This year’s festival runs from August 19th to 29th, and will feature a football tournament on the 20th for which 16 male and 16 female teams have already been confirmed.

Colin Moore, Social Inclusion Projects Officer for The Manchester FA, has underlined The FA’s stance on homophobia while appearing on BBC GMR’s “Gay Talk” programme.

He told presenter Richard Chadwick that not everybody is immediately aware of issues arising from homophobia. “Whereas there are lots of issues in football that we all hear about and tend to recognise – such as racism – this is one of the more difficult areas which people are aware of but sometimes don’t acknowledge.

“People seem to be in denial about homophobia. I think it’s perhaps a lack of understanding about the subject. The racism banner, for instance, is something everybody seems to be working under, but we are aware that more issues surrounding homophobia need addressing, and we aim to raise the profile,” Colin said.

“The Manchester FA will be working closely with the gay men’s club, Village Manchester FC – who were semi-finalists in the world cup in London in 2001 - and the lesbian football team Manchester Stingers WFC.”

“There are lots of talented players at grassroots level, and we are looking for more people from the gay and lesbian community to start playing organised affiliated football.”

“A lot of people from the very top at professional level are backing our initiative to change attitudes, and I hope that this work will show players who may be scared to “come out” for fear of any reaction they might get, that they will get the full support of The FA,” Colin added.

The Manchester FA are also in the process of organising a series of football related activities around Manchester Pride 2005 and the Pride Games which runs alongside it.

It’s all a further extension of The FA’s Football For All which ensures that everybody has a chance to be involved in football, at the same time encouraging and increasing the involvement of groups at all levels of the sport by recognising that inequalities exist and taking steps to address them.

To report instances of abuse, discrimination or racism, call Freephone 0800 085 0508