Gay Football Supporters Network
Encyclopedia
The Gay Football Supporters Network ("GFSN") is a U.K. non-profit organisation
founded in early 1989 by a small group of football fans who happened to be gay. This group went on to campaign for the view that homosexuality
did not preclude an active interest in and support for the game.
; it later expanded into a truly national organisation. The GFSN divides the country up into "regions", with each region having a coordinator
. This co-ordinater is responsible for arranging social events for members in that region, and members regularly meet to attend matches or simply watch a game at a local pub
.
Football fans of different ages and genders meet regularly to discuss their favourite sport
and chat. Each co-ordinator submits a monthly report on activities & social events, and these reports are then included in the network's monthly newsletter
, which is posted to members.
in support of the FA's "Football For All" programme. The FA encourages all clubs to endorse a gay-tolerant position, parallelling similar calls in the 1980s for clubs to support racial tolerance.
A monthly GFSN newsletter regularly features articles taken from the national press relating to the topic. The network has also featured in articles printed in The Independent
, AXM and The Times.
formed between a number of the members and their clubs, leading to the formation of the GFSN National 11-a-side League in 2002.
Four clubs initially entered the league; Bristol Panthers F.C, Leftfooters F.C, Yorkshire Terriers F.C. and Leicester Wildecats F.C. The inaugural winners of this competition were the Bristol Panthers.
The current champions are Nottingham Ball Bois FC, who won the title on Sunday 26 April 2009 ahead of Birmingham Blaze in second place.
Leftfooters FC host an annual 11-a-side tournament in April at Regent's Park
, which is also open to inclusion from European teams. Recently, teams from France and Denmark have taken part.
of members, a 5-a-side tournament is held with almost all the UK's gay teams taking part over a weekend in early June. It is widely accepted to be the biggest and most anticipated event organised by the GFSN, enabling players and members to socialise over the weekend. A "host" city is chosen each year - voted for by GFSN members throughout the preceding autumn. The result is announced at the annual GFSN Christmas Dinner.
The tournament was dominated by the Leicester Wildecats for the first 6 years, but has since been claimed by Brighton Bandits and Yorkshire Terriers, who successfully defended their title in 2006. In 2005, the competition format was altered slightly. All teams initially compete together in a group stage, with the winners progressing to the knock-out phase of the main trophy. Teams that are knocked out of the main competition then transfer to the "Vase" trophy - a less prestigious (yet equally competitive) knock-out competition, with the winner claiming a trophy that is usually a cheap, rusting item bought from a local bric-a-brac store (to emphasise the lack of grandeur compared with the main tournament).
This change was introduced to give competing teams more opportunity to play football, instead of being knocked out early on in the tournament after a short number of games.
". The most hotly contested category was for the "Sexiest Player". Once all the votes were counted, a Top Ten in each cateogory was announced on the network's website. The Lust List was discontinued with immediate effect following the 2008 AGM.
picked up on the annual 'Lust List', and ran a front page headline on July 27, 2005, entitled: "Rear We Go" and "Match Of The Gay"http://www.gfsn.org.uk/a_dailystar.htm/. The article incorrectly proclaimed Liverpool midfielder
Steven Gerrard
as the winner of the "Sexiest Player" category, however the true winner of the competition was Brighton & Hove Albion's little-known striker Jake Robinson
http://www.gfsn.org.uk/lustlist/2005.htm. Gerrard actually finished runner-up.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
founded in early 1989 by a small group of football fans who happened to be gay. This group went on to campaign for the view that homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
did not preclude an active interest in and support for the game.
History And Set-Up
The Gay Football Supporters Network began meeting at the Salmon & Compasses public house in Chapel Market, North LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; it later expanded into a truly national organisation. The GFSN divides the country up into "regions", with each region having a coordinator
Coordinator
Coordinator may refer to:*In academics: one who administers the research and teaching activities of the other professors.*Coordinators , genetically engineered humans in the Gundam SEED series...
. This co-ordinater is responsible for arranging social events for members in that region, and members regularly meet to attend matches or simply watch a game at a local pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
.
Football fans of different ages and genders meet regularly to discuss their favourite sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
and chat. Each co-ordinator submits a monthly report on activities & social events, and these reports are then included in the network's monthly newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
, which is posted to members.
Campaigning
As well as providing a forum for gay football supporters to meet, the GFSN also campaigns against anti-homosexual discriminationHomophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
in support of the FA's "Football For All" programme. The FA encourages all clubs to endorse a gay-tolerant position, parallelling similar calls in the 1980s for clubs to support racial tolerance.
A monthly GFSN newsletter regularly features articles taken from the national press relating to the topic. The network has also featured in articles printed in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, AXM and The Times.
Playing
Some members prefer to play rather as well as watch, and around the country new football clubs have emerged as members come together to play. The two longest established teams still in existence are Leicester Wildecats FC and Village Manchester FC; both formed in 1996.GFSN League
RivalriesSports rivalry
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the...
formed between a number of the members and their clubs, leading to the formation of the GFSN National 11-a-side League in 2002.
Four clubs initially entered the league; Bristol Panthers F.C, Leftfooters F.C, Yorkshire Terriers F.C. and Leicester Wildecats F.C. The inaugural winners of this competition were the Bristol Panthers.
The current champions are Nottingham Ball Bois FC, who won the title on Sunday 26 April 2009 ahead of Birmingham Blaze in second place.
Tournaments
5-a-side tournaments are hosted by clubs across the country, which are extremely popular events for teams and players to meet-up and socialise. Leicester Wildecats and Yorkshire Terriers have held a 5-a-side tournament for the last 10 years. Bristol Panthers also held a tournament.Leftfooters FC host an annual 11-a-side tournament in April at Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
, which is also open to inclusion from European teams. Recently, teams from France and Denmark have taken part.
GFSN National Tournament
Coinciding with the GFSN Annual General MeetingAnnual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
of members, a 5-a-side tournament is held with almost all the UK's gay teams taking part over a weekend in early June. It is widely accepted to be the biggest and most anticipated event organised by the GFSN, enabling players and members to socialise over the weekend. A "host" city is chosen each year - voted for by GFSN members throughout the preceding autumn. The result is announced at the annual GFSN Christmas Dinner.
The tournament was dominated by the Leicester Wildecats for the first 6 years, but has since been claimed by Brighton Bandits and Yorkshire Terriers, who successfully defended their title in 2006. In 2005, the competition format was altered slightly. All teams initially compete together in a group stage, with the winners progressing to the knock-out phase of the main trophy. Teams that are knocked out of the main competition then transfer to the "Vase" trophy - a less prestigious (yet equally competitive) knock-out competition, with the winner claiming a trophy that is usually a cheap, rusting item bought from a local bric-a-brac store (to emphasise the lack of grandeur compared with the main tournament).
This change was introduced to give competing teams more opportunity to play football, instead of being knocked out early on in the tournament after a short number of games.
| Year | Venue | Winners | Vase Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 |  England BlackpoolBlackpool Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 1999 | England Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 2000 | England Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 2001 | England Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 2002 | England Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 2003 |  Wales CardiffCardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... , UK |
Leicester Wildecats | |
| 2004 | England Blackpool Blackpool Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester... , UK |
Brighton Bandits | |
| 2005 |  Scotland GlasgowGlasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , UK |
Yorkshire Terriers | Leftfooters FC |
| 2006 | England Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne... , UK |
Yorkshire Terriers | Leicester Wildecats |
| 2007 |  |
Dublin Devils | Yorkshire Terriers |
| 2008 | England Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , UK |
Nottingham Ballbois | |
| 2009 | Wales Cardiff Cardiff Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... , UK |
London Falcons GFC | |
| 2010 | England Blackpool Blackpool Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester... , UK |
London Titans | Mersey Marauders |
| The GFSN Vase trophy was introduced for the 2005 competition. | |||
Lust List
From 2000 to 2008, the network published an annual "Lust List", which was a poll of GFSN members. Members voted on a number of categories, including "Sexiest Team", "Best Manager" and "Hate FigureHate figure
A hate figure is a person, normally in the public eye, who is widely disliked. The public's hatred for that person may be because of horrific acts but also sometimes may be unexplained ....
". The most hotly contested category was for the "Sexiest Player". Once all the votes were counted, a Top Ten in each cateogory was announced on the network's website. The Lust List was discontinued with immediate effect following the 2008 AGM.
Lust List Press Coverage
The Daily Star newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
picked up on the annual 'Lust List', and ran a front page headline on July 27, 2005, entitled: "Rear We Go" and "Match Of The Gay"http://www.gfsn.org.uk/a_dailystar.htm/. The article incorrectly proclaimed Liverpool midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
as the winner of the "Sexiest Player" category, however the true winner of the competition was Brighton & Hove Albion's little-known striker Jake Robinson
Jake Robinson
Jake David Robinson is an English footballer who is currently playing football for English League Two club Northampton Town, having been released by League Two team Shrewsbury Town...
http://www.gfsn.org.uk/lustlist/2005.htm. Gerrard actually finished runner-up.
Previous "Sexiest Player" Winners
| Year | Winner | Team* |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | England Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... |
England Liverpool |
| 2001 | England David Beckham David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C... |
England Manchester United |
| 2002 | England Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... |
England Liverpool |
| 2003 | England James Beattie James Beattie (footballer) James Scott Beattie is an English footballer who currently plays for Sheffield United as a striker.Born in Lancaster, Lancashire he came through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers eventually signing professionally for them in 1995... |
England Southampton |
| 2004 |  France Thierry HenryThierry Henry Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and... |
England Arsenal |
| 2005 | England Jake Robinson Jake Robinson Jake David Robinson is an English footballer who is currently playing football for English League Two club Northampton Town, having been released by League Two team Shrewsbury Town... |
England Brighton Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system.... |
| 2006 | England Steven Gerrard Steven Gerrard Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger... |
England Liverpool |
| *The team the player played for at the time of award | ||
See also
- Homosexuality in association footballHomosexuality in association footballHomophobia has been widespread in association football throughout the world. Journalist Matt Williams stated that being a gay professional player in football is still a taboo, which journalist Simon Barnes has said will never change.-Brazil:...
- Gay communityGay communityThe gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
External links
- Gay Football Supporters Network Official Website
- GFSN League Official Website
- Birmingham Blaze F.C.
- Brighton Bandits F.C.
- Cardiff Dragons F.C.
- GFC Bournemouth
- Leftfooters F.C.
- Leicester Wildecats F.C.
- London Titans F.C.
- Mersey Marauders F.C. - Liverpool's gay football team
- Nottingham Ball Bois F.C.
- Village Manchester F.C.
- Saltire Thistle F.C.
- London Falcons F.C.
- Romans A.F.C
- Yorkshire Terriers F.C.
- Edinburgh Hotscots F.C.
- The FA
- GFSN Feature: Daily Star Article, July 2005.