Top 5 Reasons To Attend A Gay Soccer Team Fundraiser

Here are four members of the San Francisco Spikes, a predominantly gay non-profit social organization which provides an opportunity to play soccer in a positive and friendly environment.

I’ve been proud to coach for and play with gay men’s soccer teams since the spring of 2005, and have traveled the globe with my guys – from Chicago to Copenhagen, and Atlanta to Argentina. This weekend, I attended the San Francisco Spikes‘ first fundraiser of 2008. They were raising money for team dues, travel expenses, scholarships and fees.

Reason #1 – Gay soccer’s been around for 28 years and is still going strong.

In 1980, an ad was placed in the Village Voice looking for gay men interested in playing soccer in an area of Central Park, known as the Rambles. The few who showed up were unaware that they were about to make history. This was the birth of the New York Ramblers, the very first organized openly gay soccer club. The Ramblers provided a space for gay men, who enjoyed the sport, to meet and socialize outside of the traditional settings of bars and clubs.

Here is a photo of the 2005 New York Ramblers at the Gay Pride Parade.

Soon after, the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) was born. The first sanctioned event was the 1982 Gay Olympic Games from August 28 – Sept. 5, 1982. It was held in San Francisco and featured only 2 soccer teams. The last IGLFA World Championship, held from September 23-29, 2007 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, fielded 28 men’s teams from around the globe including Argentina, Chile, England, Ireland, USA, and many others.

From IGLFA: “IGLFA seeks to foster and augment the self respect of gay women and men throughout the world, and engender respect and understanding from the non-gay world, through the medium of football (soccer). Additionally we work to establish an international network of football clubs and to promote physical and tactical understanding of the game of football.” For more about IGLFA, click here.

This photo of the New York Ramblers was taken at the IGLFA World Championships in Argentina in September 2007.

Reason #2 – You may actually find a room full of faithful men.

I couldn’t be more proud than to consider many of the IGLFA participants some of my closest friends, and I know many people who play gay soccer feel the same way. Most members will remain part of their clubs for years and years. The best example I can name is Bob Whitmore, an original member of the 1980 Ramblers squad, who still attends the annual awards gala and the NYC Indoor Classic Tournament.

The London team hosted a few parties in the Argentina hotel rooftop pool. Good guys, tons of fun! Unfortunately, they didn’t win a game – perhaps the pool party reflects their true intentions.

In August, the London Leftfooters FC will be bringing the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association World Championship to London. From their website: “The tournament is dedicated to providing a world class event which will show that London can provide a safe and welcoming environment, which pushes the boundaries of tolerance and acceptance and which encourages gay men and women to promote themselves in a positive and healthy manner. We firmly believe that football should be enjoyable for all, free from discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and accessible to people of all backgrounds and all sporting abilities.”

Reason #3 – You can’t say the word “balls” without giggling.

Being the straight female coach of a gay men’s team hasn’t come without its challenges. When I started coaching, I’d say things like, “Grab all the balls,” or “Give it a good whack,” and before I knew it I had more guys laughing at me than playing the game. The truth is, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

New York Ramblers at practice at Pier 40 on the Hudson River, July 2006.

#4 – Gay soccer changed my life.

I can say without hesitation that the most defining moment of my coaching career came in July 2006 at the Gay Games in Chicago. To give you a little bit of background, I was going on my third year as the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at NYU and had worked my socks off with little to show yet – although out of conference I was doing well, my conference winning percentage was hovering around a staggering 20%. Ouch.

This photo of the New York Ramblers was taken in Soldier Field at the Opening Ceremony for Gay Games 2006.

So, heading into the 2006 Gay Games with my beloved Ramblers, I selected a First and Second squad to travel to Chicago. Sadly both teams lost just about every game in the opening rounds. One of my players told me I was a f*ing joke of a coach (when I took him off the field), and another blogged he would seek revenge on me because I benched him after scoring an own-goal. I was convinced that coaching was not in my blood.

I walked back to the hotel with one of my players, and found myself complaining about the entire series of events. He stopped me mid-sentence. I can hear his voice as though he’s sitting next to me today. “Amanda… can I tell you something? Uhm…. I’m HIV positive.”

Wide-eyed and speechless, I stopped sniffling.

He continued. “The Ramblers are more than a soccer team to me,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t care about the wins and losses. Sure, the competition keeps me sharp, but this organization has provided me a place for social support and a healthy lifestyle that I wouldn’t have received anyplace else on this earth.”

It was this moment I knew that my ability to affect change through soccer, and not just gay soccer, was greater than I ever imagined. My outlook on my responsibilities as a coach completely changed, and I’m sure my players could feel this confidence as we went on to beat the #1 seeded team and take 3rd place in the tournament.

#5 – Odds are good you’ll meet handsome, intelligent guys.

As you would expect, the gay soccer community includes doctors, lawyers, artists, athletes, teachers, business owners, etc. Where else can you find a great hairdresser and a stalwart accountant in the same place?

Finally, here’s a picture from a Rambler’s going away dinner in summer 2007.

In addition to providing a place for gay men to come together and share common bond, over the course of three years I’ve found that this soccer community has, in many ways, become my support network as well. I can show up at any team’s practice, game or tournament – from Seattle to Atlanta, London to Iceland, and be welcomed with open arms. And you can too.

Tagged as: fundraiser, gay, Men's Soccer, new york ramblers, san francisco spikes, soccer