Leeds Laces Unveil New Kit Celebrating Community and Inclusion
Leeds Laces outside the Brewery Wharf Tavern for their kit launch | Image Creds: Kellsie Thornton
Leeds Laces are celebrating a new milestone with the launch of their latest football kit, reflecting the identity of the club which has been built on community, inclusion and a shared passion for the game.
Since launching in July, the grassroots women’s football team has grown to over 40 players, bringing together people from all different backgrounds and experience levels. Chairperson Lydia Shale said the club began with a conversation between friends about women’s football, their own experiences of the sport and how they could create something different. A year of discussions followed, as the group developed its values, aims and vision. They used free time around their work to help turn their ideas into reality.
“We’ve all come together, we’ve spent a lot of time planning to make the club”
They researched existing football clubs across Leeds and used Sport England research to identify areas with high levels of physical inactivity, whilst also considering the socioeconomic barriers that can prevent people from taking part in sport.
“We had to be quite intentional about it,” Shale explained.
The club aims to provide opportunities for people who might otherwise struggle to access football and the new kit is an important part of that identity. Working with Foudys, the team developed a distinctive design that helps players feel connected through a shared sense of belonging. The purple represents gender equality and women’s rights.
The sense of community built around the club has been one of its most meaningful successes. “I think it’s just the most important thing right now that we’ve built a proper community,” Shale added, highlighting the involvement of families and supporters alongside the players.
Local business Brewery Wharf Tavern have also supported the club and are the kits main sponsor. Sponsorship is essential in grassroots football where clubs must balance running costs whilst maintaining affordability for its players. “We are relying on sponsors to make that happen,” Shale added. Support from sponsors such as Brewery Wharf Tavern has helped Leeds Laces keep costs low, allowing players to access the sport at a more affordable price.
Despite its progress, Leeds Laces has not gone without setbacks. Suitable facilities have been hard to come by, with limited access to pitches and changing rooms have presented challenges to the team.
“Access to the sport shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be given”
Leeds Laces also have an education pathway with the University of Leeds to improve education and understanding around women’s health in sport: focussing primarily on the menstrual cycle and how it can affect sporting performance and participation. Shale said the initiative reflects the club’s commitment to support players at different stages of their lives, with members’ ages ranging from 16 to over 40.
With a growing community and a clear vision of the future, Leeds Laces prove that football is about more than a game, it is about bringing people together and creating a place where everyone belongs.
You can find out more via their social media at @leedslacesfc on Instagram and on their website. For more about the wider Laces project click here.
Words by Luke Shearer | Edited by James Morgan | Photos by Kellsie Thornton