Lincoln United and Lincolnshire FA work together to deliver inclusive LGBTQ+ football sessions

A football club in Lincoln are the new provider of LGBTQ+ Inclusive recreational football in Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire United, known as The Whites is running weekly recreational football sessions that are designed to be a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable offering for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies.

The group was initially started up by the Lincolnshire FA and the sessions take place on the LNER Stadium's 3g astro pitch every Wednesday evening between 8 and 9 pm.

Recreational football is low-commitment, casual, and suits the needs of modern-day players.

"It’s for players who can’t commit to playing every week, don’t want to play matches, or just want to enjoy football in an informal environment," said an organiser.

"It’s no hassle, no pressure, just football as it should be – fun.

"The session and the number of participants is growing in size week on week, with the ultimate goal of offering football for all – regardless of age, sexual orientation, race or gender.

"LGBTQ+ individuals unfortunately often have expressed barriers to them participating in football.

"These sessions aim to break down those barriers and allow LGBTQ+ individuals a place to come together to play and enjoy football without judgment or fear.

"It is also a place where allies of the community can come to support the people around them and enjoy the offering.

"The session has been inspired by the work done by LGBTQ+ inclusive teams in neighboring counties such as Nottingham Lions and Leicester Wildcats.

"While Lincoln United's current offering is non-competitive and purely recreational, the ambition is that this could be the start of the club heading in the direction of creating Lincolnshire's only LGBTQ+ competitive football team.

"The session is open to all and participants can sample their first week completely free of charge. Following this, there is a weekly fee of £3 per person."

TO REGISTER INTEREST FOR THE SESSION, CLICK HERE

Zack Leader, Lincolnshire FA's LGBTQ+ Ambassador and Coach of Lincoln United's LGBTQ+ sessions, said: "I'm thrilled that Lincoln United has come on board to take these sessions and our offering under their club umbrella.

"Lincoln United is a brilliant community club and has a real commitment to inclusion in football, with this new team being a shining example of this commitment.

"We've got a brilliant group of players already who are such lovely people, and while we all have very different journeys and stories, we're all united and brought together by our love of football.

"I look forward to seeing where this goes and am excited to welcome as many people as possible to our really special group."

Gemma Bell, Junior Director at Lincoln United, said: "In a world that sometimes seems divided, football unites us all, breaking barriers and building bridges of inclusivity.

"Having the opportunity to take on this extraordinary new football session shows us that when we play together, we become one team with limitless potential. Lincoln United Football Club is open to everyone."

Jordan Mason, Football Development Officer (Disability & Inclusion), added: "It's amazing to see specific LGBTQ+ Inclusive football offered here in Lincolnshire for the first time.

"Generally, football is making huge strides to be more safe, enjoyable, and inclusive for people of all identities and I'm incredibly proud to see a new initiative available for those that identify as LGBTQ+ and allies alike to participate in a format of football that suits them — whether they can't, or don't want to, participate in the more traditional pathways."