The assessment process took place at various stages across the 2023/24 season, the last of which was a presentation to the ‘EFL Together’ panel of independent inclusion experts, with focus on demonstrating that we’re committed to a cycle of continuous improvement with regards to equality, both throughout the club and in our wider community.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion have been at the heart of Watford Football Club since Graham Taylor and Sir Elton John joined forces to put Watford on the map as the original family and community club. We remain proud of our record in this regard and as one of only two clubs to achieve this award, it also reflects that we continue to be a driving force for inclusion across football.
“We’re thrilled to be one of the first two clubs to achieve the gold standard of the EFL Equality Code of Practice” said Head Coach Tom Cleverley. “Everyone at the club is proud of the campaigns we’ve run and the work we do to make our club as inclusive as possible on matchdays, in our workforce and in our local community.”
Our ‘Watford Welcomes’ initiative launched at the start of 2018/19 season and has allowed us not only to establish but to cement relationships with local community representatives from a wide range of beliefs, faiths and purposes.
The club’s also works closely with our Community, Sports & Education Trust to deliver our shared goals and visions. The Trust has recently appointed Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules as an EDI Officer, and the Club and Trust both run EDI related staff working groups to ensure that our values are embedded in every department.
Awareness and education are vital tools for positive change, and we use those as part of our ‘We’ campaign, which was launched in 2019 and encourages the calling out of all forms of discrimination – wherever they may occur in relation to the club’s activities.
The club also extended the reach of the We campaign by launching ‘We Allies’, a group of supporters and local community contacts who have become advocates for and helped us promote our work on EDI amongst their fellow Hornets and across the whole town.
“It’s brilliant to have achieved the gold level, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our local community partners, supporters and staff who’ve been a part of the process.” said Dave Messenger, the club’s EDI Lead. “There is no finishing line here, and we remain fully committed to an ongoing journey of inclusive development. Our pledge is that we continue to better represent our local community’s demographic and we’re already working on plans for awareness campaigns and local events for the 2024/25 season.”
Initially launched in 2012, the EFL’s Equality Code of Practice was revamped to become a multi-level accreditation scheme at the start of the 2022/23 season, with 46 of the 72 EFL Clubs achieving at least Bronze by the end of the 2023/24 season.
“Our 72 Clubs represent communities of people from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds” said David McArdle, EFL Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. “The EFL’s Code of Practice is the foundation on which our work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is built, providing Clubs with a clear framework and setting out exactly what they need to put in place to ensure the Club is reflective of the community at all levels. The progress being made is very encouraging and the EFL will continue to support and empower all Clubs to make a positive impact on their communities and the wider game.”
Click HERE to find out more about Watford FC’s commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. You can download a full copy of the EFL’s ‘Together’ strategy HERE.
Click HERE for the latest update on actions taken as part of the We Campaign.
If you would like to join the ‘We Allies’ group or have any questions regarding it, please email Chris Hall, the club’s Supporter Liaison Officer, at chris.hall@watfordfc.com with ‘We Allies’ in the subject line, giving a brief overview of why you would like to take part.
