Rubbishing the belief that “gay people are not interested in sport” is one of the reasons Ireland’s only gay football team, Dublin Devils, is going from strength.
The club was founded in 2005 and now has over 50 active members.
As part of the Dublin Pride festival 2018, the team competed in a special community game against Shelbourne FC at Tolka Park on Saturday.
Speaking to 98FM, the club's chairman John McAree said:
“We’re not just a football club, we’re a social club aswell. The club is more than just about football and being gay. It’s a great resource to have, welcoming new people, and we have a number of straight players also. We’re a friendly bunch”.
Dublin Devils hold weekly training sessions and welcome all level of skill and fitness.
Addressing the issue of there still being no openly gay top-level footballers, McAree hopes that this is something that will change: “To have a player in The Premier League, or in one of the top leagues around Europe would be fantastic. It would make a huge statement that football is for everybody”.
The Dublin Devils will be taking part in this weekend’s Dublin Pride Parade.
For more information on the club, click here.
Listen back to John McAree's interview with Derek Ryan from Now That's Why I Call Sport here.
98FM is an official media partner of Dublin LGBTQ Pride
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