AC Milan, Rhyl, Liverpol, Bangor City, Wrexham,Wolves, Walsall, Swansea, Nottingham Forest,

Manchester City, Everton and Wigan Athletic were just some of the clubs taking part in White Ribbon activities 2006..

Clubs up and down the country were involved in taking a stand against violence against women on November 25 th

Rhyl FC Supporting White Ribbon Campaign

Before the game the team did a photo call. Ribbons were also distributed around the ground.

At Liverpool , there was half a page in the programme (below) , as well as a half time announcement. All 800 staff working at the ground had white ribbons and had briefings about the meaning of the white ribbons.

  Other Premiership White Ribbon Action

Ribbons were also worn on match Day by the managers of Manchester City , and Everton, 300 Wigan Athletic staff and

150 Police Officers joined them on the 2 nd December when they wore white ribbons at their home game against Liverpool,

helping to spread the vital message - that violence against women should not be tolerate.

Walsall and Wolverhampton

On Friday 24th November at 7.30pm , women stood on the pitch at Molineux to help raise awareness of the issues

surrounding domestic violence and football. We had representatives from TUC, Inspire Black Country, Women Organising in Wolverhampton , Walsall Domestic Violence Forum, Walsall Women's Forum, The Haven Wolverhampton and All Saints

Action Network.

On Saturday 25th November at 2pm we joined players on the pitch as they were warming up for the afternoon's match.

There were representatives from TUC, Inspire Black Country, TGWU, Walsall Women's Forum, Walsall Domestic

Violence Forum and the Mayor of Walsall. At both venues the reception from the crowd was good, and the balloon

release was enjoyed by all. The event was organised to highlight the rise in incidents of domestic violence during football and

World Cup seasons and was organised to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Violence (25th November) and White Ribbon Week

  Statement from the Captain of AC Milan, below . Translation underneath

  Rough Translation of the words above:

“To pin the White ribbon on the chest is like taking on the responsibility of captain, but in the more important game, that of life.

Fair play it is an attitude that every sportsman must have when one plays a game, and the engagement not to use violence

against a woman or a girl, never to raise the hands, and not to use the words in order to hurt and to offend is the attitude that

every man must have in life every day. It is important not only for us to hold these attitudes. We must also bring it to others'

attention and ensure that others - our friends, our relatives and even men we don't know – make this commitment.. To be

fully engaged we must also take part in critical situations in order to stop violence and must condemn violent behaviour.

To wear the Ribbon White is like being, at that moment, a team captain, and like a good captain, involvement means

respecting the more important values of life. When playing, the violence of one player damages all the team, and, therefore,

also in life to ignore violence when we know that violence exists creates damage for all society. Therefore we have decided

to come down to support absolutely, with you, the Campaign of the White Ribbon men against violence.”

  Scotland and Heart of Midlothian goalkeeper Craig Gordon said

"I condemn any form of domestic abuse against women. Nobody should ever have to live in fear."

Manager of the Scotland football team Walter Smith said:

"Football has a fantastic following from men all over Scotland but that loyalty and support that we show to our favourite

teams should also be extended to the people in our lives who we care about. There are women all over Scotland who

experience violence and abuse in many forms which in my view, is utterly unacceptable. No one should be living with violence in our society and there is a wealth of agencies out there that can provide the right advice and support that is needed."

  Peterborough United Activities: The DART Project

In Peterborough local young people paraded around the pitch with a giant white ribbon, and white ribbons were given out

before the match. There was a full page announcement in the programme about the activities. The Club had donated the use

of one of their executive boxes to assist with the event, and John Lewis donated the material to make the giant white ribbon.

  2005 NEWS BELOW  If we've left your news out please email us with it, and we'll be pleased to include it.

Liverpool lead the way

In 2005 Liverpool Domestic Violence Co-ordinator Sandy Bowden persuaded Liverpool FC and Newcastle FC managers to wear white ribbons on the nearest Saturday to November 25th. Rafael Benitez PA rang up to say that they'd lost their ribbons in the week leading up to November 25th, and please could we send some more.

Benitez in domestic violence campaign

LIVERPOOL FC manager Rafael Benitez has made a stand against domestic violence. He joined thousands of Liverpool men in wearing a ribbon to highlight the International White Ribbon Day campaign.

Mr Benitez wore his around his arm for the club's victory against Manchester City on Saturday, while yesterday Newcastle manager Graeme Souness was seen wearing a white ribbon during his team's clash with Everton at Goodison Park.

Midwife Marie Harris and the city's domestic violence prevention officer, Sandy Bowden, organised White Ribbon Day events in Liverpool, which were the biggest in the UK.

I

  MORE 2005 NEWS BELOW If we've left your news out please contact us

:

Shirt Sponsorship in Gateshead
Peter Grant of Safer Families Gateshead approached firms of local solicitors to sponsor a domestic violence message on the shirts of the football team he plays for. They were very happy to sponsor the team’s anti domestic violence message.

Now Howorth Christian Fellowship FC plays every Saturday in the N.E. Christian Fellowship League wearing Arsenal type shirts with the slogan: Safer Families Gateshead, The end of the line for Domestic violence

Pitch side adverts in Nottingham Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum (NDVF) have for the last two seasons had pitchside adverts behind the goals at Nottingham Forest. This year they will also have adverts in the programmes for every home game. They also intend to place posters around the ground.

Liverpool lead the way

In 2005 Liverpool Domestic Violence Co-ordinator Sandy Bowden persuaded Liverpool FC and Newcastle FC managers to wear white ribbons on the nearest Saturday to November 25th. Rafael Benitez PA rang up to say that they'd lost their ribbons in the week leading up to November 25th, and please could we send some more.

Community Football

Involvement in White Ribbon Sporting activities happens at all levels.
There was a stand for White Ribbon campaign at the Republica International May Day Tournament, attended by 22 teams in Leeds.

Harrow's White Ribbon 5 a-side football match success

Mon 21 Nov 2005

A five a-side football tournament, organised by the Harrow Domestic Violence Forum and supported by Harrow Council to acknowledge White Ribbon Day 2005, took place on Sunday 20 November at Kodak sports ground.

Six teams took part in the tournament, with the ultimate winners being the Watford Coaches (although the Harrow Housing Benefits team put up a fight in the final).

The aim of Sunday's event was to allow people, men in particular, to express their support against violence towards women, raise awareness of White Ribbon Day and locally promote issues based around domestic violence.

£147 was raised on the day, through the sale of white ribbons and donations. All the proceeds will go to the Children's Education Project - Women's Aid.