Several football clubs, including Forest Green Rovers, Lewes Women, Glasgow City, Dulwich Hamlet, Billericay Town, Llantwit Major, Headingley AFC, and Tranmere Rovers, are set to don yellow laces in support of The Big Step campaign during Addiction Awareness Week. The initiative aims to address concerns about the impact of gambling advertising and sponsorship in football. Forest Green Rovers Owner and Chairman Dale Vince emphasized the need to end the hyper-normalization of gambling products, particularly due to their potential harm, and expressed the club’s commitment to supporting the campaign.
Symbolic Yellow Laces:
The symbolic yellow laces serve as a visible statement against gambling companies exploiting football and its fanbase. The laces are a collective effort by football clubs to draw attention to the negative consequences of gambling and advocate for an end to gambling advertising within the sport.
FA Cup Fixture Participation:
Forest Green Rovers, an English Football League club, will prominently showcase the yellow laces during their FA Cup first-round match against South Shields. The live broadcast on BBC One amplifies the visibility of the campaign, bringing the issue to a broader audience and sparking conversations about responsible sponsorship.
Broad Coalition of Clubs:
The campaign extends beyond professional clubs, with non-league teams such as Dulwich Hamlet, Billericay Town, Llantwit Major, and Headingley AFC actively participating. Lewes Women and Glasgow City from the women’s football arena are also joining forces, creating a diverse coalition united against the influence of gambling advertising in the sport.
Tranmere Rovers’ Unique Support:
Tranmere Rovers is set to support the cause by donning yellow t-shirts during the warm-up before their FA Cup first-round match against Carlisle United. This innovative approach adds a visual dimension to the campaign, underscoring the collective commitment to raising awareness about the impact of gambling.
Big Step Founder’s Perspective:
James Grimes, the Founder of The Big Step, emphasizes the campaign’s goal to shed light on the often-hidden addiction of gambling. The bright yellow laces serve as a reminder that there is no shame in addressing gambling-related issues and pay tribute to lives affected by gambling harm. The campaign also sends a bold message to the government, urging reform to protect football fans from the influence of addictive gambling products.
As football clubs across various tiers of competition unite under the banner of the yellow laces campaign, the collective effort seeks to challenge the normalization of gambling within the sport. The visual impact of the laces, coupled with the participation of diverse clubs, underscores the urgency of addressing the issue. The campaign not only highlights the potential harm associated with gambling but also advocates for a football environment free from the promotion of addictive products. This united stand against gambling sponsorship signifies a crucial step toward fostering a safer and more responsible sporting landscape.