Roys, Mugars join forces in 2021 Pride Game

Originally published by Fitzroy FC on 2 November 2020

The Fitzroy Football Club in partnership with Melbourne University Women’s Football Club (MUWFC) are thrilled to announce that our senior women’s teams will play each other in a pride celebration match in 2021!

MUWFC have hosted and participated in pride matches since 2017 and Fitzroy was beyond excited when the club reached out to include our Senior Women’s Team in such an important display of inclusivity and celebration of the LGBTIQ+ community.

“We know football has the power to bring so many different people together, which is what we’re all about at Fitzroy,” Fitzroy Football Club President Joan Eddy said proudly.

“Fielding our first women’s team in 2015 brought more diversity to our community which was wonderful, and we know we need to continue do things to show that everyone is always welcome at our club, and at our game. A pride match with MUWFC is something we’re honoured to be part of.”

MUWFC President, Maddie Sheedy, said extending the tradition of the Pride Game is important and carries a strong message.

“We are incredibly excited to be hosting our annual Pride Match in conjunction with Fitzroy FC in 2021. Since 2017, MUWFC have played against the Darebin Falcons for the Pride Cup in the VFLW competition, with the first two years being held in Hamilton in regional Victoria. In 2019, we brought the game to Melbourne University Oval and both VFLW and VAFA teams celebrated pride games in the same round.

“The Pride Match provides an important opportunity for visibility and support of our LGBTIQ+ community. We hope that this game and supporting events will allow discussions about inclusion to be continued, and that from discussions, further action will be taken to continue to make sport accessible and welcoming for all. Thank you to Change Our Game, Melbourne University Sport and the University of Melbourne for their support, and to Fitzroy FC for their collaboration and leadership.”

In addition to the Pride Match, the Fitzroy Football Club has also been awarded a Change Our Game Community Activation Grant to go towards creating a celebration event alongside the match that will promote both clubs’ women’s programs and celebrate the intersecting communities that women’s football brings together.

Originally planned for the ultimately cancelled 2020 VAFA season, both Fitzroy and MUWFC have been working on plans for the 2021 event with much excitement.

“The Change Our Game grant allows us to make this a much more special and symbolic occasion,” President Eddy said.

“These grants are for the celebration and amplification of women in sport. While we would have participated in a pride match wholeheartedly with MUWFC regardless of the grant, these funds give us the support to host an event that is focussed on celebrating our LGBTIQ+ community, along with a few more actions to show our club’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion. We’re very grateful to the Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation for supporting this initiative through this grant.”

Read the full article HERE

Feature Photo: Fitzroy FC