Learnings from UK football
Find out more about the discussions and learning from each of the workshops held across the UK as part of the 'For the love of the Game?' project.
'For the love of the Game' organisers will hold a total of four UK workshops with fans and campaigning organisations, to explore hate crime experiences and solutions. Each workshop consists of a panel of speakers, alongside group discussions to explore issues and potential solutions.
We will utilise creative methods to balance out the power dynamics and to help people reflect on their experiences (or lack of them). Each session will finish with the writing of a manifesto to bring together solutions and ways forward.
Workshop 1:
- Leeds, Headingley Enterprise & Arts Centre - 11 October 2022.
- Speakers: Professor Jon Garland (University of Surrey); Mick Ward (Marching Out Together); Owain Davies (Level Playing Field) Peter Houghton (Football Safety Officers Association)
The launch event started with a keynote address from Professor Jon Garland from the University of Surrey who outlined the history and definitions of hate crime. The panelists focused on LGBT+ inclusion, disability inclusion and stewarding and brought together a variety of fan groups and participants.
Workshop 2:
- Glasgow - Scottish Football Museum, Hampden Park - 8 December 2022.
- Speakers: Professor Nancy Lombard (Glasgow Caledonian University); Mark Adams (GlasgowLife).
This workshop focused on the issues of sectarianism and Gender Based Violence. Football is often a scapegoat GBV, but it also acts as a flashpoint. It’s also not a new phenomenon as Alan Sillitoe’s The Match alludes. Sectarianism emerged as a distinctive issue in Scotland, and also was not confined to football.
Workshop 3:
- Liverpool - Liverpool John Moores University - 16 October 2023.
- Speakers: Miro Griffiths, Disability Rights Campaigner; Lindsey England (Just a Ball Game)
The focus of this workshop was disability and LGBT+ inclusion. Both speakers detailed their own personal journeys and the difficulties in engaging the policymakers, clubs and federations. They also highlighted the emotional labour that campaign work required, reinforcing the emotional underpinnings of hate crime.
Workshop 4:
- Manchester - National Football Museum - 15 March 2024.
This is in partnership with Fans For Diversity. This event will include an exhibition of artwork, presentation of findings, a panel discussion on hate crime in football, spoken word performance and networking opportunities.