to be more inclusive of a number of diversity issues and help create a safe space for both LGBT people and those who are perceived to be ‘lgbt’ to achieve their potential. The education element of this exhibition encourages an understanding of issued faced by LGBT people and at the same time highlights role models for a younger generation to aspire too. We at Just A Ball Game? would like to thank Alan Mercel-Sanca and the final year students of Bournemouth and Poole Collage for their inspiring efforts in the creation of these panels.”

 Just A Ball Game? Would also wish to acknowledge the support and funding for this event from : Preventing and Fighting Homophobic Violence and Intolerance in Sport – Pride in Sport” funded by the European Commission (DG Education and Culture – Sport unit).

 

 

 

World Aids Day at HYDE FC 1ST DEC 2012

 

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                  Hyde FC’s home fixture on 1^st December 2012 against Woking

The date is World Aids day and this day will be recognised with a red ribbon being provided to everyone who attends the fixture. (we have over 500 to give out) 

The match ball sponsorship for the game will taken up by Just a Ball Game?.

The Hyde manager and coaching staff will wear special  football HIV Sport badges  for the match. Hyde FC will be giving a donation to Waverley Care, an HIV outreach service

 

 

"This program received the financial support of the EU Commission (DG

Education and Culture) as part of the project coordinated by the
European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation on "Preventing and Fighting
Homophobic Violence in Sport".

 

 

 

                                                              

Huge thanks to Hyde FC from Just A Ball Game? for their ongoing support for Diversity and against Homophobia 

 

GOSSIP's BETH DITTO Signs pledge in support of equal marriage!

                        Just a Ball Game? – MEDIA RELEASE.

GOSSIP's BETH DITTO Signs pledge in support of equal marriage!

 Just a Ball Game? caught up with Patrons GOSSIP on tour a couple of weeks ago and on attending the show wearing an Equal Marriage Scotland t-shirt director Lindsay England saw it commandeered by singer Beth Ditto who promptly dressed in the shirt for the remainder of the set. Here’s the story with pictures and links to the video

 

Link to Beth Ditto of Gossip wearing equal marriage Scotland t-shirt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh42t_PqUws&feature=player_detailpage : credit Sand Zanardy.

 

As the USA turned out to vote and LGBT campaigners across the Atlantic marched through the streets of Paris in favour of legislation on equal marriage this week, alternative music fans in the French capital attending 2 sold out GOSSIP shows were privy to singer Beth Ditto showing support for LGBT equality while singing 'gay anthem' Standing in the Way of Control when she asked a friend in the audience to hand her an EQUAL MARRIAGE SCOTLAND t-shirt, which was held up and then promptly worn generating loud cheers from all present. The lyrics were also extended to include a Nina Simone quote:

 

 “YOU DON'T HAVE

TO LIVE NEXT TO ME

 JUST GIVE ME MY

 EQUALITY..................”

* Ladyfest 2001 Glasgow Scotland became the then little known American disco punk indie funk fusion band's first ever UK live performance.

 * Standing in the Way of Control was written as a response to the Federal Marriage Amendment which would have constitutionally outlawed same-sex marriage in the United States. Beth says of the song: “Nobody in the States was that surprised or shocked by what Bush did, but it made everyone I know feel helpless and cheated. I wrote the chorus to try and encourage people not to give up. It’s a scary time for civil rights, but I really believe the only way to survive is to stick together and keep fighting.”

* SITWOC was re-released as it charted mainstream as the theme to teenage drama SKINS.

 

 

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Contact for further information:

Founding Director -Lindsay England

info.justaballgame@yahoo.com                            ©

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Just a Ball Game? hold FARE event at Hyde FC

Just a Ball Game? hold FARE event at Hyde FC

JBG? and HYDE FC joined forces to celebrate Football Against Racism in Europe with a day of inclusive events to highlight  the need for expanding access to sport for all.

The event was hosted by Hyde FC. Amongst the events were both competitive and non-competitive football training with John Hurst from Manchester FA and Neil Gillespie of Hyde FC. There was also an opportunity to experience sitting volleyball and other games which promote inclusivity,

Claire Harvey, Captain of the Team GB Olympic Sitting Volleyball Team was due to lead the session but unfortunately was involved in a motorway accident en route. Thankfully, only the car was injured! So JBG?’s mascot, Castro the Cat got involved got involved as you can see!

Local MP Jonathan Reynolds visited and congratulated JBG? and Hyde on the day. He was very interested in the philosophy of FARE, JBG?’s campaigning against Homophobia in Sport and Hyde FC continued involvement in both campaigns. Jonathan even got a thumbs up from Castro! seen here with Andy McAnulty, Hyde FC , Club Secretary

The day was organised by Lindsay England from JBG? who was delighted with the day and thanked FARE for the funding for the event, HYDE FC, Manchester FA , Jonathan Reynolds MP and of course, the youngsters  for their support and JBG? sends best wishes to Claire Harvey and her car!  

FARE ACTION WEEK EVENT DAY at HYDE FC

JUST A BALL GAME? PATRONS-media release 2012

        

                                                                              

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       JUST A BALL GAME? ANNOUNCE FIRST PATRONS LIST.

 

 

                                            GOSSIP

The Directors of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender football organisation, Just a Ball Game? are proud to announce their first list of PATRONS. The list consist of American alternative rockers GOSSIP, Professional Football Association (PFA) Chairman Clarke Carlisle (currently centre back at York City FC) Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and MP for Wallasey (who herself was first ‘out’ lesbian MP) Angela Eagle and her civil partner who is Chair of the TUC’s LGBT Committee, Maria Exall, GB Women’s Paralympic  Sitting Volleyball team captain Claire Harvey and Manchester businessman Iain Scott.

 

                                                                           

Gossip confirmed their support for Just a Ball Game? this week following a summer of festival appearances and a short promotional tour of their 5^th album ‘A Joyful Noise.’ No strangers to all things queer and campaigns themselves, Gossip are best known for their distinctive punk/indie/disco fusion sound and 2006 ‘gay anthem’ -Standing In the Way Of Control, written to high light the fight for equality and right to marry for LGBT people in the USA.

The band stated, “ We are proud to become Patrons of Just A Ball Game? and will continue to follow closely any campaigns under taken and hope to see the work load and achievements progress from football in the UK across the globe as sport, like music, is part of lifestyles and culture for both young and old and can help to provide opportunities and inspiration for many people.”

Just a Ball Game? had this to say about GOSSIP. '' We are excited and delighted to have Gossip come on board as PATRONS of Just a Ball Game?  linking the world of LGBT/QUEER music with LGBT/QUEER SPORT and are grateful for the support of the band who have themselves pushed boundaries and become role models with their music.”

                                                                  

Iain Scott, a director and manager of Taurus bar and restaurant in Manchester, had the following comment on becoming a Patron, “ In recognition of the exhaustive hard work already invested in this very worthy cause, I am extremely happy to support  Lindsay and Just A Ball Game? in all endeavours.”

The new, Just a Ball Game? website is due to go live in 2 weeks as part of the 2^nd official birthday of the organisation.

Contact for further information:

Founding Director -Lindsay England                                   oct.2012

info.justaballgame@yahoo.com                           

© just a ball game?

 

PFA CHAIRMAN CLARKE CARLISLE signs for JBG?

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Just a Ball Game? – MEDIA RELEASE

 BRITAIN’S BRAINIEST FOOTBALLER SIGNS FOR JUST A BALL GAME?

 

Just a Ball Game? are proud to announce that York City central defender and Professional Footballers Association Chairman Clarke Carlisle has become the first British footballer currently playing the game to take an important stand for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community by becoming a Patron of the campaign organisation.

 

Mr Carlisle agreed to champion the cause stating: “I am flattered and honoured with the offer, and hope to be able to fulfil the role adequately by helping to continue to spread the word of the great work already achieved by Just a Ball Game? in my media interviews.”

 Just a Ball Game? are due to make public a full list of Patrons in a few weeks time as part of their 2^nd official birthday celebrations.

The messages that JBG? send out are very much a big YES to diversity and NO to homophobia. Founding director Lindsay England welcomes the involvement of the PFA Chairman in what will hopefully be the first of many more additions to a ‘gay-straight’ alliance,

01/10/2012.                       

 

 

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Contact for further information:

Founding Director -Lindsay England

info.justaballgame@yahoo.com                            ©

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Carke Carlisle PFA Chairman teams up with Just A Ball Game?

  FROM KICK IT OUT  WEBSITE.



PFA chairman signs up to 'Just a Ball Game?'

Tuesday 2 Oct 2012

'Just a Ball Game?', a campaign tackling homophobia in football, has confirmed Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chairman Clarke Carlisle is the first current British player to become a patron of the organisation. 

Founding director Lindsay England has welcomed the involvement of the York City defender in what she claims will 'hopefully be the first of many more additions to a gay-straight alliance'.

Clarke, an ambassador for Kick It Out and Show Racism the Red Card, said: “I am flattered and honoured with the offer, and hope to be able to fulfil the role adequately by helping to continue to spread the word of the great work already achieved by Just a Ball Game? in my media interviews.”
Just a Ball Game? are due to make public a full list of Patrons as part of their second official birthday celebrations later this month.

To find out more about 'Just a Ball Game?', please click here.

Hello from BOB new communications volunteer for Just a Ball Game?

HELLO FROM BOB.


Greetings Just a Ball Game? followers. My name is Bob Woods and I have just joined JBG? to help with the communications, twitter, facebook and blogs etc. So in my first week I am pitched into the fray head first with two outings with Lindsay England into a world of football I had really lost touch with,

On Tuesday, 18t September 2012, JBG? had been invited to AFC Rushden & Diamonds. They were wanting to sign the Sports Charter for Action on Homophobia and Transphobia, and to unveil the JBG? banner behind the home goal. The Chair , Ralph Burditt, wanted to show the clubs continued commitment to diversity and respect, and launch its own "Think before You Chant" initiative.

 

Rushden & Diamonds have been through some difficult financial times but also experienced personal tragedy with the untimely death of their Goalkeeper Dale Roberts. Meeting the lovely people at the club from board members and all those volunteers which keep a non-league club going, I was overwhelmed by their sincerity, friendliness, and willingness to embrace the message of Just A Ball Game to respect Diversity and challenge Homophobia.

 

Dale's Bar, transformed from a porta cabin by volunteers, showed that this club has a huge heart!

And the penalty shoot out between Castor the cat and Dazzler was hilarious!
The photos of the night show the genuine enthusiasm we experienced, I was left wondering "why can't all clubs be like this?" . Given time and resources, maybe they can! And if clubs like AFC Rushden & Diamonds from the United Counties League can do it....so can the Premiership and Football League!

 

But that was not the end of my week, On Wednesday, !9th September I accompanied Lindsay to Walsall for the Euro Women's Qualifier England against Croatia. Although we experienced a few problems mainly one part of the FA not knowing what the other part had agreed to ( the hanging of the JBG? banner flag beside the goal) it was an insight into why we need to concentrate on the grass roots to change the culture from the bottom up. I was impressed by the numbers of parents and teachers who came up to our stall, and especially a conversation I had with group of teen girls , all keen football players, about homophobic chants and slurs, I was surprised by their understanding and experiences, It made me realise we cant wait for the "Blazers" in the Board Rooms to change the culture on the terraces and on the pitch, its the next generation , their teachers and parents who are going to challenge the old attitudes and make football a safe place for LGBT players and supporters.

Wednesday also saw the publication of the report from the Culture and Media Committee. This report identified homophobia as a major and growing issue. A cursory glance at the websites of the FA, Premiership, and Premiership clubs shows huge gaps between those clubs who have taken a lead ( e,g going to local LGBT Pride events, holding diversity training for their staff etc) and the majority who appear to have done very little beyond signing the Charter against Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport. I will be looking into what clubs have on their websites and also what they have publicised in their local newspapers and media and report back to name and shame the slackers and congratulate and share the best practise!

You can follow me on twitter @dinglebaggiegay ( so called because I support West Bromwich and my boyfriend supports Wolves!) and I will be posting regularly on the Just a Ball Game? blog, Twitter and Facebook page. I am really pleased to be part of JBG? and I hope you enjoy my ramblings!

Bob.

NO TO HOMOPHOBIA AT THE DOG AND DUCK STADIUM

          

                     Just a Ball Game? – MEDIA RELEASE
                                   Down at the old ‘Dog and Duck Stadium.'

                                                

AFC Rushden and Diamonds join the campaign against Homophobia in Football.

On Tuesday, !8^th September 2012, we were guests of AFC Rushden & Diamonds of the Chromosport United Counties League as they announced their support of Just a Ball Game? by unveiling our latest  pitch side ad board.

Chairman Ralph Burditt said

“I am delighted that we have the opportunity to support Just a Ball Game? Discrimination of any kind has no place in football and I hope that the presence of the new advertising boards at the ground and the advertisements in the programme will serve as a gentle reminder to both home and away supporters that it will not be tolerated. I am particularly pleased that we are becoming only the second club in the UK to display a permanent advert for the Just a Ball Game? campaign. The news story regarding Hyde FC’s support for the campaign was what originally lead me to contact Lindsay England  from JBG?, and I would like to think that this story will similarly inspire another football club. It’s time that we all started speaking out against the institutionalised homophobia in football, much as people began to speak out about racism all those years ago”.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds have already launched a “Think Before You Chant” Campaign which encourages fans to use imagination and wit instead of homophobic, racist or sexist language on the terraces.

Just a Ball Game? hope to see other football clubs adopting this dual strategy, It is one thing to have a clause against discriminatory behaviour in your ground rules, but AFC Rushden and Diamonds show what clubs can do pro-actively to support the Respect campaign. They have put real action behind their signing of The Charter for Action, Tackling Homophobia and Transphobia in Sport.

JBG? would like to thank all Ralph, John and all @AFCRD for making us so welcome and showing what can be done to promote diversity and challenge homophobia in football.

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Contact for further information:

Founding Director -Lindsay England

info.justaballgame@yahoo.com 

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