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THE SPORTS SECTION WEST HILL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
That ’ s the point we want to get to . Where people say “ So what ?”
Whitehawk might seem an unlikely place for a football revolution , but strange things have been happening down Wilson Avenue . Andy Davies reports
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’ s difficult because those first few that come out will be seized upon and they would be seen as trailblazers for the next generation , and it shouldn ’ t be the case . They should just be accepted as professional footballers and be known for that rather than for their sexuality .”
Kevin Miller , vice chairman of Whitehawk FC , is talking about the last great taboo in the biggest sport in the world .
Whitehawk might not seem the obvious place to fight racism , sexism and homophobia , but Whitehawk FC has been confounding preconceptions for quite some time . Founded in 1945 , the club has , in recent years , been heavily praised for its attempts to tackle homophobia in football . The steps leading up into the stands are painted “ Love ”, “ Peace ”, “ No Racism ”, “ No Sexism ”, “ No Violence ”, “ No Homophobia ”. Above the coach ’ s dugouts hangs a huge rainbow flag . The work done by the club has gained backing from sponsor Utilita Energy , Football Supporters Association and anti-racism organisation Kick it Out amongst many . “ I think it ’ s a testament to the work we ’ ve done in the past that ’ s given us the opportunity to call upon the football opportunities and get approval . Some of the work that we ’ ve been doing over the last three or four years with inclusion , diversity and certainly with the LGBT community , it ’ s given us a bit more credibility .
Earlier this year , Whitehawk launched an initiative “ Football vs Homophobia ” ( the inaugural match was due to be played on February 19th but was called off due to Storm Eunice ). “ One of the key reasons Utilita are sponsoring us is because of the work we were doing with Rainbow Rovers ( Whitehawk ’ s affiliated LGBTQ + team ).
“ Rainbow Rovers side was set up by Sophie Cook and she approached me with Guy Butters , an ex-Brighton and Tottenham player . They wanted to put forward a charity match between an LGBT team and a Premier League all-star team . We said ‘ Why don ’ t we do it at Whitehawk because it ’ s got the reputation ’. We kind of went from there . It went down well with the fans , as they ’ re inclusive and very welcoming .
“ Utilita noticed what we were doing . Our first Rainbow Rovers game was in 2019 and we played a team of ex-Premier League all-stars and we managed to get Sky Sports to cover the whole game . I think Utilita realised because the city we were in and the free-thinking attitude Brighton has , it gives us the opportunity to be more expressive .
“ When we launched it , we thought it would be a great opportunity to highlight LGBT issues in football and what better place to do it than a very progressive place like Brighton .”
A progressive place like Brighton hasn ’ t always opened its arms to Whitehawk which has often been perceived as being outside of the “ cool , progressive ” side of Brighton . “ It ’ s had a reputation in the past . The Whitehawk estate , 15 to 20 years ago , was one of the most deprived in Europe . There was a disconnect between its local club and the community and we ’ ve tried really hard to re-establish that connection . “ We recognise that those people might not be into football , but they may be into the occasion of being part of
Whitehawk fanbase . When they come in , they can pick up a drum , sing ‘ Homophobia , We Say No ’, have a laugh , drink a beer .”
In October 2021 , Australian A-League player Josh Carvalho became the first active professional player to come out as gay . It is surely no secret that there are some gay or bisexual players in the Premier League . Former Manchester United left back Patrice Evra has claimed that there are at least two gay players at every Premier League club .
With the fight against homophobia in men ’ s football , did Kevin think it would be long before we see an active Premier League player come out as gay ? “ If you look at the women ’ s game , it is accepted . It ’ s been known for years and no one bats an eyelid . Because of the vastness of the sport across the world , it ’ s going to be highlighted .
It should be a day where every gay person at every football club across the world comes out . The press wouldn ’ t know where to focus their attention and would make a massive global statement . That ’ s the point we want to get to , where people say ‘ So what ?’”
Photos courtesy of Andy Schofield