Gay Gooners have been running for a year longer and boast more than 250 members. “That’s very important to us and hopefully over the next 12 months our relationship will grow even stronger.” “Spurs organised for Steffen to be at the five-a-side and regularly allow us to have pieces in the matchday programme and do stuff around the stadium aimed at spreading our message, such as handing out leaflets, which we’ll again do before Saturday’s derby,” says Proud Lilywhites co-chair Christina Paouros. Now the group is 130-strong and has an official relationship with the club, one that has led to a rainbow flag being permanently on show at White Hart Lane and group officials maintaining regular contact with Spurs board members. A year ago, Proud Lilywhites had only 10 members and aspirations of working towards making the experience of watching Tottenham a wholly welcoming and safe one for LGBT fans. In truth, the thrashing of local foe mattered less to those on the winning side – including hat-trick hero Laura Bint – than the fact they had a reason to stage the game in the first place. The celebratory five-a-side match in London’s Edmonton was refereed by Tottenham coach and former midfielder Steffen Freund.
