League clubs chosen to lead discrimination fight

Dulwich Hamlet and Lewes will be flying the flag for the Ryman League on Non-League Day in the battle to kick all forms of discrimination out of football.

The Ryman Premier's duo have been selected to host special ‘Season of Action’ fixtures on Non-League Day 2014 by football’s anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out.

For the third season running, Kick It Out and Non-League Day’s organisers are teaming up to promote equality and challenge discrimination at all levels of the game at four specially selected fixtures, the two others chosen coming from the Northern Premier League.

Hundreds of clubs across the country are taking part in Non-League Day again this season on Saturday with Hamlet hosting Hampton & Richmond Borough at Champion Hill while the Rooks welcome Wingate & Finchley to the Dripping Pan.

Kick It Out say this season’s activities will also have the added support of the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) and its ‘Fans for Diversity’ initiative which they run in partnership. As a result, all of the players will wear Kick It Out and ‘Fans for Diversity’ t-shirts during their pre-match warm-ups with anti-discrimination materials such as flags, badges, stickers and wristbands handed out to supporters.

Special arrangements have also been made by the ‘Fans for Diversity’ initiative to provide funding for Wingate & Finchley's disability team to travel down to Sussex to face their Lewes counterparts on the pitch before the seniors kick off.

Sean Macleod, the club's mental wellbeing manager, said: "I hope that Non-League Day will show the supporters of Lewes and Wingate and Finchley that while we all have our own difficulties we are able to be play an active role in society.

"We are so proud that Kick It Out, the FSF and clubs like Lewes and Wingate and Finchley are taking a lead on supporting people with disabilities and making a stand against the stigmas associated with them."

Dulwich Hamlet are also giving fans the chance to ‘Pay What You Like’ at the turnstiles this weekend and Mishi Morath, the south London club’s committee member for community development, said: "Dulwich aims to be a beacon for the community and it is important that we show that there is no place for discrimination in football and in the wider world as well.

"Kick It Out sends out an equally important message that racism and discrimination are not welcome in the game and we’re proud to support the ‘Season of Action’ initiative for our game against Hampton & Richmond Borough."

Non-League Day originally started as a social media experiment in 2010 to help clubs take advantage of the traditional September international break to showcase their facilities and football by offering free or discounted entry to season ticket holders from the Football League and Premier League.

With England taking on Switzerland in a European Championship qualifying curtain-raiser, clubs in all three divisions of the Ryman League are looking forward to hosting new supporters taking advantage of the promotion and supporting this season's chosen charity, Prostate Cancer UK.

Other popular promotions set to be run again by many clubs include offering free entry to off duty members of the armed forces and the emergency services. For more information on Non-League Day 2014, including league by league lists of fixtures across the country taking part, visit: www.nonleagueday.co.uk.