Villa fans raise cards reading 'One Game, One Community' to show support for Kick It Out
Every professional club in England and Wales holds a Kick It Out match day as part of the One Game, One Community weeks of action.
Activities such as players from both home and away teams warming up in t-shirts and the distribution badges, stickers and magazines to fans take place at clubs across the country.
Many clubs go much further than this, as it is a chance to celebrate the contribution their local community makes to the game while highlighting the race and social inclusion work they are doing throughout the year.
In the past, some clubs have been particularly creative in their activities.
Scunthorpe United FC worked in partnership with the local council to deliver a cultural awareness day at the club. This involved over 50 school children, participating in sport activity, sampling food from across the world and a presentation from the local mayor.
Sunderland FC used the weeks of action to invite the Shameen Karim dancers into the Stadium of Light to entertain their fans at half time.
Norwich City FC produced their own antiracism posters and rolled out anti-racism lessons to local schools. Outside of their anti-racism game, they organised a road show, delivering a programme to over 100 students. They also linked in with their local supporters group and backed a local 5-aside tournament.
Chelsea FC worked in some of their local schools with Zimbabwean poet, Albert and local poet, Crispin Thomas.
Plymouth Argyle and Boston United also produced their own anti-racism banners.
Blackburn Rovers FC were one of many clubs that used the weeks of action as an opportunity to showcase their community work. They worked with the Royal Commandos, who flew the Kick It Out flag into the stadium prior to kick off. A crowd choreography was also organised within the family stand, that read 'Rovers Against Racism'. Outside of the stadium, the club organised additional activities with the local schools, including an anti-racism chant, poetry and poster competition. The winning entry of the poster competition featured on the front cover of the match programme.
Arsenal FC organised a Youth Forum with Thierry Henry that was attended by local youngsters from Islington.
Liverpool FC organised a mosaic, which spelt out '1 Club 4 All'. They also used the event to launch their own reporting number for complaints within the stadium.
Notts County FC worked with the Supporters Trust and organised a big draw artist event. They encouraged all areas of the club, including the corporate areas to display the anti-racism message. The club worked with local schools and created a 15 ft banner, which was paraded on the pitch during their dedicated game. All Football in the Community officers wore Kick It Out t-shirts when delivering coaching sessions at local schools.
Cambridge United and Exeter City both flew the flag impressively for the Nationwide Conference clubs by organising a full series of events for the weeks of action. Cambridge United worked well with their local media to raise awareness of the weeks, whilst Exeter City organised a balloon release.
Most clubs are always looking for new ideas around their Kick It Out match days. A guide to organising such days of action has been produced for professional clubs that is available on request.
