To mark LGBT+ History Month, Brentford FC and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust led events engaging the LGBTQIA+ community with football.
Working with West London Queer Project and the LGBeeTs, who are a fan group for LGBTQIA+ Brentford fans, the club and Trust hosted a Football 101 LGBTQIA+ skills session last week Thursday at Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub.
The session was an opportunity for anyone from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to try out football. The training was provided by the Trust and over 50 people attended.
As well as the skills session, the LGBeeTs and West London Queer Project also gathered last Saturday for a 6-a-side tournament at the Hub. The group then attended Brentford’s match against Crystal Palace.
Brentford B team players, Max Dickov and Max Wilcox, and Brentford Women’s team players, Victory Edema and Kasey Clifford, also attended and supported the skills session.
At the skills session, Lisa O’Brien, co-founder of the LGBeeTs said: “It’s great to be a part of this today and see so many people turn out.”
Jon Burr, the club’s community manager commented: “It’s really important for us to run these sorts of initiatives with our LGBeeTs, and also with the West London Queer Project.
"It brings them together and hopefully brings some new fans in and helps people to feel included in football and in the wider community.”
Earlier in the month, Brentford also spoke to the co-founder of the LGBeeTs, Gemma Teale who spoke about how the group was founded.
Get involved
To join the LGBeeTs, sign up at lgbeetbrentford.co.uk or get in touch by email at [email protected]. You can also follow the group on Instagram and Twitter.