The club are proud to show our support for the Rainbow Laces campaign across our upcoming League One and Women’s Championship games.
Rainbow Laces aims to promote equality and inclusivity within sport for LGBTQ+ people and aims to tackle discrimination on every level.
Our team captains will wear rainbow-coloured armbands in Tuesday’s men’s first team game against MK Dons at The Valley and Sunday’s women’s first team game against Bristol City at The Oakwood.
Eoghan O’Connell said: “I think it is vitally important to promote equality and inclusion in football and show that everyone is welcome. Everyone should feel safe coming to watch football and play football, so I think it is hugely important for us to stress that point and show that everyone is welcome here.”
Charlton has a proud history of promoting equality and tackling discrimination and in 2021 won the Football v Homophobia club award.
The club works closely with LGBTQI+ supporters group, the Proud Valiants, and LGBTQI+ friendly grassroots team Charlton Invicta to continue to promote equality and inclusion.
Proud Valiants chairperson, Rob Harris, said in an interview in Tuesday’s matchday programme: “Rainbow Laces, like other events such as the Football v Homophobia (FvH) and Transphobia (FvT) are essential as they get clubs up and down the country to celebrate every group’s existence and their amazing connection they have with the their club. It also brings focus to issues faced in the game towards the LGBTQI+ community. Luckily at Charlton we don't just have one day to do this we have open contact 365 days a year.”
Invicta player, Alex Hill, said in an interview in Saturday’s upcoming matchday programme: “Be proud to be a Charlton fan. We are all part of a club that is making a difference. Don't shrug your shoulders at campaigns like this, but instead support them, because there's fans of this club that fit into so many different varieties of communities, and as a club, we are all about support for our fellow fans.”
Charlton Invicta will also celebrate the Rainbow Laces campaign in Glasgow on Saturday against Saltire Thistle.
Don't miss out on the game, click here to purchase your ticket for Tuesday's game.
