Foundation host first West Midlands Pride Cup tournament

Aston Villa Foundation and Pride House Birmingham partnered up to stage a five-a-side mixed-gender, friendly competition in Villa Park’s Academy Building on Saturday.

Teams representing Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers competed for Pride Cup trophy.

Villa were represented through members of the official LGBTQ+ Supporters Network, Villa & Proud, who did the club proud with their performance on the day. Wolves finished as champions on the day, claiming the winners’ medals following a round-robin contest.

The event was held in support of both Pride House Birmingham, which will celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport at the Commonwealth Games, and the Foundation’s TeamWork initiative, which focusses on mental and physical wellbeing, and their ‘Be You’ safe space sessions.

Pride House Birmingham Co-Founder and tournament organiser Neil Basterfield said: “LGBTQ+ people disproportionately suffer from mental health issues and sport is a great way of improving wellbeing, so It’s great to see these four rival clubs come together to support these important initiatives before our city hosts the Commonwealth Games.”

While pride was at stake on the pitch, there was an abundance of off-field unity as the four teams helped to highlight the need for welcoming sports spaces that keep people active and connected to their communities.

After the event players enjoyed a social evening at The Loft Bar and Kitchen in Birmingham’s Gay Village, which is also the location for Pride House Birmingham.

Pride House Birmingham is a venue devoted to inclusion and culture that will open in the heart of the city’s Gay Village before the start of the Commonwealth Games and will welcome guests for the duration of the multi-sports event.

Pride Houses have been established at many sporting events around the world since 2010. Visitors include competing athletes, fans and spectators, VIPs, and people fulfilling other roles in the event itself. A busy programme of activities, performances, screenings and entertainment is supplemented by viewing opportunities of live sport.

At Birmingham 2022, and for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, Pride House Birmingham will be fully integrated, ensuring wider awareness of its ‘Celebrate, Participate, Educate’ ethos and programme. The venue is scheduled to open on Friday, July 22 ahead of the start of the Games on Thursday, July 28.