Proud Potters: How Active Through Football has helped build community and inclusion at Stoke City FC

Established in 2023 as a ripple effect of the Active Through Football project in Stoke, Proud Potters are Stoke City FC’s LGBTQI+ Community Supporters group with a diverse mix of LGBTQI+ fans and supporters dedicated to promoting inclusion in football.

Active Through Football is a programme by Sport England, funded by the National Lottery and delivered by the Football Foundation that engages with communities across the country who face some of the greatest inequalities to being physically active, to increase activity levels and influence long-term, community-led change.

Staffordshire County FA were awarded a £586k Active Through Football grant in 2021. Since then, Active Through Football Stoke provide activities for almost 600 participants across 13 weekly sessions for several under-represented groups, including unemployed and inactive residents, youth offenders, Muslim women over 50s and older people.

Paul Richards said:

“It makes us feel wanted by the club, safe to be a match day supporter and greatly assist to educate club officials, stewards, fans and each other. We gain community, support, and encouragement. We’re looking to encourage greater fan involvement through a desire to increase numbers further in season 25/26 with social and club events possible.”

Find out more about Active Through Football here