When North Gippsland Football Netball League (NGFNL) held their first Pride Cup in 2016, they became one of the first Australian sporting competitions to officially celebrate and encourage the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people.
The initiative was spearheaded by the league’s then president, David Kyle, who looked to the success of Yarra Glen Football Club that hosted their own inaugural Pride Cup two years prior.
More importantly, Kyle said, it was “just the right thing to do.”
With 2024 Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing 4.5 per cent of all Australians 16 years and older as LGBTQ+, including nearly 10 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 24 years, Kyle said leagues that aren’t open to diversity are losing out on valuable participants.
He explained, “For every 1000 people, there might be 150 who don't feel safe coming into your club or your ground. That's 150 raffle tickets you don't sell, or 150 members. That could be your next coach, your next chairman, or your next canteen manager — the list goes on…
“That’s a whole audience who are never going to knock on your front door unless you do something about it.”
With the support of NGFNL’S major sponsor AGL Loy Yang, Pride Cup became an annual game hosted by a different club each season. Every football and netball division contributes to the result and event, with the senior teams donning specially designed pride uniforms.
North Gippsland Football Netball League’s inaugural Pride Cup wasn’t without significant challenges, which to Kyle, only validated the importance of the initiative.
“The very first game that we held, there were banners put up the night before that got torn down in darkness and destroyed,” said Kyle.
“The first host club had sponsors cancel their sponsorship in protest, but the flipside was there were other people who wanted to sponsor the club because they were brave enough to head in that direction.”
Progress wasn’t overnight, but Kyle only has to look at one of the league’s supporters as an example of how far they’ve come.
“I talk about Farmer Brown, who from day one was vehemently opposed, using homophobic language, and aggressive… Well, two years later he's got a pride beanie hanging out his back pocket, and three years later it’s hanging in the tractor, and two years after that you can't get it off his head.”
Other supporters and parents wrote to the league expressing their gratitude for the event, which helped allow their child to comfortably participate in sport for the first time.
NGFNL ensures the momentum and culture of Pride Cup carries throughout the year by displaying pride flags and branding at league-run functions that signify each event as a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people.
“That is quite symbolic to someone who is part of the community,” said Kyle. “It becomes part of what you do and the values that you live.”
The values of NGFNL are shared by Netball Victoria, which was recently awarded Gold status in the Pride in Sport Index for the third consecutive year. The organisation also partners with Pride In Sport, Queer Sporting Alliance and Proud 2 Play that support LGBTQ+ people to lead healthy and active lifestyles through participation in sport.
Kyle stepped down as NGFNL’s president ahead of the 2024 season after almost 20 years on the board. Through the launch of initiatives such as Pride Cup, he hopes he’s left the league in a better place.
“I just generally love community sport and people. You like to think you're making a difference… and hopefully the people who are doing it now can make it even better again,” Kyle said.
He encourages other leagues and netball bodies to host their Pride Cups or rounds, saying it’s enriched his life in ways he never expected.
“I've gotten more out of it than I ever have given — that’s knowledge and friendship.”
If you’re interested in running a Pride Round or initiative at your association, league or club, Netball Victoria can offer guidance and advice. Contact community@netballvic.com.au to start the conversation.
