Northern NSW Football’s 2024 Pride Round is this weekend, promoting and supporting the diversity and inclusion of the LGBTQI+ communities and families within the football community.
We spoke with Adamstown Rosebud JFC’s Olivia Sneddon about her journey and experiences as a gay female footballer. The goalkeeper has been an integral part of Adamstown’s NPL Women’s NNSW side as a key player. Sneddon is also a coach at the club and is a role model for many young girls across the football community on and off the pitch.
NNSWF: How did you get involved in football?
Olivia Sneddon: I started playing with my brothers as a kid. I have a twin brother so we both signed up when we were about six or seven. My brother gave it up after a few years but I never stopped playing.
NNSWF: How did you get into goalkeeping?
OS: I just got thrown in there one day when I was about 13 and really enjoyed it but I still also wanted to play on the field. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I became a goalkeeper full time.
NNSWF: What are some of the highlights of your football career?
OS: The biggest highlight so far was being a train on player with the Newcastle Jets women’s team for a period of time. But another major highlight has been playing over 100 first grade games across the WPL and NPL NNSW.
NNSWF: How important is it to support inclusion and diversity in football?
OS: I think it’s really important that football should be a place that you come and enjoy no matter what. It should never feel like you can’t enjoy it because of factors external to football and there should be no barriers.
NNSWF: How do you think football currently supports inclusion and diversity?
OS: I think support is shown through rounds like Pride Round to help make sure that everyone knows that they are welcome and that that there are policies against abuse of any kind.
NNSWF: What do you think football could do better to be more inclusive?
OS: I have never had a negative experience in football and it has always been supportive for me. But there are steps that can be taken in the men’s game to help be accepting and welcoming to players.
I think that we can give more education to clubs, especially in the men’s football space, on how to be respectful and create a supportive culture and environment that encourages players to be true to themselves.
NNSWF: What is it like to be a LGBTQ+ player in football?
OS: I have never had anything negative happen to me. I feel like there are a lot of players in the same position.
Football helped me to come out by having that support around me and seeing that being LGBTQ+ is okay when I was younger player to see. It was really helpful for me and is a really good place to feel comfortable in my sexuality.
NNSWF: How important is it for NNSWF to have Pride Round?
OS: It is really important as the more we have rounds like this the more we can have these conversations. Players now know that there is support from their clubs and Northern NSW Football with policies behind them to create a safe space.
NNSWF: How does it make you feel seeing so many clubs support Pride Round?
OS: It’s so cool and so unbelievable to know that there is so much support around us and that it shouldn’t be a barrier anymore. To have so many clubs and people supporting pride and create an inclusive environment is incredible.
The girls in my team will be getting some rainbow ribbons for all of us to wear, which will be awesome.
Find out more about Pride Round HERE.