Jack’s Story

One of our success stories and one of our most active members and PB FC players is Jack. Often found dancing or singing to Girls Aloud, we sat down with him to ask what Proud Baggies means to him…

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘺?

I joined PB on 28th January 2023, as two members Vicky and Sarah sit two seats behind me at The Hawthorns and asked me if I would be interested in joining Friday Night Football. I joined because I love WBAFC and because I wanted to meet other LGBTQ+ people and WBA supporters.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶?

It’s a safe environment where I can be myself, and a place where I have made genuine friends and gained a social life. It’s also given me the confidence to come out to the rest of my family and accept myself for who I am.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵?

It means football is for everyone and promotes a safe environment to enjoy the sport whilst also promoting LGBTQ+ rights.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴?

Everyone is accepting of everyone else PB is all about inclusion and promoting WBAFC as an advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, meeting similar people and promoting sport at the same time.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴?

To continue in the same way and to encourage more people in joining. Mixing with other clubs in tournaments and friendlies socially. Also learning about them and what they do. I also hope to be an inspiration to other people who haven’t yet come out to their families.

We love you, Jack! For more on Jack’s story, click the button below for a more in-depth feature article on the WBA website.