Clubs to display LGBT rainbow colours

OLDHAM, Rochdale and Bury will use rainbow substitution boards and corner flags to show their support of LGBT inclusivity.

The show of unity is part of a wider English Football League (EFL) campaign which will see clubs select a fixture between Saturday November 24 and Saturday, December 1 to support LGBT fans, players and staff.

Rochdale have announced their Sky Bet League One clash with Accrington Stanley on Saturday November 24 has been chosen to highlight their support for the LGBT community.

Oldham and Bury are yet to announce their chosen fixtures.

Along with rainbow substitution boards and corner flags, players will wear rainbow captain’s armbands and laces.

The EFL will be changing their logo during the campaign period to a bespoke rainbow coloured version, and a series of short films will be released to share the stories of the games LGBT fans.

The campaign is in conjunction with Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign which the EFL also supported last year.

The Rainbow Laces campaign is a way for everyone involved in sport to show their support of LGBT equality and inclusivity. Shaun Harvey, EFL chief executive said: “The EFL is once again fully supporting Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, with all 72 Clubs coming together to raise awareness and visibility of an important issue.

“We are hoping our specific Rainbow Laces initiatives this year, which includes new rainbow substitution boards as well as converting all corner flags at EFL grounds into rainbow colours, will again grab the attention of fans.”