Pompey are delighted to be supporting Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign during tonight’s match against Walsall at Fratton Park.
Craig MacGillivray, Danny Rose and Alex Bass recently showed their backing for the cause, alongside members of Fratton Fever, the Blues’ LGBT+ supporters’ club.
Linda Webb-Bowman, who runs the group, said: “Campaigns like this are vitally important, as they show the world and LGBT+ people that Pompey, and the football world more generally, is a welcoming environment for them.
“I’m so pleased the club and the EFL are backing Stonewall. Fratton Fever has a very positive relationship with the club and Pompey have always been very supportive of what we are trying to do to encourage more people to come to games.”
"I’m so pleased the club and the EFL are backing Stonewall."
Fratton Fever was formed in 2014 and has gone from strength to strength, representing the LGBT+ supporters of the club at various events locally and further afield.
Colin Farmery, Pompey’s head of inclusion, said: “People often ask me why football needs to embrace campaigns such as Stonewall’s, but when you see some of the social media abuse that is levelled at the club simply for backing the campaign, the reason becomes evident.
“At Pompey we are all united behind one thing: supporting the club. I am delighted we are able to support the goals of Stonewall and also show solidarity with our friends at Fratton Fever.
“Their track record of discreetly introducing and, in some cases, reintroducing the LGBT+ community to the pleasures of attending matches at Fratton Park is an inspiration.”
The Rainbow Laces campaign is now in its second year of backing by the EFL. Captain Gareth Evans wore a special rainbow arm-band at Scunthorpe on Saturday and the skipper will do so again tonight.
In addition, there will be four specially-commissioned corner flags, while the fourth official’s board has also had a rainbow makeover.
Tickets for the game, which kicks off at 7.45pm, are selling fast, but can still be bought online here.