We are pleased to confirm that our game against Harrogate Town on Saturday has been chosen as our designated fixture this season to support the #HerGameToo campaign, with which we partnered in April.
#HerGameToo was formed in 2021 by twelve female football supporters to combat sexism in football and make football grounds safer and free from sexist abuse, and we at Sutton United are committed to helping the campaign with the aim of fostering an ethos in football in which women are welcomed and respected equally.
Members of our women's teams will be at the game including a number of the first team, who are now playing in the Premier Division of the London & South East Women's League and who visit Dulwich on Sunday, with the Division One championship trophy that they won last season. They also feature on the front of Saturday's programme, while the men's team will be wearing T-Shirts supporting the campaign during their pre-match warm-up.
The Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Trish Fivey, will be there, and our #HerGameToo ambassador, Sarah Aitchison, will have a stall where supporters can learn more about the campaign and our club's commitment to the cause. As Sarah says in her piece for Saturday's programme: 'The idea behind the anti-sexism campaign and its presence in our ground, other than to convey the message that discrimination won’t be tolerated, is to reduce the feeling of helplessness experiencing or witnessing discrimination can bring. We want those on the receiving end of this behaviour to know they are not alone and we want those who witness or experience it to know who to report it to.'
Posters will be displayed around the ground to emphasise the message, and there will be a giant HerGameToo photo frame where supporters can have their photos taken with players, the mayor or just each other.
On Tuesday night SUFCtv spoke to Sarah and our Sports Therapist Catherine Chambers about their experiences in the game and the value of the #HerGameToo campaign. You can see the interview below