Foxes Pride Meet Leicester City Stars As Part Of Rainbow Laces Campaign
- Foxes Pride visited LCFC Training Ground to meet Brendan Rodgers and City’s first team players
- They presented Jamie Vardy with his signed rainbow corner flag from last season’s game against Sheffield United
- Group members discussed LGBTQ+ inclusion with the manager and players and spoke about the work of Foxes Pride
- Yesterday’s game against Watford was the Club’s designated Rainbow Laces fixture
In addition to the presentation to Vardy, the visit to the Club’s training base in Seagrave saw members of Foxes Pride discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion with manager Brendan Rodgers and some of City’s first team players.
Group members spoke to James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Jonny Evans, Marc Albrighton and Vardy to talk more about some of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in a football setting, while explaining the work of Foxes Pride and the importance of allyship and standing up in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The group’s visit to LCFC Training Ground gave them the chance to present Vardy with the rainbow corner flag which he signed for Foxes Pride after it broke following his celebration in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United in December 2020.
Graeme Smith, Chair of Foxes Pride, said: “We have enjoyed a strong partnership with Leicester City since forming in 2015, and this year’s Rainbow Laces campaign has been no exception, with the opportunity to meet Brendan and the players an amazing experience for us.
“They were really open to hear about our experiences and we know that they are serious about the role they play in being allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
“It was brilliant to share our stories and experiences with them and to understand their commitment to ensuring football is a safe place for all fans, including the LGBTQ+ community.”
The Football Club celebrated the Rainbow Laces campaign at yesterday’s game against Watford, with the fixture an opportunity to demonstrate the Club’s ongoing commitment to supporting LGTBQ+ inclusion and making it clear that football is for everyone.
Vardy said: “It was great to meet some of the members of Foxes Pride and to be able to welcome them to our training ground to chat about some of their experiences and for them to share their stories with us.
“One of the key messages that came from our conversation with the group was about allyship and how we can use our profile as footballers to help support and raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The group are doing fantastic work in ensuring our LGBTQ+ fans feel supported and welcomed, and it was a really nice moment for me to be presented with the rainbow corner flag.”
All Premier League fixtures between 27 November and 2 December will be dedicated to Rainbow Laces, with clubs showing support through matchday activities, with branding visible at every stadium, while rainbow-themed captain’s armbands, laces and pin badges are also available.
Rodgers said: “Campaigns such as Rainbow Laces are vital to highlight inclusivity and to reiterate the fact that football is a game for everyone and that we should all feel comfortable and safe when attending matches.
“The Football Club is doing tremendous work in this area, and the relationship it has with Foxes Pride is one that will continue to grow and develop, and we’re all excited by that.
“We had a really informative discussion with the group, and I’d like to personally thank them all for their continued efforts in making LCFC an inclusive environment.”
Foxes Pride work with the Club to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in football, while promoting the welfare of the Club’s LGBTQ+ fans and ensuring King Power Stadium is a safe and welcoming place.
Kasper Schmeichel, Leicester City captain, said: “As a squad of players and as a Club we’ve worked closely with Foxes Pride over recent seasons to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and to highlight that our game is for all.
“It’s important we keep pushing this message so that everyone feels they can be their true selves, not just in football, but in life in general.”
Should you experience any form of discrimination in a Leicester City setting, please contact help@lcfc.co.uk or call 0344 815 5000 (option 4).
Furthermore, you can also report any form of discrimination or hate crime by texting the word ‘FOXES’ to 60066.
Please click HERE for more information about Rainbow Laces. For further details about Foxes Pride, please click HERE.