City men and women to support Rainbow Laces campaign

It forms part of a week-long campaign involving the EFL, Premier League, PGMOL, and The FA.

Earlier this month the four entities joined forces to produce a unique rainbow photograph, showing football standing together in support of LGBT inclusivity.

Gary O’Neil was featured in the image, alongside players from Charlton Athletic, Luton Rown, Oxford United, Brentford, Colchester United Portsmouth and West Ham United.

Referee Kevin Friend and Fara Williams, or England and Reading Ladies, also featured.

All 92 EFL clubs have supported Stonewall’s initiative; with Ashton Gate tonight featuring rainbow corner flags and Bailey Wright sporting a rainbow captain’s armband.

In addition, players will be wearing the Rainbow Laces and the stadium’s external lighting will be in rainbow colours, rather than red.

City Women will also be supporting the campaign on the same day, as they host Brighton & Hove Albion at Stoke Gifford Stadium.

Players will don their rainbow laces for the Continental Tyres Cup group fixture, with kick-off at 5.30pm.

Bristol City Women general manager Kathryn Pacey said: “Bristol City Women is fully committed to the principles of equality and strives to ensure everyone involved and associated with the club is treated fairly and with respect and as such we are delighted to be a part of the Stonewall Rainbow laces campaign.”

Stonewall is the UK’s leading charity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality both in England and overseas, using its work within football to promote the acceptance of the LGBT community.

Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign aims to make sport everyone’s game with national teams, leading clubs, professional players, fans and grassroots players from across football showing their support for LGBT people in sport.

For more information about Stonewall, please visit stonewall.org.uk.