Preston North End is joining football clubs across the country to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum as part of Amnesty International’s Football Welcomes campaign.
Now in its fifth year, Football Welcomes celebrates the contribution players from a refugee background make to the game, and highlights the role football can play in bringing people together and creating more welcoming communities for refugees.
Football Welcomes this year coincides with the return of grassroots sport as lockdown rules ease, which provides a much-needed opportunity for people to reconnect with each other and their communities and to improve mental and physical health.
Preston North End players will wear themed warm-up t-shirts ahead of tomorrow’s night fixture against Derby County to back the campaign, which is supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Clubs from across the Premier League, English Football League, FA Women’s Super League, Championship and National League, Cymru North and South, and grassroots teams have signed up to take part in Football Welcomes.
Naomi Westland, Movement Building Manager at Amnesty International UK, said: “With the long-awaited return of outdoor activities, we are excited to see the commitment from the footballing community to come together and welcome refugees.
“Clubs like Preston North End are at the heart of their communities and football can be a powerful force for good, bringing people together and providing a sense of purpose and belonging. For those who have fled conflict and persecution and had to leave everything behind, this is incredibly important.
“It’s heartening to see football clubs across the country doing great work in their communities to show there is more that unites us than divides us.”