Community and camaraderie through Deise Pride FC 

Newly-formed Déise Pride FC was dreamed up to provide a supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ individuals to express themselves freely, while also promoting camaraderie and community bonding through a shared love of football. The new club not only fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance but also promotes diversity and representation within the local sports community.

Founder, Blake Coe, wanted to create a safe and inclusive space where members can be themselves and feel comfortable playing a sport. By creating an environment where individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations can participate without fear of judgment or discrimination, the club is making a significant impact on the lives of its members and the broader community.

While studying in UCC a couple of years ago, Blake joined the Cork Rebels FC and when he moved back home he decided to see if there was enough interest to set up something similar in Waterford. He set up Déise Pride FC’s Instagram page in October 2023 and within a week it had a hundred followers and lots of inquiries. The next step was to setup a WhatsApp group and organise training, and a friend of Blake’s, Deane Walsh offered to coach the team.

“It was a small bit of selfishness on my part. I still wanted to play football and I decided to set up a club so I could do that,” he explains. 

“Given the stigma around trans people in sports, I think it’s very much needed, especially with the amount of trans people we do have on the team. Even for myself, I came out as trans in 2016 and I felt I couldn’t play football anymore, I just couldn’t grasp what team I fitted into or what team I was allowed to join.” 

Weekly training sessions are a great opportunity for everyone involved to hone their skills and make lasting connections within the club. The member’s commitment to training and the improvement in football skills demonstrates not only their dedication to the sport but also their dedication to each other and the community they've built together. Blake’s courage and initiative has paid off and he is thrilled that the club has become a shining light for many.

“I was surprised by the numbers that we have and our members consistently show up for training. It’s actually amazing. I am beyond proud of them. The majority of them were beginners and looking at them now you wouldn’t think that. They are putting in the effort every week and they are also having a laugh and enjoying themselves,” says Blake.

Building friendships and fostering a sense of camaraderie within the team is incredibly important, and Blake has succeeded in creating a supportive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. The positive impact extends far beyond just playing football, it has also helped create a sense of belonging and acceptance for everyone involved. Neurodivergent team members are finding enjoyment and fulfilment in the social and competitive aspects of the team. “We try to accommodate everyone as best as possible. We don’t want anyone left out or to create a space that’s too much for them,” says Blake.

Organising social events and tournaments also offers opportunities for team building, friendly competition and making connections. “Everyone seems to want to partake. I think they are five inclusive teams in the country. We take part in friendlies and tournaments. We are going to Cork soon to play Cork Rebel FC. There is also a tournament every year in the UK and the Euro Games is another one. We are hoping to have a decent competitive side to take part in Lyon next year.” “We do look at the team competitively but it’s more of a social thing for people of the community to get together, to have a kick about, to have a laugh, and make some friends. If we get the word out that we are actually a proper club, we could get more people to join up too.” Engaging in team sports can offer numerous benefits beyond physical health, including social interaction, teamwork, and building confidence. Blake is thrilled to see the team flourish both on and off the pitch, especially as a lot of the members had never played before.

“The response and the effort in the last couple of months has been amazing. I wasn’t really expecting our members to be consistent every week, I thought there would be a drop off in attendance. I was genuinely surprised that people wanted to come and stay consistent every week. They actually want to improve their football skills and aren’t looking at it from just a social perspective.” The club has proudly teamed up with Pride of the Déise and are involved in a number of events. “We were asked to be Grand Marshals of the Pride March on June 1st. We are all looking forward to it, we have our jerseys ready to go. We are also organising a five-aside blitz tournament in People’s Park on June 2nd at 12 pm. We have sign-ups on our Instagram and Facebook page for anyone who wants to take part.” Family and friends of the LGBTQIA+ community are invited to sign-up and show support for the community on the day.

Checkout Déise Pride FC on Instagram if you are interested in a club that is committed to inclusivity, acceptance, not to mention fun! @deisepridefc