'Season of Action' fixtures in full swing
The Premier League, Championship and League One clubs recognised Kick It Out’s 20 year anniversary over the weekend with five fixtures dedicated to its ‘Season of Action’.
The headline match saw Tyneside giants Newcastle United, who hosted a Kick It Out themed football competition before the fixture, secure a 2-1 victory over Chris Hughton’s Norwich City.
Wigan Athletic players and staff proudly donned Kick It Out merchandise as they commemorated its 20 year anniversary in their 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the DW Stadium.
Swindon Town, in conjunction with Wiltshire Council, hosted the grand final of a football tournament dedicated to Kick It Out during the half-time interval of their 3-1 loss to Leyton Orient at the County Ground.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford, in a fixture that was dedicated to the campaign at the Molineux Stadium. This fixture also represented the club’s nominated ‘Schools Focus’ fixture, with 50 selected school children helping to promote Kick It Out’s message.
Peterborough Untied’s automatic promotion hopes were dented as Stevenage defeated them 1-0 at London Road in their dedicated ‘Season of Action’ game.
A local football team in the area provided the guard of honour for the players as well as displaying the campaign’s anniversary flag to the crowd.
The players of both sets of teams proudly wore the special Kick It Out anniversary t-shirts before kindly provided them to young supporters.
Kick It Out’s Grassroots Development Officer Dean Watson was in attendance for this game – with staff members also present at Newcastle and Wigan – and felt it acted as a great tribute to the campaign.
“It is great to see clubs like Peterborough spreading the anti-discrimination message at their ‘Season of Action’ games,” he said.
“After 20 years of hard work by Kick It Out, it is important that this message is at the top of the agenda in football.
“These dedicated fixtures help demonstrate that to the football community and the general public.”