Charlton-EFL project on football inclusivity

Image: Charlton Athletic FC

The Charlton Athletic F.C. (UK), the English Football League (EFL) Community Club of the Year, was recently selected to work in partnership with the EFL to lead a pioneering initiative aimed at increasing accessibility and inclusion across professional football.

‘CHARLTON ATHLETIC’ stated that the club’s historic stadium, The Valley in London (UK), is located in a vibrant, diverse, multicultural South-East London community. However, like the most professional football clubs, the current matchday attendance does not fully reflect the diversity of the local community.

The Charlton Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Charlton, South-East London, England (UK). The team compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system.

The Valley is a sports stadium in Charlton, London, England (UK) with a capacity of 27,111 and has been the home of the Charlton Athletic Football Club since the 1920s with a period of exile between 1985 and 1992 as the facility was closed from 1985 to 1992.

Preston (UK)-based the English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales (UK). Founded in 1888 as the Football League it is the oldest football league in the world and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992 when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League. The Football League was rebranded as the ‘English Football League’ (EFL) starting with the 2016-2017 seasons.

‘CHARLTON ATHLETIC’ further stated that the project will aim to explore better ways to engage with the broader community, foster inclusivity and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the EFL clubs.

This collaborative project, between the Charlton Athletic F.C. and the EFL, will span a year and encompass a comprehensive research phase followed by the implementation of the findings.

Together, the EFL and the Charlton Athletic are committed to setting a standard for accessibility and inclusion in football ensuring the sport remains a welcoming game for everyone.

The former player and current Vice-Chair of the Charlton Athletic Board, Paul Elliott CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) said, “Football is a much more welcoming place than it was when I first began in the game many years ago. However, live matchday attendances are still rarely reflective of the demographic of a club’s local population. We must acknowledge that many individuals from diverse backgrounds don’t see watching live football in a stadium as an option. At Charlton, we believe football is for everyone and our message is clear – All Different, All Together, All Charlton – which is why we are delighted to collaborate with the EFL for this ground-breaking project. Our proud history as leaders in fighting discrimination and promoting inclusivity, combined with our wonderfully multicultural location, makes us the perfect club for this pilot initiative.”

Maintained Dr. Michael Seeraj, Charlton’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, “This research will provide vital insight into how we can make our matchdays more attractive to our local community and will also provide key actions which we at Charlton can learn from to make really important, positive change. It can serve as a template for the EFL clubs to positively influence the long-term sustainability and growth of the clubs fostering stronger community engagement and driving inclusivity.”

Added David McArdle, EFL Director of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), “The EFL clubs are proud to represent the communities they serve and work hard through various initiatives to create a welcoming environment for all. Our ambition is for the EFL to be truly reflective and inclusive of the diverse communities they represent across 72 towns and Cities. The Diverse Fans Project with Charlton Athletic enables us to listen first-hand to the needs of the local community to drive positive change with the aim of making football even more accessible to the communities.”

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