They didn’t quite make the England World Cup squad, but footy players in the south west are psyching themselves up for their own big game, next week.
Within hours of England kicking off their 2010 World Cup opening match against the USA, players in the south west will be pitching into a special tournament in Torbay to combat homophobia in sport.
The competition is one of the events organised as part of this year’s Gay Pride event in the resort.
Organisers of the Proactive Initiative To Challenge Homophobia - PITCH - said the aim of the six-a-side game is to celebrate awareness of the diverse community groups within Torbay while sharing people’s passion for football.
Tournament organiser Joe Hayden said: “The project I’m working on is a campaign to challenge homophobia within sport across Devon.
“The tournament is simply a chance for people to get together and have a fun day of football.
“It’s hoped that it will highlight that sexuality is not and should not be an issue in sport.”
The knock-out tournament will take place on Pride Sunday, 13 June, two days after the launch of the World Cup in South Africa — starting at 11am on an all-weather pitch at the Torbay Leisure Centre.
Anyone wishing to enter a team, should contact Hayden on 07551 588952 or email joe@intercomtrust.org.uk.