JUST A BALL GAME? HONORS “BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST” WITH 2025 AWARD.

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JUST A BALL GAME? HONORS “BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST”  WITH 2025 AWARD FOR LGBT+ INCLUSION AND VISIBILITY.

Although delayed from last month JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) today announced that their 2025 Annual Award For LGBT+ Inclusion and Visibility has been presented to the BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST, (BKE) hosted by comedians Suzi Ruffell and Maisie Adam.

The engraved ’English Rose’ award recognises the show’s sustained advocacy, visibility and positive influence in promoting LGBT+ inclusion across the women’s game.

BKE has built a devoted audience for more than 2.5 years by blending humour, insight, informed commentary, and interviews with players during in near-weekly episodes that track the growth of women’s football. They regularly highlight LGBT+ stories, challenge harmful stereotypes and elevate voices from within the community with a central thread showing support that matters both on and off the pitch.

JBG? co-chair Ste and founder Lindsay, surprised Ruffell after one of her solo shows in Nottingham, with a silver salver to mark the honour.

“Suzi and Maisie use humour and insight to open up important conversations around equality, inclusion and diversity in football,” said Ste. “Their work has helped an LGBT+ presence in the women’s game and created a safe space for fans and players to feel seen and supported.”

Ruffell clearly surprised thanked the non-profit organisation and excitedly showed others at the venue the award before posing for photos.

JBG? founder Lindsay also praised the podcast’s role and says, “Suzi and Maisie have shown how humour can be a powerful tool for change by bringing to attention real issues faced while keeping the door open for laughs. That combination is helping the sport more welcoming for everyone.”

The award is showcasing the podcast has made complex and sensitive subjects easier to approach, reaching audiences that may not otherwise engage with inclusion conversations. This recognition from JBG? underpins the importance of media that supports diversity in women’s football and across all football more broadly.

BKE had this this to say, "Massive thanks to Just A Ball Game? for this award from everyone at BKE. We love making Big Kick every week and whilst it is mostly extremely silly, taking time to discuss and highlight issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community within football will always be a priority for us. Receiving an award recognising this part of Big Kick specifically is a delight and a lovely thing."

 Just A Ball Game? has been an advocacy organisation for 15 years and is dedicated to increasing LGBT+ visibility and fostering inclusive culture within football and other sports. The award celebrates individuals and projects that demonstrate meaningful impact, creativity and sustained approaches who have partnered or worked alongside their community outreach.

 

A message from Bradford City FC

In support of Bradford City LGBT fan group and JUST A BALL GAME? for LGBT History Month 2017.



A message from Bradford City FC

“Bradford City FC has been committed, for many years, to supporting members of the LGBT Community who follow football in general and Bradford City FC in particular.

The Club is proud to have dealt effectively on issues that may have arisen, and supported the LGBT Community as moves have been made to enhance and intensify the message that inclusion is right for clubs and supporters alike.
The Club displays the Rainbow Flag at all home games, offers a confidential texting service to highlight problems, and undertakes support and training for members of the match day staff.
As we approach February 2017, we are delighted to be, once again, supporting the LGBT History Month.”

JBG? Ladies qualify for FA Futsal Cup Finals

                                             JBG? Ladies qualify for FA Futsal Cup Finals

After a marathon 20+ week league season JBG? Ladies Futsal Team secured a place in the FA North Semi Finals of the Futsal Cup. The team were placed in Group B alongside Liverpool Futsal Ladies, Middlesbrough Ladies FC and Loughborough and finished as group winners and now progress to the FA Futsal Cup Finals which will be played in London in June at the iconic Copper Box Arena home to many of GB's Olympians in 2012.

The JBG? Ladies narrowly lost their first game 2-3 to Liverpool Futsal Ladies and were disappointed that this was due to a refereeing technicality, the JBG? team dominated possession throughout with Chantelle Parry scoring a brace.
Next up were Loughborough who had hit 5 in their opening game. Once again JBG? controlled the game, this time team manager Steph Ashton-Smith popping up with a fine hat trick and Ali Hindley adding a forth. The Loughborough team worked hard with a 2v 1 upfront to close down the scoreline but JBG? earned 3 points with in the end a comfortable 4-2 win.

So, with all 4 teams on 3 points each there was a big 'cup final' to be played out in the last game between FA WPL team Middlesborough Ladies FC and JBG? with a win needed to progress.
The 'Boro Ladies started strongly and raced into 3-1 lead at half time. It was the JBG? indiscipline letting them down with them being reduced to 4 players when Ali Hindley was ordered from the field of play after receiving 2 yellow cards in quick succession. The JBG? Ladies dug in and forced the score back level to 3-3 with just a further 4 minutes left on the clock. As the team were about to call a time-out keeper Leanne Ashton-Smith made a fantastic double save but in doing so was knocked unconscious and play was help up for several minutes while treatment was given. Ashton-Smith was deemed fine to continue and the game was restarted.
The JBG? Ladies pushed forward at every opportunity and brushed the woodwork on no less than 3 occasions. Then with just 1m 49 seconds left on the clock, the pressure was rewarded and defender Melissa Cook found inspiration and in turn the back of the net to make the final score 4-3 and JBG? Ladies were had booked their place in the  FA Futsal Cup Finals 2015.

TUC launch toolkit for unions to tackle homophobia in football- with JBG?

 

TUC launches toolkit for unions to tackle homophobia in football

A toolkit designed to stamp out homophobia in football is being launched today (Wednesday) by the TUC as part of a concerted action by unions and their allies.
The toolkit is to help unions challenge the prejudice faced by many LGBT people in football and wider sport. It was written and designed by members of the TUC alliance against homophobia and transphobia in football in association with The Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Just a Ball Game? – a campaign which challenges homophobia and promotes LGBT participation in sport.
The toolkit includes practical ideas and advice for union members on how they can best tackle homophobia at club level and what kind of resources they may need.
The toolkit will be launched at the TUC’s headquarters by Frances O’Grady, the TUC General Secretary, with members of the alliance including Gordon Taylor from the PFA, Maria Exall, chair of the TUC LGBT committee, and Lindsay England from Just a Ball Game? The launch is also being supported by Stonewall, the Gay Football Supporters’ Federation and the Inclusion Adviser at the Football Association.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

”Unions are continuing to do outstanding work promoting equality at work and in society in general. This toolkit will help them reinforce the message that there is absolutely no place for homophobia in football or indeed any kind of sport.
“Union activists have used this approach at a number of professional clubs in the past and we want to build on those successes.”

The event will take place at 1pm at TUC headquarters, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.


- The TUC alliance toolkit Tackling Homophobia in Football can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-rights/tackling-homophobia-football
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
 

 http://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/TacklingHomophobiaToolkit.pdf