In Conversation with Cardiff 62s FC
Welcome to Rally’s interview series, introducing you to powerhouse leaders in the LGBTQ+ sports community who are featured on our app. Follow along to learn more about the different sports groups they represent, and how to get connected to queer sports sessions in your area.
Cardiff has a brand new football team, specifically for women and minority genders, ready to take on the world one football match at a time. Also open to allies as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community, the team meets every week for training sessions, ad will be starting the league soon which will be one match a month. They also play friendlies occasionally when they have the chance, and want to invite new members to get involved and join in the fun.
BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS
Hailing from Wales, we sat down with players Jo and Ash from Cardiff 62s football club, to hear more about their mission as an explicitly LGBTQIA+-centered team, their first time at the Ball Together Now tournament, and their commitment to creating an inclusive space for trans and minority genders.
The 62s got their start last year, driven by co-founder Jo. Since then, they’ve been hosting football training sessions each week in their city, and encourage those of all skill levels and abilities to join in.
“Last year, a group of friends and I used to play together here in Cardiff, and we decided it was finally time to get our own team put together, a LGBTQ+ seven-a-side team. Most of us were a part of the community, and the others were allies,” Jo said.
Growing up in Portugal, Jo wasn’t encouraged to participate in football because of the male-dominated culture surrounding the sport. Now, after playing football for around two years, Jo is leading the way in spurring LGBTQIA+ involvement in the sport through the formation of the 62s.
“We really wanted to create a place where everyone feels comfortable, accepted, listened to, and everyone can be themselves,” Jo said.
Ash joined the team a few months back and is currently playing as the goalkeeper for the 62s. She shared about her experience disliking sports growing up, which led to feelings of isolation. Ash explained more about her past experiences with sports, and her connection with another trans player on the team, who encouraged her to attend practices.
“I was always really hesitant and I had a really horrible relationship with sport as a kid. I kind of hated all sports, because being trans, I was supposed to play with all the boys and that sucked. I never in a million years thought I would play football again, it seemed like the last thing I'd ever want to do,” Ash said.
“And then I met another trans woman who plays with us who got everything that I was saying, because it's not an experience everyone necessarily understands. When I spoke to her, she was really keen for me to do it, and saying how important it was and how much different it can be with the right group of people,” Ash explained.
Their connection shows how LGBTQIA+ sports teams can unite those in the community with shared experiences.
Ash reflected on “the impact that that person had on me when I met her. I want to do what I can to encourage other trans women into sports because of how much I think it's helped me and how much it could help them.”
INCLUSION OF TRANS AND MINORITY GENDERS IS A PRIORITY
Ash shared more about the need for LGBTQIA+ sports teams, specifically for the trans community and supporting their involvement in sport.
“I think that having these spaces is so important for trans people to be able to go and feel welcomed and feel like it's not all bad news. Having that hope and that inclusivity is absolutely massive,” Ash said.
“I think also just generally speaking, team sports are fun, and being a part of something, feeling like you're part of the community is always a good thing, and can help you. You can't understate it.”
From talking with Jo and Ash, it’s clear that they care deeply about the community they’ve created, and being intentional about who they compete against and partner with.
“We need to care for the people who have trusted us to join our team. We promise our players that we don't put them in a situation where they're not allowed to play. We are very clear when we go about making partnerships and playing other people,” Jo explained.
Jo expressed the team is firm on their mission to compete solely against other teams who support LGBTQIA+ involvement in sport.
“We make sure everyone we play against, every league we join, any tournament we join is trans-friendly and minority-gender inclusive, because we, as a club, do not tolerate any form of discrimination, any form of homophobia or transphobia against any of our members,” Jo said.
The 62’s stance on trans involvement in sport directly challenges the discriminatory and anti-trans sports policies unjustly implemented by UK Athletics this past March. However, Ash emphasized how her experience with the 62’s has alleviated some of the overwhelming feelings she’s been experiencing because of this legislation.
“It’s easy to get in your own head or get really unwell about the whole situation that's happening with trans people in sports, and trans people in general in the media. Having this space of people that are so obviously inclusive and welcoming, has done a huge amount to lift my spirits in that sense, and not let me get in my own head and catastrophize.” Ash explained.
FIRST TIME AT BALL TOGETHER NOW
Another group of queer football enthusiasts are working to join like-minded teams together through competition. This past July, another LGBTQIA+ centered soccer club, the Manchester Laces, organized the very first Ball Together Now tournament. This event was a trans-inclusive, grassroots football tournament for women and minority genders, bringing together over twenty different LGBTQIA+ friendly clubs around the UK to compete. The Cardiff 62s attended, and Jo reflected on the experience at the event.
“The atmosphere was really positive, we had a great time. We felt the importance of experiencing inclusive football and what that really means for LGBTQIA+ players, and what it means for the current debates. I think these tournaments show that you can have a fair and interesting competition when you include trans and minority gendes. I think that goes to show like everyone belongs in football and in sports,” Jo said.
Although Ash couldn’t make it to Ball Together Now this year, she shared her reflections about the importance of trans-inclusive sports events to increase visibility of trans participation in sport.
“It wasn't lost on me how important things like this are, especially for someone like myself as a trans woman. It's horrible, to be honest, seeing everything that happens in the news and how dangerous the rhetoric against trans women in sports can be. These festivals that are explicitly inclusive of trans people and have a very clear stance against this idea that trans women are making women's football unsafe gives me hope, and makes me feel incredibly welcome and included in a way that is at complete odds with how most of the media is. It's so important to have those things.”
MENTAL HEALTH
Though competitive sports bodies continue to fight against trans involvement in competitive sport, queer grassroots sports groups aren’t going anywhere. Ash shared how access to queer-centered and trans-inclusive sports spaces are linked to improved mental health for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Sports in general, even exercise, is proven to have a positive effect on mental health. It's not always possible, given certain circumstances, but being able to do exercise is such a massive improvement on general well-being. I think that having these kinds of spaces specifically for myself as a trans woman has been absolutely huge. Being able to do it again and actually fall in love with it has been so so beneficial,” Ash said.
The Cardiff 62s maintain a focus on mental health for players with the implementation of a welfare officer, who organizes “welfare walks,” for the group, and set up a positive affirmations exercise for the team before one of their practices.
Ash also shared that the 62s have an anonymous survey for people to share their opinions and experiences with the team, “to ask, is training offering everything you need, is there anything we can do to support you better? I think it gives a very open and collaborative feel to the training - it's dictated by you and you get so much of a say in how the training could be. If there are any issues, there's a lot of different ways to raise them that might not always put pressure on one specific person. I feel very safe in that knowledge,” she said.
“We are playing football, we're not listening to your regulations. We're here, we're staying, and we're accepting everyone. Football is for everyone. Sports is for everyone,” Jo said.
KICK IT WITH THE CARDIFF 62s
You are invited to join the Cardiff 62s at their weekly Wednesday sessions - new members are always welcome. The team brings an open, engaging environment for attendees to work on their skills and to meet other lovely queer people and allies.
“Everyone that comes to us, being a player, a partnership, or anyone that wants to play against us, they know what we stand for, and they know they'll find an inclusive space. We proudly and openly occupy important space in sports, especially now. We're pushing the boundaries and opening the way for future generations of LGBTQI+ folk in sports, and that's something that we're very proud of,” Jo said.
Download Rally now and follow the Cardiff 62s FC to stay up-to-date with their training sessions and matches. Rally is a brand new social network for LGBTQ+ sports and fitness fans, bringing together sports teams and events from around the world, and helping you make new friends to play sports and get fit with. Download the app now from the App Store.