Ross County continue support of Rainbow Laces

Ross County are again supporting the annual Rainbow Laces campaign, encouraging the inclusion of LGBT+ players within football.

Each year this campaign brings with it a great sense of reflection on the important work that is done with the LGBT+ community and football, and this year has been no different. In many ways this has been a groundbreaking year for World football and the LGBT+ community.

In just over 12 months we have had 3 players come out in the World game, which we hope will open the pathway for many more to live they life they want to and not the life they feel they have to. The bravery and courage of Josh Cavallo, Jake Daniels and Scotland’s own Zander Murray, will no doubt take away some of the stigma of LGBT+ players participating in the men’s game however there are still big strides forward to take, and we can only do that with your support.

Earlier this week, we sat down with Club Captain Keith Watson to discuss the growth of LGBT+ players in the game.

“I think having seen the big outpouring of support, even in our dressing room, for the players that have come out speaks volumes as to how much progress we are making within the LGBT+ community. Each year there are different stories to tell around this issue, but this year really does feel like we are talking about big, positive steps.”

“Over the years you do a number of these interviews, and the recurring theme seems to be that the issue lies outside of dressing rooms and not inside dressing rooms. At the end of the day regardless of sexuality, race, religion or creed, a teammate is a teammate, and you will always be there for them when you play together in the same team.”

“When you look at the story of Zander Murray, I think immediately the most positive thing was that days later he went back on to the pitch, did the business with the ball at his feet and showed everybody that he just wants to play football. Nobody should be left feeling that ‘who they are’ dictates if they are taken seriously in our game, if you are talented enough to play the game then everything else should be secondary.”

Ross County CEO Steven Ferguson has been involved in professional football for over 30 years and has seen a massive progress made in our game with the LGBT+ community.

“I think generally we live in much more diverse society now than we have ever done and football is no different. When you look across Scottish football you see so many different characteristics and personalities than you have ever seen, and I think it has really added to our game.”

“When you look at the statistics of the number of LGBT+ players in the men’s game its clear to see that there are a number of players that obviously still feel they can’t come out and be themselves, which is really sad. I echo what Keith has said in terms of I don’t feel this is a dressing room thing, I truly feel it’s an external factor.”

“We still have this little bit of a culture in football where small groups of fans think stadiums are a safe space to be abusive to players and managers, which it is not. I think this is one of the single, biggest challenges that clubs, and governing bodies are working through together as nobody (fans, players and managers) should be subjected to abuse in stadiums. Hopefully, with the positive steps we are making it gives people within the LGBT+ community a chance to live their own life within the game.”

This years Rainbow Laces campaign runs from 19th October to 31st December, with Rainbow Laces Day being Wednesday 26th October 2022. At this weekends match with Kilmarnock we will support the Rainbow Laces campaign with our Rainbow Captains armband being used.