Last Sunday’s Sky Bet League 2 fixture with Portsmouth was dedicated to celebrating the work of Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion organisation, as part of its ‘Season of Action’.
Founded in 1993, Kick It Out has altered the landscape of football by educating, raising awareness and campaigning to make the game a more safe, welcoming and comfortable environment free of all forms of discrimination, prejudiced attitudes and abusive behaviour.
As part of the day, both teams warmed up in the iconic Kick It Out t-shirts ahead of kick-off, and members of the Stapenhill Swans junior football team and Burton Albion Community Trust’s (BACT) Healthy Eating Programme were flag bearers as the teams entered the pitch.
A presentation followed at half-time with BACT and Trent & Dove Housing Association, who are BACT’s new Social Inclusion Partners. BACT and Trent & Dove Housing Association’s partnership allows BACT to raise awareness of key issues in the community, in keeping with the theme of the day.
Commenting on the work of Kick It Out, BACT and Trent & Dove Housing, Burton Albion Community Trust’s Head of Community Andy Taylor commented “Football is unique in the way it brings people together from all ethnic backgrounds, genders, ages and abilities.
"Burton Albion and BACT are big supporters of the principles underlining the Kick It Out Campaign and the work they carry out to eradicate discrimination from our sport.
“Our partnership with Trent & Dove Housing Association is vital for us to raise awareness throughout the local community of Burton, East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire of the issues in the community. It also supports the principles of what the Kick It Out campaign is striving to achieve, and this partnership will reinforce that message on a consistent basis.”
Rishi Jain, Kick It Out’s Football League Clubs Development Officer, said: “Burton Albion have strongly embraced the message of equality and inclusion within the game and seeing their efforts with the local community during the Portsmouth fixture was fantastic.
“The club has been extremely supportive of Kick It Out, shown by the activities in and around the match, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with Burton throughout the ‘Season of Action’ and in to the future.”