United for All: Rainbow Blades Charity Match
Bramall Lane | Saturday 25 May, 12pm kick off
In aid of Sheffield United Community Foundation’s Empower LGBT+ project
Rainbow Blades is set to hold its United for All Charity Match later this month, at beautiful downtown Bramall Lane for the first time. The fixture is in aid of Sheffield United Community Foundation’s Empower LGBT+ project.
Rainbow Blades is a friendly, welcoming and inclusive fan group for LGBTQ+ people and allies. We're working to make Bramall Lane, and the footballing world, a safe space for all – a place where everyone can be their authentic self.
Our matchday teams are made up of Rainbow Blades members and our allies. There will be a mix of genders, sexualities & football abilities, all united by one goal - to stamp out LGBT+ discrimination. Everyone is invited to be part of this special fixture - bring down your chants and keep the players going. Tickets cost just £6 and must be purchased online in advance. All proceeds will go to Sheffield United Community Foundation’s Empower LGBT+ project.
On the day, turnstiles will open at 10.30am, and the players’ warm up will begin at 11am. Kick off is at 12 noon, and medal presentations will be made just before 2pm, before the teams and spectators head to Rainbow Blades’ Official Venue, Lykke.
Rainbow Blades Charity Match at the Olympic Legacy Park in 2022
Sheffield United Community Foundation’s Empower LGBT+ project aims to enable the LGBT+ community to be more active and feel stronger and more confident in their ability to succeed in sport and physical activity, whilst decreasing LGBT+ discrimination and help LGBT+ people feel they belong in the Steel City.
Rainbow Blades is grateful to Sheffield United FC for its continued support of the group, and in particular for use of Bramall Lane for this game. We are also thankful for the support of many sponsors and partners, without whom the match would not be possible, notably matchday sponsors Fans for Diversity, Prominent and Dice.
James Laley, Founder and Chair of Rainbow Blades “We’re over the moon to be hosting our Charity Match at Bramall Lane for the first time. To have the opportunity to move this event to the next level and hold it at a professional football ground is a huge moment. It's such an important initiative that the community foundation is running, and we wanted to play our part to make sure the programme can continue through next season and beyond. I’m proud because we are giving opportunities to LGBTQ+ members to play at Bramall Lane but also our Allies, plus spectators who might be stepping foot in a professional stadium for the first time. I look forward to welcoming fans to the Lane later this month.”
Amy Hood, Sheffield United Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager "As part of our ongoing commitment to EDI and more specifically, LGBTQ+ inclusion, we are incredibly proud and excited to be welcoming Rainbow Blades to Bramall Lane for their 11-a-side Charity Football Match. This is the first time the event will be held here, and having had a part in the previous one at a different venue, I am personally so privileged to be able to assist with this event once again. We want to carry on using football to increase LGBTQ+ visibility and promote Allyship, using our Professional platform for good, and hopefully this event will do that."
Ellie Wilson, Sheffield United Community Foundation Empower LGBT+ Lead “All of us at the Community Foundation are delighted to be partnering with Rainbow Blades for the annual charity match. To be holding this game at Bramall Lane is a brilliant marker of how far we have come as a club and as a collective in celebrating diversity across our community.
In previous years, this event has been a great celebration of our LGBT+ community and has proven to be a really fun day, so we are looking forward to making some more memories, but this time a BDTBL!"
Nilesh Chauhan, Fans for Diversity Campaign Manager "We are proud to support the Rainbow Blades' United for All Charity Match at Bramall Lane. Together, we champion Sheffield United Community Foundation’s Empower LGBT+ project, celebrating inclusion and equality with every step on the field. It's amazing to see how fan-led projects like this can make a difference in the game."
Jake Hoffgen, Rainbow Blades member & player "The United for All charity match is brilliant for representing and empowering the LGBTQ community! This charity match is ticking off a childhood dream to play on the same pitch as heroes like Billy Sharp and Paddy Kenny, it’s an amazing feeling and I'm so happy to be a part of this amazing event!"
Adam Follett, Rainbow Blades member & player “I'm really looking forward to being able to play on the hallowed turf at Bramall Lane on the 25th - it's not every day one gets the opportunity to play on a pitch where so many amazing memories have been made for so many people. More importantly, Rainbow Blades do an incredible job for the LGBTQ+ community at the club, and events like these are vital to raise awareness and funds for the cause, and for the community and allies alike to come together and have a kick-about is a really powerful message in the importance of diversity, equality and acceptance at Sheffield United and society at large.”
Join us at Bramall Lane on 25 May. Together, we can truly make United for All.
More information and tickets at www.rainbowblades.com/get-involved/unitedforallmatch
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