A Merseyside-based LGBTQ+ supporters group has helped fans and players fall “back in love” with football.
On the face of it, Rover and Out are the LGBTQ+ and allies supporters group of Tranmere Rovers FC. However, those involved with the group have said they are much more than that and in fact are a safe space where “football fans turn into a family”.
The group was founded by Adam Siddon in 2018. The 32-year-old, from Birkenhead, saw what positive impact the likes of The Rainbow Toffees and Kop Outs - Everton and Liverpool’s LGBTQ+ supporters group perspective - were having and wanted to replicate something similar for his own club.
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The Martin Gallier Project suicide prevention worker told the ECHO: “Football has played a huge part in my life. I’ve always known I’ve been gay from a young age and from when I was going to football grounds to watch the Tranmere Rovers. But, there were never any groups about for me. Absolutely nothing.
“As I started to see other groups set up LGBTQ+ supporters group, no one seemed to want to do it at Tranmere, even though I knew there were other queer fans. So I thought, if no one else was going to do it, it’d do it myself.”
Since its inception, the group has grown in numbers and took part in several LGBTQ+ campaigns. One scheme Rover and Out offer - and that Adam is proud of - is a buddy service which allows those from the community to be partnered up and attend football matches without fear of judgement.
Thanks to this service, Adam claims a trans football fan felt comfortable enough to go to their first match and a 76-year-old had the courage to come out as gay.
The charity worker, who is also a match day commentator, said: “To know we have been there for so many different people and for them to be there for us as well, it’s an amazing feeling. Having different walks of life and age ranges is really brilliant, it really is.
“To be a little gay lad sitting there watching games with my dad to being where we are now, attracting new fans, and being part of a group like this, it’s amazing. You don’t realise the impact it actually has on LGBTQ+ people.”
Rovers and Out also has its own football team - open to LGBTQ+ footballers and allies. Captained by Aaron Griffiths, the 33-year-old from the Wirral, got involved with the team after he “fell out of love” with the sport having played with a Sunday League team previously.
The hardware duty manager, who is heterosexual, told the ECHO: “I have played football for most of my life and the team helped me come back to it. It gave me a chance to ease back into the support without feeling pressurised or judgement. I was able to express myself freely on the football pitch once again."
The centre-midfielder recalled how he had experienced “the worst part” of the game, including homophobia and derogatory terms, and was ready to start with a new team where it focused on footballers’ skills and talent rather their who there were as a person.
Rover and Out’s strive for equality and inclusion within sport hasn’t gone unnoticed as they have recently been nominated for two awards at the National Diversity Awards 2023 - Community Organisation Award for multi-strand and Community Organisation Award for LGBTQ+.
Aaron, who works for a garden centre, said the nomination reaffirms the group is “doing the right thing”.
He added: “It would be an amazing boost for the team to win especially those who put a lot of effort and hours into the group behind the scenes. It shows were moving in the right direction and hopefully with that will come a lot more acceptance not just in the local area but nationally. The nomination has motivated us to keep doing what were are doing.”
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