JBG? Giant flag handover to Lionesses in Australia (re-published)

NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM GIVEN JUST A BALL GAME? ANNUAL AWARD FOR 2024.

               

 

NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM GIVEN JUST A BALL GAME? ANNUAL AWARD FOR 2024.

JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) is pleased to announce that the NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM, has received the JBG? annual award for their efforts to combat discrimination and increase awareness of LGBT+ inclusion and visibility.

The presentation which was part of the non-profit organisation's 14th anniversary, was held at the Urbis site on November 9^th 2024. The silver salver award handover took place as part of the museum’s football grassroots fair day.

Over the past 12 months the museum and staff have given fantastic support to JBG? with allowing our campaign to host a stall and or our educational exhibition panels on no less than 18 days throughout the year.

The museum has strived to make their workplace inclusive and LGBT+ people visiting feel represented and included in all aspects of the space and memorabilia.

Founder of JBG? Lindsay England expressed, “The NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM are extremely deserving of this award for their time shown to LGBT+ visitors and contributors and a wider audience. They are always keen learn and lead on issues of equality, inclusion and diversity and have been welcoming of JUST A BALL GAME?’ s efforts since the museum relocated to its present space in Manchester in 2012.”

 

Dr Gabrielle Heffernan, who is Director of Content at the museum was presented with the award and had this to say: “We are delighted to receive this award from Just A Ball Game? in recognition for our ongoing commitment to equity across all aspects of the game and ensuring everyone can explore why football matters. The LGBTQ+ community have been incredibly supportive of our programming and collecting, and we will continue to drive representation across our content, as football is everyone’s game.”

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SECOND AQUISITION INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR JUST A BALL GAME?

 

JUST A BALL GAME?                                              MEDIA RELEASE- For immediate release.                                     

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SECOND INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR JUST A BALL GAME?

JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) are excited to announce for the second year in a row they have been given a global award. JBG? are winners of monthly digital magazine Acquisition International's non-profit awards for:

LGBT+ Inclusion & Visibility in Sports Award 2024 - UK

 AI say:” Our communities are the very backbone of today’s world, and this year’s awardees have truly demonstrated their dedication towards supporting a plethora of communities – large and small. No matter how they are needed, our winners act as a buttress for many. Of course, plenty of us feel like we have to do it all alone but, with the help of these extraordinary organisations – and the individuals who make them all possible – we never have to walk alone again.”

Awards Coordinator Jessie Wilson took a moment to comment on the success of this year’s winners: “I’m delighted to have connected with so many organisations that are making a huge positive impact on the world around them. They’re committed, loyal, and integral to our society, and I can’t wait to see what comes next for them. Congratulations on your successes, you deserve every bit of recognition.”

Acquisition International prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. All awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

Founder of JBG? Lindsay says, “It’s fantastic to be recognised as a non -profit by a business and online media company for the second time in a row in only its 4th year of the awards, and we hope that our small but dedicated volunteer team can continue to make waves in both grass roots and professional football and other sports showcasing inclusion and visibility of LGBT+ people.”

Acquisition International is a monthly magazine brought to you by AI Global Media Ltd, a publishing house that has reinvigorated corporate finance news and reporting. Each month the magazine is circulated to in- excess of 85,000 professionals, including Top Tier Managers, Investment Professionals, Business Advisers and Service Providers.

 

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Contact for further information: info@justaballgame.co.uk 

Founder-Lindsay England

GOSSIP RETURN, IT’S LIKE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN AWAY.

 

JUST A BALL GAME? MEDIA RELEASE- For immediate release.                                       

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GOSSIP RETURN, IT’S LIKE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN AWAY.

It’s not often that two worlds collide.

But when our LGBT+ campaign organisation JUST A BALL GAME? needed help almost 14 years ago in stepped Arkansas/Portland punks THE GOSSIP, to lend a helping hand in ensuring we obtained our very first flyers, banners and t-shirts, by way of a much needed minimal donation, and a synthesis was created when they agreed to become our Patrons..

 For those unfamiliar, our non-profit campaign looks at raising awareness of LGBT+ visibility and inclusion in football (soccer) and other sports. LGBT+ musicians stepped in where the football authorities and excessively paid professional players turned the other cheek. Football, music, art and LGBT+ communities often overlap, and not just in our teenage years.

Beth Ditto, Nathan Howdeshell and Hannah Blilie (Gossip) have indeed traversed a complex path from their raw, underground beginnings to becoming emblematic figures for inclusivity and defiance. The journey of the band highlights not just the evolution of their music from raucous punk to a more polished disco, indie, alternative dance fusion, but also the journey of societal attitudes towards diversity, inclusion and acceptance.

Ditto's fearless embrace of her identity was radical at the band's inception, challenging norms and inspiring countless individuals. Her visibility as a "lesbian and blatantly feminist" figure at the forefront of a successful band broke barriers and made space for discussions around body positivity, queer rights, and feminism in spaces where these conversations might not have previously occurred.

Their music, vibrant and unapologetic, resonated particularly in Europe and the UK, though they maintained a loyal following in the US among those touched by their message and energy. The pause in their career highlights the personal growth and changes each member faced, showcasing that behind their public personas were individual journeys of self-discovery and change.

The 2019 reunion for the anniversary tour for the “Music For Men” album and the forthcoming March 22^nd release of "Real Power" come at a time when the messages Gossip has long championed are being echoed more widely across society. The resurgence isn't just about the band making music again; it symbolizes the enduring relevance of their advocacy and the continued fight for inclusivity and acceptance.

 

At Berlin’s Lido venue the night before the vinyl, CD’s and streams are released old and new generations of fans will unite for what will be an undoubtable experience worth the wait.  

The origins of Gossip in Arkansas, a place not widely recognized for its punk or queer scenes, further illuminate the band's defiance against mainstream expectations. Their transition from a raw, untutored sound to a more refined yet equally potent musical force speaks to their development as artists. 

Gossip’s journey, characterized by authenticity, defiance, and a deep bond among its members, encapsulates the essence of punk's confrontational spirit and the enduring impact of music on individual and collective consciousness. Their continuance as a band, marked by a hiatus and triumphant return, celebrates not only their musical evolution but also their lasting influence on societal attitudes towards queerness, body positivity, and the power of living authentically.