With this month being Pride Month, the first weekend in June is recognised as Pride Round for the Southern FNL. Clubs and teams across the League are encouraged to celebrate the diversity of our communities and to promote inclusion.
This year the Dingley Football Netball Club and St Kilda City Football Netball Club will be competing for the Pride Cup in their A2 Netball match tonight at Rowans Road Reserve. Both teams will be wearing special bibs to commemorate Pride Round, with Dingley set to wear bibs that represent the transgender flag and St Kilda City wearing rainbow bibs to represent the LGBTQIA+ community.
(Pictured: Left Dingley bibs, Right St Kilda City bibs)
Having helped in the initiation of the inaugural Pride Round in 2016, St Kilda City Coach, Mel Starr is excited to represent inclusivity in netball, “Being in St Kilda, we are a very diverse community, and we want everyone to feel comfortable, recognised and included. We’re lucky we are involved in a sport that is open to all, and the Club is very conscious that we are open and inclusive to anybody that wants to play, officiate or be part of our St Kilda City Netball community”.
The President of the Dingley Netball Club, Marg Heenan, said “It's a real honor to be a part of something special like this and play a part in Pride Round. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive club”.
This matchup is set to be an entertaining one with Dingley currently sitting 2nd with St Kilda City occupying 4th spot in their division. St Kilda City will be looking for a win over Dingley to cement themselves as a top 4 contender.
The Pride Cup between Dingley and St Kilda City starts at 8:10pm at Rowan Road Reserve on Court 3. Be sure to get down and watch what will surely be not only a fantastic game but a celebration of the inclusive nature of netball.
The Southern FNL wishes everyone a happy Pride Month and we cannot wait to see you all during Pride Round this weekend.
