Just a Ball Game? – MEDIA RELEASE
Down at the old ‘Dog and Duck Stadium.'
Down at the old ‘Dog and Duck Stadium.'
AFC Rushden and Diamonds join the campaign against Homophobia in Football.
On Tuesday, !8th 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.
Contact for further information:
Founding Director -Lindsay England
info.justaballgame@yahoo.com 
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