Celebrating Football v Homophobia at The Valley

Rainbow flag at The Valley

Charlton Athletic will celebrate the 10th birthday of the Proud Valiants, the club’s LGBTQI+ supporters group, at this year’s Football v Homophobia themed matchdays at The Valley.

On Sunday Charlton Women host Blackburn Rovers, while the men’s first-team Football v Homophobia-themed matchday takes place on Saturday, February 22nd when Exeter City visit SE7.

The club has run Football v Homophobia-themed matchdays in each of the last eight seasons with the aim of promoting equality and tackling discrimination in football.

The Proud Valiants were formed in 2015 and have played a crucial role in Charlton’s award-winning work in showing dedication to improving the landscape of football for LGBTQ+ people.

As part of the activity around the matchdays, the Proud Valiants will present to the women’s and men’s first-team about the importance of the work they do.

Activity around Sunday’s game includes:

  • LES RUN X Charlton Athletic Women Run to The Valley pre-match
  • The Proud Valiants' 10th Anniversary party in Bartram’s pre-match, which will be filled with activities for the kids, post-run goodies, cake and face painting to celebrate
  • Players will be wearing Football v Homophobia tops during their warm-up

Activity around the men’s first-team matchday includes:

  • Pink Singers choir performing pitchside
  • University of Greenwich pre-match reception in Vista Lounge
  • Proud Valiants presentation pitchside
  • Players will be wearing Football v Homophobia tops during their warm-up
  • Proud Valiants post-match reception in Vista Lounge

Proud Valiants Co-Chairs Rob Harris and Sam Clarke said:  "We are delighted not only for another year of Football v Homophobia celebrations for us and the club, but also celebrating 10 years of the Proud Valiants.

"Once again, Charlton Athletic Football Club have shown immense commitment across the men’s and women’s teams in support of us. We will be celebrating our history, members, and all the people who helped us along the way with special recognition plaques for our 10th anniversary. One of the recipients are The Pink Singers who will be performing again pitchside before kick-off.

"We are proud of our 10 years so far of fighting discrimination in football alongside the Charlton family and helping to make The Valley a safer experience for everyone."

Dr Michael Seeraj, Charlton and the Community Trust’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), added: "I’ve had the great pleasure of working directly with the Proud Valiants team over the last decade, and on this momentous occasion would like to express my genuine admiration for the invaluable work they do in promoting inclusivity and acceptance at Charlton, and also within the wider football community too. 

"The Proud Valiants have worked tirelessly to help break down barriers and challenge stereotypes, making a positive impact on the lives of many. I am truly grateful for their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Congratulations, and here’s to another 10 years."

A University of Greenwich spokesperson said: "At the University of Greenwich, we are determined to deepen our relationships with old and new partners, reflecting our charitable commitment to promote equality and welcome all. Yet these alliances thrive only when each party upholds respectful and productive communication. If standards of fairness and openness slip, we undermine the very spirit of progress that this month represents.

"Charlton Athletic offers a powerful example by challenging discrimination in sport and championing the LGBT+ community. Their efforts extend far beyond a single matchday or campaign, showing that when organisations commit to genuine inclusion, people unite around a shared vision of respect and accountability. By learning from Charlton Athletic's example, other institutions can create similar environments that welcome everyone without exception."

Click here to purchase tickets to Charlton Women’s Football v Homophobia-themed matchday at The Valley on Sunday.

Click here to purchase tickets to the men’s first-team’s Football v Homophobia-themed matchday at The Valley on Saturday, February 22nd.

The Charlton Athletic Football v Homophobia matchdays are supported by the Premier League Charitable Fund #PLFansFund.

Read Time: 4 mins