Fratton Fever launched at Portsmouth Pride
Pompey have a new fan group after club legend Alan Knight went along to support the launch of Fratton Fever at Portsmouth Pride 2015 on Saturday.
And the cause also has the backing of the new government’s Equalities Minister, Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport and daughter of former club director and TV personality Fred.
The club were invited to be one of the sponsors of Pride and a spin-off has been the setting up of a LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi, trans) supporters’ group for the club.
A growing number of clubs around the country have LGBT supporters’ groups now and Pompey are delighted to join the ranks.
Colin Farmery, who heads up inclusion and diversity matters at Fratton Park, said: “As a club we were really pleased to be asked to support Portsmouth Pride 2015.
“We are in the process of developing our equality and diversity strategy to ensure the club actively and effectively promotes itself to minority groups across the city and beyond.
“We want to build on the great work they already do at Pompey in the Community and at the Pompey Supporters’ Trust.
“The Fratton Fever LGBT supporter group idea came out of the planning for the Pride event. The group has already shown that there is a more-than critical mass of fans wanting to get involved.
“The organisers have been working with Johnny Moore, the club’s supporter liaison officer, to create a constitution so they can take their place in the family of Pompey supporter groups.”
Tracy Brown, one of the organisers of Fratton Fever, along with long-time Pompey fan Linda Webb-Bowman, who first saw the team play in the 1960s, said: “It is important that we all work towards a more diverse football community with a commitment to kicking homophobia out of the game. The fact the club has so positively engaged with us is very encouraging.
“We are really excited about the response we have had from fans wanting to get involved. We want the group to make a positive contribution to the club and we are also looking to arrange social events and meet up before games at Fratton Park.
“If any Pompey fan wants to get involved then they should feel free to contact me and I will send them more details.”
Caroline Dinenage MP added: “I am delighted to see my football club playing such a prominent role in promoting equality and diversity in the community.
“Fratton Fever is a great initiative and I look forward to seeing them play their full part in the life and times of the club.”
More information on Fratton Fever can be found on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/frattonfeverlgbt, on Twitter @frattonfever or by emailing frattonfeverLGBT@hotmail.com
Photo: Pete Bodle
Photo: Pete Bodle