2024 marked Norfolk County FA’s first year attending Norwich Pride, coming together in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Contributing towards Norwich Pride’s mission of uniting to create strength in numbers, we were proud to represent Norfolk Football when marching through the city centre.

When speaking about the event, Norfolk FA Chief Executive, Matt Carpenter, said: "It was great to attend Norwich Pride for the first time as an Association and show our support.

“It was a fantastic occasion and I would like to thank our Staff and Partners for showing great enthusiasm towards the event, along with members of the Norfolk Football community who joined us, as we continue to promote the important message of inclusivity. Participating in the march was another great opportunity to do this, especially as we move into a new strategy period that aims to further develop our commitment to making the game for all."

At Norfolk County FA, we are committed to ensuring that everybody is treated fairly within the game, regardless of their background or identity. As well as having an Inclusion Strategy Advisory Group (ISAG) that addresses diversity in football, we aim to promote inclusion through a range of different projects, including the Rainbow Laces campaign, creating LGBTQ+ Club Accreditation, and the launch of a new Pan-Disability League this September.

When asked about the Pride march, Norfolk FA Inclusion Lead, Nina Buckingham, said: “It was lovely to take part in the Norwich Pride march and express our support for equality and inclusivity. We can’t wait to be back next year!”

To find out more information on our inclusive work, please get in touch with Nina – Nina.Buckingham@NorfolkFA.com.