"We have a majority of LGBTQ+ people, but we also have a lot of people who don’t identify that way," James explains of the club’s core values. “The main thing is that it’s about having a safe space where people can be themselves. It’s really, really important to so many people in our community.

"And having that safe space in football for a long time was a bit like finding a unicorn - they really did not exist. Homophobia has been prevalent in football for years and, because of that, many people have felt like they have been unable to play the game they love without any of that extra baggage that comes with it."

Explaining how he personally found himself at the club, James recalled: "I never properly played football for ten years before I found out the Village existed. I remember just hearing about them so I went down to see what they were up to, and I’m still here 12 years later.

"I think what the Village does is fantastic for a young LGBTQ+ person to see - it shows that they can play football and don't need to worry about being gay whilst doing it.

"I grew up under Section 28, so I had zero positive role models whatsoever. I like to think that's not the case for many today."

I feel like the Village are proving to be those much-needed role models and I like to hope that seeing clubs like them exist can only show others, particularly young people, that they can play the sport they love without feeling excluded or that it can't be for them.

You can read the full story here.