A NEW national initiative was launched over the weekend to combat homophobia in football.
Football v Homophobia aims to raise awareness of homophobia in amateur and professional football and to unite clubs, players and fans internationally by using the game of football to bring communities together in opposing hate and intolerance.
The Justin Campaign who launched the initiative are named after former City striker Justin Fashanu - who remains the only openly gay professional footballer.
Justin, along with his brother John, joined the Canaries in the late 1970s and during his three-year spell at Carrow Road (1979-1981) scored 40 goals in 103 appearances, including his superb goal of the season against Liverpool in 1980. His move to Nottingham Forest saw him become the first British £1million black footballer, but after a succession of clubs his career came to an end in the United States in 1997 and tragically just a year later he committed suicide in London.
In 2002 Justin was named in Norwich City's inaugural Hall of Fame - celebrating the achievements of 100 key individuals in the first 100 years of the Club's history.
February 19 would have been Justin Fashanu's 49th birthday and to mark that and the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgendered) History Month, The Justin Campaign and members of Norwich Pride organised several events in the city, including a football match at Football in the Community's Carrow Park facility at Carrow Road last Friday evening.
JUSTIN ALLSTARS: Justin Fashanu's niece Amal (back
row centre) with members of the Justin Allstars football team
A number of special guests were invited to support the event and watch local Norwich City fans take on The Justin Allstars from Brighton in the seven-a-side match. Amongst those present was Justin Fashanu's niece Amal who had also visited an exhibition in the Forum where her uncle's life was celebrated in pictures and print.
Norwich MPs Charles Clarke and Chloe Smith, Norwich City Chief Executive David McNally and Roy Blower, Norwich City Council Sports Champion were also present and sported pink and black scarves (the Justin Campaign colours) to support the Justin Allstars and the Football v Homophobia campaign.
Photo courtesy of Alan Quick
