At Queens Park Rangers Football Club, we buy into this message and to show our on-going commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion within football, earlier this season we pledged our support to Kick It Out’s ‘One Game, One Community’ initiative.

Our fixture against Nottingham Forest in October was selected as our designated ‘Kick It Out’ match, as part of a 12-day, nationwide celebration of diversit.

The special matchday was one of 1,000 events taking place across the country during the ‘Kick It Out’ week of action. All 92 professional Clubs, as well as Conference and Non-League Clubs, also held activities to support the initiative, alongside schools, universities and youth centres.

Lord Herman Ouseley, Chairman of ‘Kick It Out,’ believes the 12-day period of action acts as a vital tool in the drive for equality within the sport.

“The ‘One Game, One Community’ period of action provides a focal point for everyone connected to football - from supporters to players - to stand up against discrimination in all its forms.

“The game flourishes when people from all communities, and from all walks of life, are able to participate in it. Club activity like this reinforces the ‘One Game, One Community’ ethos and is a vital part of the drive for equality at all levels of the game.”

In the days leading up to the ‘One Game, One Community’ fixture, the Club’s Football in the Community team pledged their support to the event by holding a successful coaching and awareness day at Acton High School.

Led by Community Coach, Daniel Edwards, over 50 children were in attendance, as R’s midfielder Mikele Leigertwood spoke openly about the issue of racism in football, as well as being on hand to put the youngsters through their paces across a series of coaching sessions.

Leigertwood, who was the Club’s nominated Ambassador for the period of action, added: “Racism is an issue of great concern in football and in the real world at large.

“We need to keep working away on this issue until it is totally eradicated from our game.

“It has improved significantly in the last 20 years or so, but there are still one or two mindless people who continue to persist with racism, whether it be in football or in life in general.

“As a member of the QPR First Team, I can only speak on behalf of the entire squad when I say we are one hundred percent behind this scheme.”

To demonstrate its support of the ‘One Game, One Community’ message, the Club underwent a number of activities on the day of the Nottingham Forest fixture.

*Players from both sides wore T-shirts during the pre-match warm-up.

*Messages from Martin Rowlands and Mikele Leigertwood appeared in the matchday programme, as well as on our Giant Screen.

*The Club displayed the ‘Kick It Out’ banner and flag prior to kick-off.

*Both Managers and their respective backroom staff members wore ‘Kick It Out’ badges in the build up to kick-off, as well as in post-match interviews.

*All in-house staff wore badges throughout the day.

Edwards, who oversaw the entire event at Loftus Road, was delighted with the impact of the period of action, commenting: “It was another great success story.

“The footballing fraternity unites over campaigns like this and the results are clear for all to see.”

There are so many ways in which you can get involved in Kick It Out.

Go to www.kickitout.org for regular updates and ideas as to what you can do.

You can subscribe to e-mail updates through info@kickitout.org

REPORT EVERYTHING!

Sadly, fans and players are still abused in football because of their background, religion, or sexual orientation, particularly at grassroots level. Many Clubs and Leagues have adopted a policy of Zero Tolerance. One incident is an incident too many. Kick It Out operates a reporting line that can be used to make reports, ensure effective action is taken and help you raise issues of concern. To report discrimination in any footballing environment you can phone free 0800 169 9414 or e-mail info@kickitout.org

“Queens Pa rk Ra ngers are fully committed to ensuring that we are doing everything within our powers to ensurecommunities of all rac es, cultures and religions feel welcome at Loftus Road. This is an initiative we feel very strongly about and will continue to support.”

QPR Sporting Director, Gianni Pa ladini

“I would like to underline the fac t that there is absolutely no plac e for rac ism in football, or in any walk of life for that matter. During the anti-rac ism period of ac tion, it is the responsibility of everyone associated with football to remember this.”

Club Captain, Ma rtin Rowlands