Stonewall FC to play historic match at Wembley
Stonewall FC, the first gay men's football club to be founded in the UK and also the most successful, will play a match at Wembley Stadium this month.
The Football Association is entering into a new partnership with the LGBT equality charity Stonewall, which organises the Rainbow Laces campaign, returning for its annual activation from mid-November.
To mark the partnership, The FA has invited Stonewall FC to play its regular Middlesex County Football League Division One fixture against Wilberforce Wanderers at the national stadium, on Friday, November 30.
"The FA is extremely excited to mark this move by welcoming Stonewall FC to play under the lights at Wembley Stadium," said Paul Elliott, the former Chelsea defender who is the chair of The FA's Inclusion Advisory Board.
"This is the first time we have invited a non-league side to play a league fixture at the home of football and it is shaping up to be a truly iconic and memorable evening for everyone involved."
Eric Najib Armanazi, the manager of Stonewall FC, says the club is "honoured and excited" by the invitation.
"This event is a landmark moment for all those who have worked tremendously hard to eradicate all forms of discrimination within football, including our sponsors TeamPride [the consortium of businesses that supports Rainbow Laces]," said Najib Armanazi.
"We are delighted that Stonewall FC will be able to showcase our talent under the stadium's famous arch. This game will mark the pinnacle in my 12-and-a-half years as manager of the club and I'm extremely thankful to all those involved that made this happen."