Making headlines backing campaign

The community-minded Robins are backing Football v Homophobia's 2018 global Month of Action when they host Sutton Coldfield Town and were headlining on Sky Sports and elsewhere on Friday after dedicating the top flight fixture at the J Davidson Stadium to worldwide efforts to tackle the issue at all levels of the game.

Organised by the FARE Network, the umbrella organisation of more than 150 groups and organisations in over 40 countries combating all forms of discrimination, this season's campaign is being supported by the EVO-STIK League Premier Division club's Inclusivity & Diversity team to coincide with nationwide efforts to promote LGBT History Month in the UK during February.

Jordan Tyms, the club's D&I officer, told Sky Sports that the club's long-term strategy is to make their 6,085-capacity Moss Lane home a place where football is accessible to all.

A five-year-plan was drawn up after a service review with supporters and partners and he said: "We want to be more inclusive, so that as many people as possible come and watch games here and enjoy being part of the club.

"Last October, we were one of four clubs nationally that was selected as a 'Fans for Diversity' club by the Football Supporters' Federation and Kick It Out. One element of our inclusion strategy is to welcome more LGBT supporters, and Saturday's game is an opportunity to make that more widely known."

Tyms also told Sky Sports that LGBT inclusion is still rarely discussed in Non-League football circles despite the recent wider interest in the story of Liam Davis, who became the first openly gay male footballer to play at Wembley when he turned out for EVO-STIK League South newboys Cleethorpes Town in last year's FA Vase final.

Davis, pictured below, has since featured in a video for UEFA's #EqualGame campaign, an initiative being backed by the Northern Premier League during its 50th anniversary season, and Tyms added: "I don't think it's on the radar for most Non-League clubs. There's no reason why any other club couldn't do what we do."

In partnership with Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion organisation, the Robins have been inviting local individuals, groups and organisations to run activities or stalls on Saturday as part of their efforts to reach out to the community in and around south-west Manchester.

Using their Twitter account to get their message of inclusion out, @AltrinchamFCInc have tweeted: "We are proud to be supported by @farenet & @FvHtweets to celebrate Football v Homophobia month. Why not join us for @FvHtweets match against @sctfc on Saturday 17th February and join our cause to make football an enjoyable and safe environment for all."

FARE's commitment to tackle discrimination through football’s inclusive power is based on the principle that the game, as the most popular sport in the world, belongs to everyone. FARE combats all forms of discrimination, including racism, far-right nationalism, sexism, trans- and homophobia and discrimination against disabled people.

For more information visit: farenet.org.

For more information on Football v Homophobia's international initiatives visit: footballvhomophobia.com.

For more information on Altrincham FC's Inclusivity & Diversity team, email: Inclusion@altrinchamfc.co.uk

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