Pride Of Irons is a safe, welcoming and fun space for all LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in the West Ham United fanbase, where you can fully express yourself and your love of the Hammers and football.
Founded in 2015, the supporters’ group is celebrating its tenth birthday. Over the past decade, Pride Of Irons has worked tirelessly with the aim of ensuring that West Ham United remains an environment free of hate, and is committed to being a driving force in tackling hate both on and off the pitch.
Pride Of Irons is committed to its mission to:
- Provide a safe, welcoming and fun space for all LGBTQ+ members of the West Ham fanbase to allow them to fully express themselves and their love of West Ham and football.
- Actively fight for increased visibility and inclusivity at West Ham and encourage the Club to become champions of LGBTQ+ inclusion. We will voice our members’ experiences and amplify the positivity of our own existence and our achievements around the Club.
- Challenge direct and indirect homophobia, biphobia and transphobia across the football community. We commit to engaging with and tackling any culture of casual bigotry we encounter online and in person with the support and inclusion of other West Ham fan groups.
- Provide education and awareness for fans who have received bans due to discriminatory behaviour by working with Kick It Out thus enabling a culture of hope and change.
- Actively challenge West Ham United where it falls short in supporting and promoting inclusivity, our aims, and our group to a best-in-class standard.
To mark the occasion of its tenth birthday, founder Jim Dolan and Chair Jo Bailey have written for the Official Programme.
How Pride Of Irons started
As we celebrate the official ten-year anniversary of Pride Of Irons, it’s impossible not to reflect on our journey with both immense pride and amazement, though the story of course started more than a decade ago.
What began as a response to adversity – a homophobic incident at a match on Saturday 21 September 2013 – has blossomed into something truly special. From that moment, a movement was born, not just to stand against discrimination but to create something positive, something powerful, and something that would change lives.
The story of our founding has been told many times, but what truly matters is how something rooted in a difficult experience has grown into an organisation that has brought so much joy, inclusivity, and belonging to so many. Rather than dwell on the negatives, I choose to celebrate the extraordinary moments and the incredible people who have made Pride Of Irons what it is today.
I think of our founding committee – Al Holmes, Carol Hinvest, Lorna Severn, David Wood, David Springer, myself and, of course, our dear and greatly missed friend, Trevor Wood MBE. Each of us put in the work to build a foundation strong enough for POI to grow into the family it is now.
Jim Dolan, Founder
Where Pride Of Irons are now
There has without doubt been a positive shift towards inclusion since the inception of Pride Of Irons. There are now over 50 LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups working to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation feel safe and welcome in all football grounds across the UK.
Unfortunately, our work as volunteers in all LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups is more necessary than ever. Reports of homophobia and transphobia in football are on the rise. According to Home Office data, Last season, 4% of all men’s professional matches in England and Wales reported anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime. We know a lot of abuse goes unreported. Let’s be clear though, this behaviour comes from a small minority of ‘supporters’.
Being part of Pride Of Irons means being part of West Ham United’s community. We are proud now to have representation on the Club’s Fan Advisory Board, ensuring LGBTQ+ voices are heard at the highest levels.
I say that supporters’ groups have to be a critical family member. We congratulate the Club when they do well, but we never hesitate to call them out when they fall short. It really is a way we can make change.
We are proud of everyone who has contributed as a committee member, past and present. Yet our work is not complete. We will continue to stand up, speak out and fight for change. Navigating the changing landscape and acting accordingly.
We truly do believe in the West Ham United Family and will continue as a committee to work to eradicate hate of all kinds.
#COYI
Jo Bailey, Chair