Linlithgow Rose FC Shows How Every Football Club Can Play Its Part in Tackling Racism.

For football to be truly welcoming, everyone has a role to play in challenging racism and promoting inclusion. While campaigns and days of action remain hugely important, lasting change comes when clubs embed those values into everything they do.

That’s exactly what Linlithgow Rose FC is doing.

At the MV Commercial Prestonfield Stadium, the anti-racism message has become a consistent feature of the matchday experience through the club’s ongoing partnership with Show Racism the Red Card. Rather than limiting its support to a single fixture or annual campaign, the club has committed to ensuring the message is seen by supporters, volunteers, players and thousands watching from home.

Two pitch-side advertising boards now proudly display the Show Racism the Red Card logo, including one positioned directly opposite the main stand. Every week, that branding features prominently in the club’s YouTube highlights packages, which regularly attract between 1,000 and 4,000 views, before being shared across the club’s social media channels to thousands more supporters.

The campaign’s logo has also been incorporated into the opening graphics of the highlights package alongside team line-ups and club sponsors, giving the anti-racism message a permanent place in the club’s digital content.

Supporters inside the ground are met with further reminders that football is for everyone, with framed Show Racism the Red Card posters displayed in both the main stand and the covered enclosure. Meanwhile, committee members, volunteers and the management team proudly wear campaign pin badges on matchdays, underlining that promoting equality is a responsibility shared throughout the club.

The work doesn’t stop there.

A new post-match interview backdrop is currently being produced, featuring the club’s sponsors alongside the Show Racism the Red Card logo. Every interview shared online will provide another opportunity to reinforce football’s stand against racism.

Education and community engagement are also central to the club’s approach. On Wednesday 3 September, Linlithgow Rose Social Club will host a face-to-face Show Racism the Red Card workshop, with clubs from across West Lothian invited to attend.

By opening the event to neighbouring clubs, Linlithgow Rose hopes to encourage others to share ideas, learn together and strengthen football’s collective commitment to tackling racism.

Club President Jon Mahoney said

“We are delighted that Show Racism the Red Card have agreed to come along to the football club to share their extensive experience of helping to tackle racism across all sectors of Scottish society. There are no circumstances under which it’s acceptable to abuse people because of their race or ethnicity and, as a club which tries to reflect the values of its community, we’ll continue to work hard to root out such behaviour and to deal with it effectively where it arises.”

Preparations are also underway for Show Racism the Red Card’s Day of Action in October, when players will hold anti-racism campaign cards before kick-off.

None of these initiatives are complicated in isolation. Together, however, they demonstrate a sustained commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected.

Grassroots football has enormous influence within local communities, and Linlithgow Rose FC has shown that meaningful support for anti-racism is achievable regardless of a club’s size or level.

If every football club adopted even a handful of these ideas—making the message visible, supporting education, engaging supporters and backing campaigns throughout the season—the impact would extend far beyond the ninety minutes on the pitch.

Linlithgow Rose FC is proving that tackling racism isn’t just the responsibility of the biggest clubs. It’s something every club can champion, every week, and in doing so help make football a game where everyone truly belongs.

Billy Singh, Campaign Manager said

“We are delighted to see the commitment Linlithgow Rose is showing to tackling racism through football. What particularly stands out is that the club is making the message part of its regular matchday activity, its digital content, its community engagement and its wider club culture.
This is exactly the kind of sustained commitment that can make a real difference. Linlithgow Rose are showing that you don’t have to be a huge club to use your platform effectively and send a strong message that racism has no place in football or wider society.
We hope other clubs will look at what Linlithgow Rose are doing and be inspired to take similar steps. Every club has a role to play, and collectively the football community can have a hugely positive impact in challenging racism and creating a game where everyone feels welcome, respected and included and that spreads into the wider community.”