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01 May 2007

Cliftonville’s Manager Eddie Patterson, Cliftonville Star Declan O’Hara, Glentoran Professional Player’s Philip Simpson and Gary Browne joined Fans and Community Workers in North Belfast on Monday at Cliftonville’s stadium, Solitude, to make a stand against bigotry to launch the Northern Ireland Community Relation’s Council’s “Week of Action”, April 30 to May 6.

Glentoran and Cliftonville Stars Unite with Fans Against Bigotry

Cliftonville’s Manager Eddie Patterson, Cliftonville Star Declan O’Hara, Glentoran Professional Player’s Philip Simpson and Gary Browne joined Fans and Community Workers in North Belfast on Monday at Cliftonville’s stadium, Solitude, to make a stand against bigotry to launch the Northern Ireland Community Relation’s Council’s “Week of Action”, April 30 to May 6. This week sees more than 150 Community Relations events taking place across Northern Ireland.

Glentoran Defender, Philip Simpson, highlighted how the Players, Fans and Community Workers supported the promotion of positive community relations:

“We all have a responsibility to challenge sectarianism and racism. Today was an opportunity for us to stand shoulder to shoulder and say no to bigotry”.

Paul Irwin from the Irish League Forums Supporters Group added:

“There is a lot of positive community relations work going on in the Irish League which is player and supporter driven. In recent years we have seen real progress in creating a more family orientated atmosphere at games”.

Aruna Djalo, Captain of the IFA’s World United ethnic minority football team and an Employee for the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities praised football for making such progress in the field of Community Relations:

“The Irish FA, Players from the Irish League and Fans are making real progress creating a more inclusive culture in football. Their support for the Community Relations Council’s Week of Action and their Football For All strategy proactively encourages positive community relations through sport and deserves praise”.

For further information contact Michael Boyd on 07894614328