Oslo Pride 2025
When you think of celebrity couples who springs to mind? Zendaya & Tom Holland, Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce… Kate Evans & Phoebe Warner.
Regulars in the Albion Women’s team, Kate and Phoebe have been keen supporters of Proud Baggies and the work we do - even participating in our Birmingham Pride march in 2024. This summer they opted for a change of pace though, and instead went to see friends in Norway and to take part in Oslo Pride together: an eight-day event concluding with a Saturday parade and party finale.
As penance for abandoning their club and their friends for a jolly abroad, Liam sat down with Phoebe on the team bus ahead of the Baggies’ away game against Derby County (which we won 3-0, get in) to quiz her on their time in Norway and the experience of Oslo Pride.
Phoebe. It took us three months of negotiating but we’re finally here. We all know how busy you are, so we’re super appreciative of your time. We’ll go quickfire on these questions. First question - how long were you in Norway for this summer?
Five days.
Succinct, nice. Did you visit just Oslo or did you go elsewhere and then on to the capital?
We stayed on a boat on the outskirts, that’s as far away from the city as we got.
I saw you with friends…
Yeah, they’re Kate's friends from the University of Maine when she studied in the US. We were overdue a visit to see them.
‘Phoebe doesn’t have her own friends’, got it. How was the Saturday parade?
It was really fun. We attended Pride, then went for a hike in the hills on the city outskirts. The views of Oslo from higher up are amazing. Then we went swimming, there was a parkour site, I did a crane jump… a great Saturday.
Have you been to any other pride events aside Birmingham and Oslo?
No.
Wow. Homophobic. Would you at least recommend Oslo Pride to others?
Haha, yes! It was great. Oslo is kind of a small city but also quite liberal, so it felt like there were more people IN the parade than watching it, but it was cool. It had a big family vibe, it was a really mixed crowd. It was very wholesome and relaxed and happy and we had a lovely time.
How important do you feel these Pride events are?
At the surface level they’re fun and give good energy, but looking deeper it’s important to provide safe, positive spaces for people to be true to themselves. That’s huge. Not everyone has an easy time being queer, so the more tolerance we can promote, or safe places we can create, then that can only be a good thing.
Have you got plans to go back to Oslo next year, or to go anywhere else for Pride?
We’ll definitely visit Norway again at some point but we’re not sure whether it would be for Pride again next year, or if we’ll be around to take part in Birmingham Pride, or what. Kate and I have got our eyes on a 12-day race across the Alps (Liam: Red Bull X-Alps) so we’re waiting to see what dates that’s across next year and if we’re successful in our application to take part.
Seeing as we’ve been quick, a couple of bonus questions for you: in our last blog we featured Marika and Kasia from PB, who attended the whole knockout phase of this summer’s Euros – including the final. How was your trip to Switzerland with (ex-Albion) Hayley Crackle?
It was good. We went to support Liv Clarke, the Wales goalkeeper, and camped in a dairy farm which was exciting. Switzerland is really beautiful. I managed to waterboard myself in the shower the one day though, which wasn’t my brightest moment.
Did you watch just England v Wales, or did you attend any other games?
Just England v Wales. It was a short visit.
Final question, and I couldn’t help myself: you went with Crackle, but which one of you is Snap and which one is Pop?
Ha, a Rice Krispies joke. You’re funny.
Hmm. Kate would be snap, because she snaps.
[Phoebe giggles and leaves. Interview terminated]
After this chat, Phoebe went on to play a blinder against Derby County and score her third goal in three games. I’m not saying it was the Proud Baggies effect… but it was the Proud Baggies effect. Boing Boing.
