We proudly support the 2024 Rainbow Laces campaign, reinforcing grassroots football’s commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.

This year’s campaign, which is running from Saturday 16th November to Wednesday 4th December, invites everyone in the football community to lace-up and show their dedication to making sport a truly inclusive space.

Over the past eleven years, more than one million people worldwide have worn the laces - from England football captains to grassroots players - sending a powerful message that sport should be a welcoming space for everyone.

Rainbow Laces is organized by Stonewall and supported by TeamPride, a consortium of world-leading brands including Barclays, Sky Sports and the Premier League. This campaign has become a symbol of support, reaching over 12 million people annually. The vision remains clear: a world where LGBTQ+ people feel welcome and safe to participate in any sport.

This year, the message is: “Lace-Up and Make Sport Safer For All.” By wearing the laces, participants send a significant message that sport should be a place where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, feels a sense of belonging.

The campaign calls on everyone in sport, from all levels, whether they’re an athlete, coach, volunteer or fan, to wear Rainbow Laces and signal a commitment to an inclusive sporting world for future generations. Anyone can add a touch of pride to their game by ordering laces and working together to make sport a safer, more welcoming place for future generations.

“Rainbow Laces is an essential initiative to help create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone in grassroots football,” said Essex County FA Equality & Inclusion Officer, Milly Morgan. “It sends a powerful message that our sport is for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. By supporting this campaign, we’re reinforcing the importance of diversity, respect and acceptance at every level of the game, ensuring all players, coaches, and fans feel valued and safe.”

E-Mail milly.morgan@essexfa.com to order Rainbow Laces, or visit the Stonewall website. Players, coaches, volunteers and fans can share photos using the hashtag #RainbowLaces on social media, tagging the Essex County FA on X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.