Football is Football: Lucozade Sport redraws lines of football pitches to promote equality in the game
Lucozade Sport, proud hydration partner of all England teams, is redrawing the lines of football pitches to show how the boundaries of the game are being rewritten every time a girl or a woman steps onto a pitch.
Pitches in Salford, Manchester have received the redesign following England’s victory against Austria at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The powerful message: ‘Football is Football’ adorns the touchlines, with Lucozade Sport’s full ‘Football is Football’ manifesto adoring the centre circle, encouraging players of all abilities and genders to be celebrated equally and placing equality at the centre of the game.
The newly designed pitch is free for all to play on for the next seven days and those keen to develop their skills can simply visit the Salford Sports Village and ask for the Football is Football pitches which can be played on for free.
Clubs from around the UK can show their support to making football a more inclusive sport by requesting a Football is Football stencil from Lucozade Sport. The brand will supply these free of charge to allow teams to paint their own touchlines.
Former England internationals David James and Toni Duggan have backed the initiative by marking the lines on the pitch themselves. Allowing the next generation of talent to visibly see how football can become a more inclusive sport throughout England’s summer campaign and beyond.
An England player is an England player and football is football, regardless of who's playing. It's amazing to see how far we've come, but we know we can go even further.
I am supporting Lucozade Sport’s message because I really believe that everyone should recognise football as one game. After all, we all start out playing with our mates on grassroots pitches just like the ones I have helped repaint! Some of us are fortunate enough to turn professional but we all have one thing in common – a love of football. With the Women’s Euros on home soil this summer, there is no better time to come together and cheer on the Lionesses. Come on England!
This year is huge for England with competitions for many teams, and we want to ensure the nation are right behind all our players. Our Football is Football campaign aims to encourage conversation and change attitudes by making the nation’s most played sport as inclusive as it can be for players from all walks of life.
The initiative is part of Lucozade Sport's Football is Football campaign that launched to promote and celebrate equality within the game and includes their sponsorship of all England teams and a partnership with sporting charity, Football Beyond Borders. The campaign aims to spark conversation and initiate change among players and supporters.
Lucozade Sport is the official hydration partner of all England teams and has been since 2006. It is an isotonic sports drink specifically formulated to provide carbohydrates and electrolytes to enhance hydration and help maintain performance during prolonged endurance exercise.