Antifascist football fans have been leafleting grounds around the country with our 2011/12 season Show the EDL the Red Card leaflet.

Our message, opposing the racists and fascists of the English Defence League has gone down well with fans, whatever club they follow. Trevor, a Nottingham Forest fan who helped leaflet a recent game against Middlesbrough, explains:

A small EDL group have tried to gain a bit of influence amongst fans but most people don’t want to know them. A number of Reds said they were glad to see us there. I wasn’t sure it was worth doing but I am glad to have been proved wrong. We shall do it again soon.

Bob from Portsmouth adds that it is a similar story locally.

The EDL tried to get support from fans at a demonstration here a while back, but they have been fairly quiet ever since. Little things like what we did the other day (leafleting at home to Doncaster) help keep them on the defensive.

Leeds United and Cardiff City fans joined together to leaflet football supporters at the game between the two clubs. Jane, a Leeds fan says:

What we’re doing is necessary given the racism that has crept back a bit in and around football. We’re saying that we don’t want to return to the days when racism and the likes of the EDL make a comeback.

We were happy with the response. We gave out a lot of the campaign group Show Racism the Red Card’s material, alongside UAF leaflets and the interest was really good.

Cardiff fan Mike agrees. He says:

Bluebirds fans were glad to see both sets of fans promoting something that was positive. Some people said we haven’t got a problem now, so why bother, but you always have to be on top of this stuff. The racists are still around, that’s reason enough for us to do this.

In the North West, Burnley fans leafleted the mid-week game against Leicester. Paul, a local Clarets fan, says:

It was brass monkeys up here, but the leaflets went down well and the stewards were very supportive, which makes a difference. We had a problem with the BNP here a few years back, but not right now.

It was great to see inside the ground that lots of fans wearing the Kick Racism out of Football stickers. Our work felt complimentary to them stickers.

Leyton Orient fans followed up a recent successful “Love Orient Hate Racism” gig by leafleting the game against Sheffield United. Tim reports:

It went really well, the gig was a big hit and people from it recognised us from also having been at the show. So it was nice that people see that we walk it like we talk it. A good day, all round.

Other grounds that have been leafleted inclide Cambridge United, Oldham Athletic, Stoke City, Charlton, AFC Telford – whose fans and placards were well in evidence on a counter-protest against the EDL in the town, Huddersfield Town, Exeter City and Bristol Rovers.

We are organising more leafleting sessions, including Premier League and lower league clubs over the next few weeks. To get involved, email Paul at the UAF office.

>> Download our 2011/12 football leaflet

Pic by Andrew M Howe