Slimbridge AFC are looking forward to supporting Kick It Out and Fans For Diversity on Non League Day on Saturday 7th October when they host Hartley Wintney in the FA Trophy at Thornhill Park.

The Southern League Division One South and West club, along with Altrincham, Metropolitan Police, and Solihull Moors, have dedicated their fixtures to football’s equality and inclusion organisation.

The planned activity at the four clubs on Non League Day will seek to encourage greater engagement with a diverse range of communities, including local residents, young people and more.

In conjunction with Slimbridge Youth FC, there will be a range of pre-match activities supporting the campaigns, with players from both teams wearing T-shirts recognising Kick It Out and Fans For Diversity during the pre-match warm-up, and supporters in attendance welcomed with badges, stickers, wristbands and fan clappers.

The club will be running competitions in conjunction with the Slimbridge Youth FC for groups of local young people who will join players of both teams for a mixed team photo behind a ‘Kick It Out’ banner.

Slimbridge AFC press officer Tim Blake said: “We’re delighted to be involved in such a high profile national initiative and to give our support as a club to both Kick It Out and Fans for Diversity.

“We are very well aware of Hartley Wintney’s previous good work with these campaigns, so it will be a pleasure for both clubs to work together to promote this Non League Day Initiative – until 3pm, of course, when there is a football match to be won!”

A Slimbridge Youth FC spokeman said: “At Slimbridge Youth Football Club, we promote fun, friendly and professional football for boys and girls of all abilities.

“We use the positive power of football to create equal opportunities and diversity for anyone and everyone, so we are very pleased and proud to be involved in this initiative.”

Anwar Uddin, who leads on the Fans For Diversity campaign, is delighted to continue supporting Non league Day and believes this year’s partnership work will be the most impressive so far.

“It’s vital for the Fans For Diversity campaign to engage with supporters at all levels of football – not just the professional leagues – and that’s why I’m so pleased that we are able to continue promoting our messages of diversity and inclusion in non-league football,” he said.

“As someone who has played and managed in non-league, I firmly believe we have to keep working hard to tackle discrimination at this level and ensure it’s an environment that is welcome to everyone.”

Roisin Wood, chief executive of Kick It Out, is equally pleased that the organisation has continued its support of Non League Day this year.

“Kick It Out has been a proud supporter of Non league Day for six years now and know just how important it is to support clubs as they seek to engage a diverse range of the community in their local area,” she said.

“The Fans For Diversity campaign has been a powerful tool to encourage supporters to celebrate the diversity we have in football and I look forward to this year’s activities emphasising the message that our game is inclusive – we should all feel excited about supporting our local club.”