Southampton Football Club Reports 1,233% Growth In Rainbow Saints
This Pride Month, Southampton Football Club has reported an impressive growth of 1,233% for its Rainbow Saints, an LGBTQ+ supporter group made up entirely of Saints fans.
Formed last year, Rainbow Saints aims to create a safe space within football for LGBTQIA+ people and Allies to talk about all things football, Southampton, and positive change.
Since being recognised as an official supporter group by the club, it has grown from three members to over 40 members globally, signifying a staggering growth of 1,233% in just six months.
With data finding that almost 1 in 10 Saints fans identify as LGBTQIA+ (31% more than at other Premier League clubs), and almost 1 in 3 fans agreeing that they have ‘lots of gay friends’, equality, diversity, and inclusion are hugely important to Southampton FC – something that is recognised by 83% of its fanbase.*
The club has several initiatives dedicated to promoting inclusivity and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, including a school-based programme that has seen the Saints Foundation deliver LGBTQIA+ workshops to primary schools and educational workshops on allyship to secondary schools in Southampton.
Proving a huge success so far, 50% of participants felt they had someone to talk to about LGBTQIA+ issues following the workshops, and 67% of participants said they had made new friends through taking part.
Showing that there is still work to be done in this area, only 29% of participants agreed they feel like they can be themselves at school, and only 14% feel they belong within their school community.
Amongst other initiatives making a positive impact, last year saw Saints team up with its official kit supplier, hummel, to launch a dedicated No place for homophobia in Southampton campaign.
The football club and sportswear brand commissioned a striking mural in the city centre to champion its support for the LGBTQ+ community, calling on players, fans, and city residents to pledge their names in support. To date, over 1,200 people have shown their support by adding their names to the initiative.
The collaboration also saw hummel design a bespoke warm-up shirt worn ahead of a match against Everton, with the shirts since auctioned off, raising over £12,500 for the Saints Foundation. A limited run of the shirts, which were available to fans, sold out within three hours of going on sale.
Discussing the progress that has been made, Robert Pearce, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Southampton Football Club, said, “Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the individual responsibility we all hold in ensuring our society is inclusive, accepting, and non-discriminatory.
“Southampton Football Club has been making fantastic strides in ensuring that its community is a safe space for all players and fans alike, on and off the pitch. We’re particularly delighted by the recent growth of Rainbow Saints and that our fans are increasingly standing united against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia so that everyone has a safe space to enjoy football.
“Although there has been progress, there is still some way to go, which is why Southampton Football Club has pledged its ongoing support to all LGBTQIA+ people and is committed to inciting further change in this area.”
Max Lindsay, a founding member of Rainbow Saints, added: “The response to Rainbow Saints has been fantastic. We didn’t expect the group to grow quite as quickly as it has, and having Saints’ support has been invaluable in helping us expand our community.
“The club continues to make a massive effort to provide a safe space for everyone to enjoy football, which is brilliant to see and great to be part of. We hope that the growth of Rainbow Saints will continue on this amazing trajectory with more Southampton fans signing up, whether from the LGBTQIA+ community themselves or as allies to stand beside us.”
*stats taken from YouGov Jun 22 survey and Saints’ End of Season Survey Jun22
Image: Will Morgan, Emma Townley, Max Lindsay – Rainbow Saints founders
