Football Welcomes: Goal Click x Amnesty International

To mark Football Welcomes month, Amnesty International UK and Goal Click teamed up for a special photography series telling stories from refugees across the country through football.

Now in its fifth year, Football Welcomes, supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, celebrates the contribution players from a refugee background make to the game, and highlights the role football can play in creating more welcoming communities for refugees. The number of football clubs taking part is a record high of 209 compared to 160 clubs in 2019.

As Naomi Westland, Movement Building Manager, Amnesty International UK, noted:
“The impact of the pandemic combined with the government’s new asylum proposals mean it’s more important than ever that communities come together to show solidarity with refugees and people seeking asylum. The game can be a powerful force for good, bringing people together and providing a sense of purpose and belonging. For those who’ve fled conflict and persecution and had to leave everything behind, this is incredibly important.”

Goal Click worked with five partners of the Football Welcomes Community Project - Leicester City in the Community, Liverpool County FA, Middlesbrough FC Foundation, Aston Villa Foundation, and Club Doncaster Foundation. Players from refugee backgrounds told their stories through their experiences with football using Goal Click disposable cameras and their own words.

Matthew Barrett, Founder of Goal Click, noted:

“This Goal Click series for Football Welcomes aims to challenge stereotypes and give a real, intimate look into refugees' football lives from their own perspective. Negative media stories about refugees are frequent, but it is rare to hear their voices and see the world through their eyes. Football is often the best way to create a more welcoming community and can help people better understand the stories of refugees.”

Hear the stories of refugees

Adela (originally from Afghanistan), Leicester (with Leicester City in the Community)

Nothing is impossible, and women can play football. Some people think women cannot play. Having big aims and goals can help us achieve big things. Football is like a road. When we choose which way we are going, then we can move our way and achieve our goal.

Shaygan Banisaeid (originally from Iran), Middlesbrough (with Middlesbrough FC Foundation)

Without football there is no doubt that getting settled in a different country and different culture would be ten times more difficult for me and I know it is the same for our participants in the Club Together project. On the pitch, we are all speaking a common language, Football Language.

Abdelaziz (originally from Sudan), Doncaster (with Club Doncaster Foundation)

Football is important to me because it releases me from all the stresses of life and work - as I work three jobs now. Football is the biggest part of my life. Doncaster Rovers is a good team and important to the local community. It has now been long time without football. It’s so boring. I hope that we won’t be locked down again. I will be so happy when I play football at Keepmoat every week.