On the eve of the recent 21^st birthday celebrations for Manchester Pride, the local LGBT sports teams and organizations gathered to kick off the weekends main events with the annual ‘It’s a Gay Knockout’ at Taurus Bar on Canal St.

This year, ‘loud and proud’ best wishes and a signed football were sent to those competing from Bury and Nigeria defender Efe Sodje, who took time out from his hectic pre-match routine and scheduled commitments to his own young people’s charity ‘The Sodje Sports Foundation for a photo opportunity to help raise the awareness of LGBT inclusion in football.

“the player will have to be very brave and strong’’.

Efe spoke of how he himself is still subjected to abuse during games from the seemingly uneducated fans in stands and on terraces. He believes the fans’  homophobia would be difficult to deal with, but thinks that from a professional game perspective “the player would be accepted within a dressing room environment, and that team mates he hopes would be supportive.’’

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