West Ham United’s LGBTQ+ supporters group Pride Of Irons celebrates ten-year anniversary

Founded in 2015, over the past decade, Pride Of Irons has worked tirelessly with the aim of ensuring that everybody feels safe and welcome at the home of West Ham United, and is committed to being a driving force in tackling hate both on and off the pitch.

A welcoming and fun space for all LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in the West Ham United fanbase, Pride Of Irons is fully committed to its mission to:

· Provide a safe, welcoming and fun space for all LGBTQ+ members of the West Ham fanbase to allow them to fully express themselves and their love of West Ham and football.

· Actively fight for increased visibility and inclusivity at West Ham and encourage the Club to become champions of LGBTQ+ inclusion. We will voice our members’ experiences and amplify the positivity of our own existence and our achievements around the Club.

· Challenge direct and indirect homophobia, biphobia and transphobia across the football community. We commit to engaging with and tackling any culture of casual bigotry we encounter online and in person with the support and inclusion of other West Ham fan groups.

· Provide education and awareness for fans who have received bans due to discriminatory behaviour by working with Kick It Out thus enabling a culture of hope and change.

· Actively challenge West Ham United where it falls short in supporting and promoting inclusivity, our aims, and our group to a best-in-class standard.

Their anniversary was marked at the Premier League home fixture against Brentford on February 15, where Pride Of Irons representatives were celebrated pitchside and presented with a special celebration flag by the Club.

This follows a strong show of support from West Ham United’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB), which recently reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring football is welcoming for everyone and standing against discrimination in all forms.

“We stand united in our support of the work undertaken by Pride of Irons in fostering an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ fanbase and promoting equality and respect for all.

“Working together as part of the Fan Advisory Board is essential for us all. By uniting our efforts, we can continue to ensure that our Club is a welcoming space for every supporter.

“We are committed to working alongside Pride of Irons and all fan groups to uphold these values, standing against hate and fostering a culture of respect and inclusion for all at West Ham United.”

Jo Bailey, Chair of Pride of Irons, said: “Our anniversary gives us chance as volunteers to celebrate the progress we’ve made in helping to change the football landscape for inclusion. Also, remembering those who laid the foundations of Pride Of Irons, including Jim Dolan, Alastair Holmes and the much missed Trevor Wood MBE.

“Support from West Ham United has been invaluable. Collaborating on campaigns, increasing visibility, and standing by their LGBTQ+ fanbase. Reports of LGBTQ+ incidents at Men’s & Women’s matches are sadly on the rise throughout the UK so there’s still much work to do, with different challenges ahead.

“Pride Of Irons will continue our work alongside other football groups and beyond to help eradicate hate of all kinds - I hope our group will not be celebrating another decade as that would mean that our job will be done and football really will be for ALL.”

Cat Smith, Head of Supporter Services at West Ham United, added: "Pride Of Irons has played an important role in making West Ham United a more inclusive place for all supporters.

"The tenth anniversary is a great moment to celebrate the impact they’ve had, and we were delighted to mark the occasion at our home fixture against Brentford. We remain committed to working together to ensure that everyone, regardless of background, feels part of the West Ham family."

West Ham United’s support for Pride Of Irons is part of the Club’s wider commitment to equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of football. As the group celebrates ten years of progress, the Club looks forward to continuing this partnership and building on the positive steps already taken.

For more information on Pride Of Irons and their work, visit www.prideofirons.com