Fans for Diversity Award winners!
Piero Zizzi and Sarah Kerton, who represented PB at the awards ceremony.
We’re delighted to announce that Proud Baggies are this year’s winners of the Fans for Diversity Award for the Championship!
Representing West Bromwich Albion, Proud Baggies - the club’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group - were in competition with:
Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust
ESEA Hornets (Watford)
Rovers SAS (Blackburn)
Hull City DSA
Speaking on social media, the FSA called Proud Baggies “worthy winners for all their work promoting LGBT+ pride and inclusion at the Hawthorns.”
In response to the award, our founder Piero Zizzi said: “We’re incredibly proud to have won this award - especially in a category full of inspiring groups doing great work at their clubs.
“The Fans for Diversity campaign and our groups are more important now than ever before, ensuring supporters feel welcome and included whilst celebrating the diversity of our fan bases. These communities are the heart of our clubs and we’re proud to play our part in the movement.
“Proud Baggies is about providing a safe space to support our beloved football club, but with that comes a duty of care - to advocate for our members and to work with the club to provide a safer and more enjoyable supporter’s experience.
“I’m touched that we’ve been recognised for our efforts through Proud Baggies, and we’ll continue to do our best to support all LGBTQ+ fans of the Albion through our events, activities, and advocacy.”
What is the Football Supporters Association?
In their own words, “The FSA is the national, democratic, representative body for football supporters in England and Wales.”
Their role is to advocate for supporters around subjects like club ownership, fan engagement, ticket prices, standing vs seating, as well as protecting their rights as fans and ensuring accessibility and safety for fans - whether they’re an ethnic minority, disabled, or LGBTQ+.
What are the Fans for Diversity Awards?
Fans for Diversity is a campaign run by the FSA and by Kick It Out, designed to celebrate diversity in football and to welcome and protect all fans at football matches - regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
The Fans for Diversity Awards celebrates the supporter groups, organisations, and individuals who make the biggest contributions to the Fans For Diversity campaign while breaking down barriers that can limit people’s love for football and their enjoyment of the game.
Who won?
Below are the seven categories and their respective winners:
Women’s Game - Blues 4 All (Birmingham City)
In Off The Bar - The Pythian Club
Premier League - Blue Crescent (Manchester City)
Championship - Proud Baggies (West Bromwich Albion)
League 1 - Punjabi O’s (Leyton Orient)
League 2 - Swindon Town Supporters Trust
Non League - London Bulls (Hereford)
What next?
The winners from these seven categories form the shortlist for the overall Fans for Diversity Award at the national Football Supporters Awards in December, held at Nobu London in Portland Square. Fingers crossed Proud Baggies can make it another night to remember!
