Inspirational Women

 

I spent last Sunday with a number of inspiring women in a setting traditionally associated with men - Carrow Road Stadium. Perhaps because of their own experience in dealing with inclusion and discrimination in other arenas these 3 very different woman are helping to overcome another barrier to diversity in football.

 

One of the women with whom I spent the afternoon of Norwich City's match v Spurs was Canaries' Board Member Delia Smith (the only woman on the Board, she's been involved since 1996 and has played a significant role in reversing the club's financial deficit). In spite of her success as a TV Cook, as an author, as a restauranteur and entrepreneur Delia is frequently derided in a way male counterparts are not.

 

Delia Smith's been a wonderful advocate for the club and has been supportive of many progressive initiatives. I was invited to pre match lunch as a part of the new Proud Canaries LGBT group and Delia couldn't have been more welcoming. The Board had agreed the scrolling of the iconic Stonewall message 'Some People Are Gay - Get Over It' on the scoreboard at half time and Stonewall posters were, and will continue to be, displayed in the concourses - a first in UK football.

 

Also at the match was Donna Marie Cullen - Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur FC,  one of only 2 women with elite management roles in the Premier League. The other is Sunderland's Chief Executive Margaret Byrne. Karen Brady,  currently Vice Chair of West Ham United, was famously Managing Director of Birmingham City FC at 23. Brady has had to deal with considerable animosity from the press and elsewhere; perhaps because she's been so successful in a man's world.

 

It was great to have Donna's support - as the senior executive of the away team. Donna has also been a key proponent of an LGBT fans Group at Spurs - just a week after the launch of Proud Canaries in Norwich, the LilyWhites were welcomed at White Hart Lane.

 

The third inspiring woman I met was the niece of Norwich City FC legend Justin Fashanu - the only top level footballer to come out as gay while still playing. Amal Fashanu, now a model and designer with her own Black Heart Label, has overcome significant challenges, not least from her own father John Fashanu, in celebrating the memory of her uncle and championing Equality and Inclusion in football in tribute to him.

 

So, at half time we Proud Canaries took our banner onto the pitch with Amal and with Donna Marie, and  foregoing her cup of tea and cup cake (I grabbed one later - delicious!) Delia remained in the Directors' box to wave and applaud us. I heard no abuse and even saw a couple of rainbow flags in the crowd.

 

These 3 women have helped galvanize the project I've been promoting, as a Community Reporter. I want football grounds to be more pleasant places for everyone. And that means putting an end to homophobic chanting in the stands. Supporters are better fans if they all feel secure in being themselves. Together we hope to achieve that environment at Carrow Rd and at other grounds around the country. Who knows, perhaps that may foster the climate for some Gay or Bisexual  Premier League players to feel comfortable in publicly acknowledging their sexuality in the near future?

 

 

Di Cunningham is a Community Reporter at Future Radio, a community station in Norwich. She became involved with the station while receiving treatment for a second bout of cancer. See Di’s ICR video on why @ProudCanaries was needed here:

 

http://communityreporter.net/videos/did-delia-say-lesbian-avenue

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