Saturday afternoon's Sky Bet League One fixture between Walsall and visitors Chesterfield has been dedicated to celebrating the work of 'Kick It Out', football’s equality and inclusion organisation, as part of its ‘Season of Action’.
The ‘Season of Action’ format – introduced last season to recognise Kick It Out’s 20 year anniversary - has replaced the traditional ‘weeks of action’ which used to fall in October. The season-long drive provides a greater opportunity for Kick It Out to display the breadth of its work across the game.
During this weekend’s fixture, both sets of players, management staff and supporters alike will embrace the diversity of English football by wearing Kick It Out t-shirts, donning badges and stickers, and distributing promotional materials.
This year’s ‘Season of Action’ has a specific focus on supporting grassroots and community activity with professional football clubs continuing to play a leading role in spreading the message of inclusivity to all of their local stakeholders throughout the season and beyond.
Walsall Football Club Chief Executive, Stefan Gamble, told saddlers.co.uk, "Everybody in football has a part to play in tackling discrimination. Everything Kick It Out does is built on partnership work and they want to hear from anybody during their ‘Season of Action’ who would like to get involved and support what they do for the benefit of football.
“One incident is one too many, and we must ensure there is a policy of zero tolerance here at Walsall FC.”
Roisin Wood, Director of 'Kick It Out', added: “We are determined to strengthen our presence at grassroots and community level to help further educate the future players, coaches, supporters and administrators of the game on what Kick It Out represents, and the need to banish all forms of discrimination.
“Many professional football clubs act as the hub for their local community, and set a real example by raising awareness of equality and diversity issues. Nominated ‘Season of Action’ fixtures are the perfect platform for clubs to reinforce their commitment to Kick It Out and its ethos.”
During the ‘Season of Action’, Kick It Out is providing supplementary resources, running a national education competition, undertaking school workshops and facilitating player visits led by its ‘Next 20’ ambassadors from across the Premier League, Football League and Women’s Super League, of which our very own Romaine Sawyers is proud to be one.
To keep up-to-date with the latest ‘Season of Action’ news, you can download the free Kick It Out app via the App Store and Google Play. The app, which was successfully launched in July 2013, also allows users to report discriminatory abuse they see, hear or are on the receiving end of.
Would you like to play a more active role in Kick It Out’s ‘Season of Action’? You can get in touch with the organisation by calling 0207 253 0162, emailing; [email protected] and via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.