Millwall Romans, Millwall FC’s LGBTQ+ football team, is calling on Premier League and EFL clubs to adopt or create LGBTQ+ inclusive teams as new research reveals 41%* of all football fans in the UK believe football clubs across the top four Leagues should have one, with this figure rising to over eight in 10 (83%) among the LGBTQ+ community**.
In collaboration with the team’s lead sponsor, The Romans, the campaign will include a series of billboards, a panel event and the launch of the Pride Playbook - a practical blueprint designed to help clubs establish and support LGBTQ+ inclusive teams.
Together, these initiatives aim to unite LGBTQ+ teams, scouts, and Community Trust CEOs to move beyond conversation and facilitate the official adoption of teams by professional clubs.
The research revealed nearly 70% of LGBTQ+ fans and allies believe that three or more clubs in the top four Leagues already have an LGBTQ+ team- when in fact, they are assuming that more progress has been made than there has been in reality.
While several clubs offer various levels of support to non-affiliated LGBTQ+ teams through kit and branding, Millwall FC stands alone as a pioneer, supporting and promoting both Millwall Romans and Millwall Pride throughout the season, as well as integrating them within the Community Trust set-up.
New analysis shows it is not just a social imperative, but there is economic opportunity to be uncovered too, with nearly two thirds (65%) of UK LGBTQ+ adults stating they would be more likely to watch football games at a team's ground if they had LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Further analysis found that improving these initiatives would allow UK football clubs to unlock up to £428million in additional matchday revenue each season - highlighting the untapped value of making stadiums more welcoming for all fans***.
The urgency for change is underscored by the fact that a staggering 81% of LGBTQ+ fans report having personally experienced or witnessed homophobic behaviour in or around a stadium.
These fans are looking for greater allyship from clubs, with almost half of respondents (47%) calling for coaching and training support and 38% wanting to see year-round commitment.
Jon Holmes, Communications at Football v Homophobia said: "The Pride Playbook is a practical step forward in helping clubs move from intent to action. It provides a clear framework for integrating LGBTQ+-inclusive teams into club structures and creating environments where inclusion is embedded, not occasional.
"Millwall FC has shown how to achieve this and is reaping the rewards. Now it’s time for other clubs across the Leagues to realise the potential in their local areas by learning from this model."
Paul Loding, Chairman and Manager at Millwall Romans, added: "There is no question that inclusive teams are vital to the future of football. It is important to adopt a culture where players and fans feel a genuine sense of safety and belonging.
"When a club fully integrates an LGBTQ+ team, it sends a powerful message that the game is truly for everyone, providing the visibility needed to challenge outdated prejudices. We need this level of commitment across the board to ensure that inclusion isn't just a one-off event, but a permanent, protected part of the footballing community."
As a key part of the campaign, the Pride Playbook brings together guidance, best practice, and real-world insight, from Millwall and third parties like Football V Homophobia, to help clubs build long-term support structures for LGBTQ+ teams and create environments where every player feels genuinely welcome from day one.
Zander Murray, Former forward at Bonnyrigg Rose, Motherwell and Airdrieonians, said: "Coming out as a professional player, I’ve seen the power of visibility, but I’ve also seen the barriers that still exist for LGBTQ+ people in this sport. It is startling that so many fans still witness homophobia, and even more so that Millwall stands alone as the only club to fully integrate an LGBTQ+ team.
"By calling on top-flight clubs to officially adopt and fund teams, we aren't just making a statement - Millwall Romans is building a blueprint for a future where every player, at every level, knows they have a permanent home in the game."
Millwall Romans is sponsored by PR and social agency, The Romans. As an agency rooted in culture-first storytelling, The Romans viewed a partnership with Millwall Romans as a natural fit that extended beyond their shared name. Recognising the recent research that serves as a critical wake-up call, the agency maintains that visibility alone is insufficient and that structural change is now a necessity within the sport.
As official sponsors, The Romans supports the club because it represents the gold standard of professional allyship. The agency is now utilising its platform to help scale this blueprint into a national reality, ensuring the LGBTQ+ community finds a permanent home within the official structures of professional football.
Fans can explore the Millwall Romans Pride Playbook here.
*Research carried out by 3GEM, surveying a nationally representative sample of 500 football fans aged 18+-years-old. Fieldwork carried out between 14-20th January 2026.
**Research carried out by 3GEM, surveying a nationally representative sample of 500 UK adult football fans who are members of - or identify as allies of - the LGBQT+ community. Fieldwork carried out between 14-20th January 2026.
***Research conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1,000 UK LGBTQ+ respondents, aged 18+. The data was collected between 11/05/2026-15/05/2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. We adhere to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.
