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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Krishan Davis

Bristol City to host 20 Syrian refugees for key Derby County match to mark Amnesty International's Football Welcomes Weekend

Bristol City will invite 20 refugees to watch the Robins' crucial match against Derby County on Saturday.

The club is one of 160 that are participating in Amnesty International's Football Welcomes Weekend.

To mark the occasion, 20 refugees from Syria who are currently living in Westbury-on-Trym will attend the match at Ashton Gate.

The City squad will also wear ‘Football Welcomes’ t-shirts during the warm-up, and on the morning of the game the group of refugees will be given a tour of the stadium.

The Football Welcomes Weekend sees clubs celebrating refugees’ contribution to football by giving free match tickets to refugees and people seeking asylum living locally, arranging player visits or stadium tours, or organising a match or tournament for refugees and asylum seekers in their community programmes.

Backed by Premier League clubs across the country, as well as the FA Women’s Super League; the English Football League; the FA Women’s National League and grassroots and non-league teams, Football Welcomes aims to highlight the important role football clubs can play in welcoming refugees into their local communities, and in helping them to settle in to a new country and culture.

Speaking ahead of the day, Robins captain Bailey Wright said: “Whether you’re a fan or a player, football can give people a sense of belonging and purpose.

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"Amnesty’s Football Welcomes campaign is a great way to help people integrate into their new community and to show solidarity with refugees. We are delighted to be taking part.”

Football Welcomes took place for the first time in April 2017. That date marked the 80th anniversary of the arrival in the UK of some of the first refugees to play professional football here - Emilio Aldecoa, Sabin Barinaga, José Bilbao, Raimundo Pérez Lezama, and brothers José and Antonio Gallego.

Bailey Wright of Bristol City (Rogan/JMP)

They were unaccompanied child refugees from the Spanish Civil War, evacuated to the UK after the bombing of Guernica in April 1937.

The group will also be invited to Bristol City Women's last home game of the season.

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City Women’s captain, Loren Dykes said: "It can take a lot of courage to stand up against hateful actions, but as football players, teams and fans it's important we all play our part in showing our support for Football Welcomes.

"Lots of people identify with football, wherever they are from and whatever their background. That's why it's brilliant to see the footballing community come together for a weekend of welcoming and supporting refugees.”

General View at Ashton Gate (Rogan/JMP)

Naomi Westland, Football Welcomes Manager at Amnesty International UK said: “This year more clubs than ever have signed up for Football Welcomes, and we’re delighted that Bristol City is one of them.

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"It’s great to see teams across the UK using the international language of football to create respect, understanding and friendship across cultures and within local communities.

"With so many people across the globe forced to abandon their homes due to conflict and instability, it’s important that football teams use their platform to send out a clear message: refugees are welcome here.”

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