Football is for everyone. That’s the hill I will die on

Football is for everyone. That’s the hill I will die on.

But if I’m honest, there were times when football didn’t feel like a space where everyone could be themselves. I spend a lot of time around football communities through different initiatives, and I see the best of what the game can be. People pulling together, looking out for each other, creating spaces where everyone feels welcome. That’s exactly why Rainbow Blades has become so important to me personally. Honestly, they’re brilliant. From putting on their own inclusive sessions, to socials and get-togethers before the match.

Rainbow Blades has shown me that support, allyship, and community are (almost!) as important as getting three points on the board. It’s a reminder that football doesn’t belong to just one type of person. Football is for everyone. And when every fan feels comfortable being themselves, the whole matchday experience improves.

What would be brilliant is seeing the wider fanbase embrace that message even more. Simple conversations in the pub before a game, fans stepping in when they hear something out of order - that sort of thing. It all adds up.

Simple inclusive actions might feel small to you, but they could transform someone else's matchday.

Rainbow Blades Committee member – Matty Cassell