UWP Members Blog #4: Kirky’s Blog

This weeks members blog is the first from one of our committee members and all round super star Kirky! Kirky has been a massive support to UWP and created a home in Bobby's on Scotswood Road (yes that one) for the NUFC LGBTQIA Supporting family and rainbow allies. Over to you Kirky!

Hello from me... I have been given the honour of writing my very first blog and it is for UWP, how exciting! When growing up as a child, the main sport in our house was Golf, my Dad is keen golfer, he played every weekend (and I’d caddy for him )  we frequently visited the Open Championships, which I loved as we visited all the old famous courses and met some players too. Football wasn’t as important as Golf, but we still had it on the Tv ( only 4 channels in those days ). I found my love of football later in life once I started work. I worked in Newcastle city centre, which included most weekends, and I was amazed by the amount buzz for the home games, which led me into watching and taking more interest in the NUFC. I remember standing outside Luckies Bar the day the team came past on an open top bus, the atmosphere was electric, maybe those days are just around the corner again, who knows….let’s hope SO!

I decided to open Bobby’s formerly the old Secrets site , I knew I wanted to focus on parts of LGBTIA+ that are not supported by the Newcastle Gay Scene, or the pink triangle as its fondly known. One of those communities was the football supporting community.  My objective was to create a safe space for people to meet watch the ‘Toon’ play and talk about the match pre and post (having a buttie or 3) I researched LGTBQIA+ and sport and found a group called United with Pride (UWP), and made links to them via the Newcastle Panthers sponsorship deal for their new away strip.  From this small start,  I’m so proud of what UWP and Bobby’s have achieved together and by bringing folk from our communities together for their love of NUFC.

To the future we have loads to look forward too and our team who are playing amazingly and the European leagues are in our sights. I was voted onto the UWP committee as Events organiser and have given the task to  recruit a Patron for our group, so loads for me to be getting on with, and plan some days out for us over the summer.

On personal note I’d like to say a huge thank you to you all, for the support you’ve given Bobby’s and especially my staff, who I’d be lost without. I have made some friends for life with UWP, and hope to spend as much time as possible with you all.

Thanks, first BLOG done …. I don’t even read books!

Kirk

🖤🤍🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 🖤🤍

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