CHELSEA BACK ONE GAME, ONE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN

Chelsea Football Club has pledged our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion throughout Kick It Out's One Game, One Community week of action this October.

The club will be holding our very own day of action at Stamford Bridge for the fixture against Liverpool on Sunday as part of a 12-day, nationwide celebration of diversity.

The fixture is one of 1000 events to take place across the country during the weeks of action, from 16-28 October. All professional clubs will hold activities to support the initiative, alongside schools, universities and community and youth centres.

Kick It Out, the game's equality and inclusion campaign, is co-ordinating the initiative as part of football's ongoing contribution to promote greater inclusion.

Lord Herman Ouseley, Chairman of Kick It Out, today commented: 'The One Game, One Community weeks of action provides a focal point for everyone connected to football, from supporters to players to stand up against discrimination in all its forms.

'The game flourishes when people from all communities, and from all walks of life, are able to participate in it. Club activity like this reinforces the One Game, One Community ethos and is a vital part of the drive for equality at all levels of the game.'

As part of the fight against all forms of discrimination Chelsea has held a series of activities to raise awareness of the issues. The club has visited local schools and libraries to hold workshops on anti discrimination and Paul Canoville, our first black player has been out and about supporting our work. Paul and Ken Monkou, our first black Player of the Year, also took part in a discussion panel for local children at Stamford Bridge alongside Lorrie Fair, our American World Cup winner.

This work will continue beyond the week of action and Chelsea will be visiting schools and youth organisations throughout the year to demonstrate that discrimination is not welcome in our ground or our community.

Chairman Bruce Buck, speaking in Sunday's matchday programme, says: 'The annual Kick It Out game is an opportunity to reflect on the giant strides we have made in tackling all forms of discrimination but it is also a chance to remind ourselves never to take our eyes off the ball - this is a fight we must continue, not just in football stadia but in our communities.'

Chelsea's anti discrimination ambassador, Nicolas Anelka, added: 'You can see that on the pitch we are all friends in one team, from different regions and different colours but we are still winning games. There is no place for prejudiced thoughts, no place for fighting, so if you can work well together on the football pitch you can do it in your life and if we can achieve it in England then we should be able to achieve it everywhere in the world.'

Paul Canoville and Ken Monkou will lead the teams out for Chelsea v Liverpool game, accompanied by winners of a cartoon competition who will be carrying Kick It Out flags.