Exeter City is taking the opportunity of our One Game, One Community Kick It Out match to send a message of support and celebration for the huge role of Women and Girls in Football at Saturday's match against Mansfield Town.
Alongside this, however, the club is taking another stand against discrimination, in the form of a ‘Kick It Out’ message of any form of violence or abuse against women and girls.
Saturday's match has been designated as the club’s annual Kick It Out fixture and a number of initiatives to mark the day have been organised by CITY Community Trust, Exeter City Supporters’ Trust and its One Game One Community (OGOC) Group.
For many years an annual Exeter City home game, today supported by Mansfield Town, has been designated as a Kick It Out game to signal the club’s strong commitment to tackle all forms of discrimination.
Exeter City Ladies team and members of our girls’ development centres have been invited to the match and will be taking part in a half-time parade.
We are delighted to welcome colleagues from Kick It Out and range of guests to mark the game. Kick It Out stickers, metal pin badges, wristbands and fan clappers will be distributed, and players and officials will be wearing T-shirts before the game.
Trust director Elaine Davis has helped to organise today’s game and said:
“Women have played a key role in the club throughout its history. It’s good that the positive contribution of women and girls in our great game is recognised and supported today, across the club, our players and supporters.
“We also have a key responsibility and role in challenging discrimination, highlighting issues and developing awareness.
“Too many women find themselves victims to abuse, sometimes through so called locker room talk, on the terraces and online. This often leads to abuse and violence at home and in our wider community. Today let’s join together and say this must stop.”
Abbie Britton ECFC player and joint manager, said: “Its brilliant to see the growth of the women’s game nationally but particularly within our club, and to see so many of our players, past, present and future represented today is fantastic. The club is really committed to developing the women’s game and playing our semi-final here at SJP last month was a good example of that. It was great to see lots of fans there too.”
Exeter City’s One Game One Community Group works with the national Kick It Out campaign to address all types of discrimination in football including race, disability, gender, age and sexual orientation.
Saturday's activities have been made possible thanks to Kick It Out resources and a grant from Postcode Community Trust, a grant giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
If you witness any behaviour during a game, like racist or sexist chanting, speak to a nearby steward, the police, a club official, or contact the FA by phone 0800 085 0508 or email: footballforall@thefa.com.
You can also report via the Kick It Out website: www.kickitout.org or the Kick It Out mobile app, which is free to download.
