This past Saturday, July 2nd, 11-a-side players from both AFC Unity teams combined and traveled to Leeds to join our allies Republica Internationale on a day featuring the theme, “Love Football, Hate Racism.”
We met up with Republica Internationale – and members of Yorkshire St Pauli – at the train station, and joined them in a peaceful march through the city centre carrying banners and calling for an end to racial prejudice in all its forms.
At the culmination of the rally, the crowd gathered on the steps of Leeds Art Gallery, where speakers emphasised the importance of reporting hate crimes and nurturing inclusive communities.
Afterwards, AFC Unity and Republica Internationale headed off to the pitch to assemble the goals (and score plenty, in Republica Internationale’s case!) for a very unique friendly match.
It was a fantastic day of solidarity through soccer, showing once again how football can be a positive force to bring people together and have a good influence on the community.
AFC Unity wish to thank Republica Internationale for hosting us, and for their continued friendship and solidarity, as together clubs like ours aim to change the sport, and society, for the better.
You can read more about Republica Internationale and the good work they do here, at their official website.