“I grew up thinking sports weren’t really for me.”
Surrey County Cricket Club yesterday announced the second annual Proud Surrey T20 match will be taking place this season on Sunday July 2nd, against Essex at The Kia Oval.
Much like in 2022, the game will be presented in association with Proud Surrey – the official Surrey LGBTQ+ supporters group.
Ahead of the announcement, we spoke to Proud Surrey Chair Ewen Macleod and Proud Surrey Social Secretary Paul Mooney.
When asked why events like this are important to the LGBTQ+ community, Ewen said: “I think it’s really important to show visibility at sporting events.
“I grew up thinking that sports weren’t really for me or that sporting events weren’t necessarily going to welcome me or let me be myself and I think it’s really good that Surrey are visibly supporting the LGBTQ+ community with events like this.”
Asked what difference an event like this, or the existence of a Proud Surrey supporters group, would have made to him growing up, Paul added: “It would have given me hope and somewhere to know that I could go to.”
Last year, in addition to the first annual Pride game – when Surrey bested Kent Spitefires at The Kia Oval – Proud Surrey marched alongside the ECB in the official London Pride March.
Paul Mooney confirmed in his interview that this would be happening again in 2023 and opened up the offer for others to join, should they wish.
He said: “We’ve invited other Club’s as well, other counties or any local Club’s. If they want to join us they should get in contact with us and we can accommodate that.”
Mooney also revealed plans are beginning to come together for a special Pride Parade during the interval of the Proud Surrey T20 game: “We will be joining London Pride and we will be doing a parade during the interval during the Essex game as well!”
Scroll down to watch our interview with Paul and Ewen of Proud Surrey in full.
Tickets for the Proud Surrey T20 are available to buy from £1 for U16s and £27 for adults are available here.
