AFC Wimbledon will welcome a group of local Asian women to Kingsmeadow for the first time this Saturday as part of the ‘Women at the Game’ initiative.
The League One clash against Blackpool will see ladies from the Saheli and Milaap Centre groups in Kingston take in a typical match experience.
‘Women at the Game’ was the brainchild of the late Jacqui Forster, from Supporters Direct (now part of the Football Supporters Association) with the aim “to give women their first taste of live football in a supportive environment”.
The group were given a ‘taster’ of what to expect a few weeks ago with a stadium tour and also watched a presentation all about the fans club.
The event has been organised by the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Working Group, set up by The Dons Trust and led by DT Board member Jane Lonsdale MBE and will also be supported by the Fans For Diversity initiative.
On the initiative, Jane Lonsdale said: “It’s the second year we’ve run this event. Last year we had a group of women at a game and they had never been to a match before.
“This year we are welcoming this group of Asian ladies to the game and we are hoping that this will become an annual event.”
Anuk Teasdale, member of the Dons Trust Diversity & Inclusion Working Group added: “This group of women really want to engage with their community.
“Previously they would have only experienced watching football on TV and that would have only because the male members of their families were.
“I think they are going to be surprised by what a positive and experience they can have at an AFC Wimbledon match.”
The Dons Trust Diversity & Inclusion Working Group also welcome new members and new ideas, so if you would like to join the group, please contact Jane at [email protected]