Anton Hysen Liverpool born gay football player, joins Just a Ball Game?- MEDIA RELEASE

    

 ANTON  HYSEN  joins JUST A BALL GAME? as Patron and Role Model.-MEDIA RELEASE.

Today we at Just A Ball Game? are very excited to announce  that  Liverpool  born  and current Swedish 3^rd division player  Anton Hysen has agreed to team up  with our campaign and activist organisation  as a Patron and Role Model.

The out and proud gay man announced himself on the scene back in March 2011 when he gave an interview to Sweden’s Football magazine’ Offside’ and became only the 2^nd player in football history still playing the game to talk of his sexuality publicly.

He immediately asked questions like, “Where is everyone else?” continuing “I am sure of who I am, I was born this way, I have nothing to hide.” He stated that, ”Mostly everyone around me is really positive, I am hopeful this will mean others can do the same.”

On his announcement team mate Niklas Tidshoard says" It should not be an issue but it is, it's been tough for Anton,half of the team knew before,but the dressing room is a very hard place, there are many jokes about playing like a man."

Anton said “I am very happy to be a role model for young LGBT people through becoming a Patron of Just a Ball Game?

Speaking of the news fellow JBG? Patron and former Sunderland FC player Kieron Brady said, “ As a Patron of Just a Ball Game I would like to extend a warm welcome to Anton.

 With his profile being raised in these shores it will hopefully act as a catalyst to all relevant parties to stop trying to suppress this abnormality that sees us with so many male professional players but none who are openly Gay or Bi-sexual."

With Anton joining the JBG? team we now have 2 current playing  LGBT people as our Patrons and Role Models,said Lindsay England,the other being Manchester City Ladies  and former Wales International goalkeeper Andie (Andrea) Worrall.

Speaking this week Anton says, " At the end of the day, all that matters is what you can achieve on the pitch,not outside of it! Anyone can play regardless of if you are gay."

For more information on Just A Ball Game? or to support us by purchasing our t-shirts or banners please visit our website: justaballgame.co.uk or follow us on twitter : @justaballgame

Lindsay England.

TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW! in partnership with Northern Wave,Swim Gala 2013.

SWIM GALA 2013..
Sunday 9th June 2013 saw Just a Ball Game? team up with Northern Wave Swim Club to host the TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW! Swim Gala at the Manchester Aquatics Pool, funded by AWARDS FOR ALL.
The event was open to swimmers of all ages and abilities,with both male and female competitors in the same races and saw LGBT swimmers and their LGBT friendly pals enjoy a very relxed evening in the 2 pools.
Northern Wave are very supportive of the campaign and activist work done by us at JBG? and were very keen to be part of this event to showcase how different sports can work together to challenge homophobia and raise awareness on  issues faced by LGBT people and also around LGBT inclusion in sport.

A big thanks also goes out to the Aquatics Center management team who were only too happy for JBG? to have the "TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW!'' exhibition on display at the front entrance for all service users to browse through, and are happy to invite the exhibition back for a day to be displayed in the lead up to the many official Manchester Pride events in August.

A number of personal bests were achieved on the night for the more dedicated swimmers who were using the event as a great way to warm up for the World OUTGAMES 2013 held this time around in Antwerp, Belgium in a few weeks time.While the majority of others,who swam competitively for the first time felt very much at home.
The interaction of LGBT swimmers and mainstream sport in Manchester builds increasingly with events of this type, and those present at the event be they attending for a relaxed social swim or to race against team mates felt very proud that the facilities and timing equipment used which cost £10,000 per lane were those which were also used for the Duel in the Pool event at Manchester Aquatics Center,and other equipment from the Commonwealth Games.

The nights events were rounded off with a medal ceremony and a demonstration of Finswimming.







For more pics of the event see: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151405253621536&set=oa.10151650376953905&type=1&theater
and for  info on Northern Wave Swim Club please visit:http://northernwave.org/V01/


justaballgame.co.uk
@justaballgame


 TIME FOR CHANGE-NOW! funded by:

First ever JBG? Ladies team come home with SILVER in women's Manchester 6-a-side tournament.

 JBG? TEAM HAVE SILVER  FOR FIRST TIME.


A big well done done and thank you to our patron Andie Worrall and her Manchester City Ladies team mates and on loan Liverpool Ladies Katie Brusell for teaming up to play for Just a Ball Game? in a women's 6-a-side Tournament in Manchester.
The team finished top of the round robin section playing 5 games at 30 minutes in sweltering heat not drooping a point to finish on 15, and also amassed 14 goals along the way. Krystle (Joey) Johnson was JBG? top scorer for the day, and Andie even chipped in with a goal when say made a cameo as an outfield player for a couple of games scoring with a fine strike from 20 yards just 7 minutes after the start of the match.

Just a Ball Game? entered the tournament to raise awareness around LGBT issues and inclusion and also challenge homophobia that is sadly within our beautiful game.
The team wore special edition JBG? logo t-shirts and were enthusiastically cheered,as were all the teams by thousands of Parklife festival goers from all over the country  who lined the street over looking the Armitage center  3g pitches as they waited for transport to take them across the city.

The Pride Games, Football v Homophobia  Cup  day was hosted and run by 3Style sports: http://3stylesports.co.uk/ and was competed for by 6 teams:
 JBG?-Manchester Stingers-Chester Lasses-Claaasic-Birkenhead-Coyotes.

 As group leaders the JBG? team faced team Claaasic in a tightly contested affair not long after beating them in the final group game, but they unfortunately ran out of steam loosing 1-0 to an early goal, and hitting the woodwork no less than 8 times and forced 2 excellent saves from the keeper as they tried to force extra time in the play off game which only ran for 15 minutes.

The medals were presented  to the girls by Andie's fellow JBG? patron and GB Sitting Volleyball  Captain Claire Harvey who had been in Manchester for the day taching her skills to a number of school children.

If you would like to find out more about JBG? and what we do and support us buying our t-shirts and banners,or come on board as a partner club or organisation please visit:
 justaballgame.co.uk
 tweet us : @justaballgame

Liverpool Homeless FC sign up as partner club.

JBG? PROUD TO HAVE LIVERPOOL HOMELESS FC ON BOARD.


Last month Just a Ball Game took the short trip across the North West to visit Liverpool Homeless FC Ladies who were in their regular training session which had a special meaning to it on this occasion to mark International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).
The team were given JBG? goodie bags containing t-shirts/pens/badges and also a new home was found for one of our JBG? diversity banners at the football club, and some of the girls training that day included England Homeless FC players Becca Mushrow and Jess Lomax.



In past years the likes of England and Everton Ladies keeper Rachel Brown-Finnis have coached the ladies side, this season they are often put through their paces at the Power League soccer center on Whittle Street in Liverpool by England and Liverpool midfielder  Fara Williams who was also with us for the event day and was quite happy to wear a JBG? t-shirt and stand alongside the young girls giving a thumbs up to diversity and a big NO to HOMOPHOBIA. We at JBG? did chuckle wonder at times with the relaxed mood of the training session who it was in charge Fara or the girls?

http://liverpoolhomelessfootballclub.com/
Liverpool Homeless Football Club   is a community interest company that was set up for people who are affected by homelessness. For the past 5 years we have organised a homeless league that brings together 18 homelessness organisations across Merseyside.

We recognise the power of football to bring people together and engage people in a healthy and social activity. LHFC use it as the catalyst to help our players get their lives back on track. As well as improving fitness, LHFC help players into training, employment, healthy living and long term accommodation.

Since establishing the league in 2007, we have broken down many myths and stereotypes that affect people that are homeless. We aim to continue providing support for our clients.

click on the link below to watch a short youtube video about LHFC and witness the 2010-2011 season finale.


If you are interested in becoming a Just a Ball Game? partner club or organisation, please contact us at: info@justaballgame.co.uk.
For more info visit our website: justaballgame.co.uk
and don't forget to follow us on twitter: @justaballgame