Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
LCFC commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The Board and CEO of Lincoln City Football Club are publicly accountable and firmly committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of the club. We actively support initiatives that challenge discrimination, celebrate diversity, and foster an inclusive environment for staff, players, supporters, and the wider community. This commitment is reflected in the club’s policies, partnerships, and ongoing efforts to ensure football is welcoming and accessible to everyone.
To ensure that our commitment is validated, the board will ensure compliance to our policies and address any actual or potential breaches in a fair and consistent fashion.
As evidence of this commitment, Lincoln City was the first EFL club to establish a designated female supporter group - the Lady Imps Supporters Association was established in 2017 and remains a valued member of the Lincoln City family today. Lincoln City also recognises that it has a social responsibility to lead the way in encouraging more young females to get involved in sport.
Click here to read our 2025 equality, diversity and inclusion report
Click here to read the FA Rule N data submission 2025
Lincoln City Football Club has demonstrated a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) through various initiatives and partnerships.
EDI pledge and initiatives:
- Abolish gender-stereotypical terminology, such as replacing 'ball boys' with 'matchday ball assistants'.
- Collect and review equality monitoring data to assess the impact of inclusivity messaging.
- Promote best practices in corporate and social responsibility by ensuring partners and sponsors celebrate and welcome equality, diversity, and inclusivity among matchday guests.
- Use imagery and video that showcase diversity across its fan base, workforce, stakeholders, and partners
- Support campaigns that demonstrate integrity in line with their own pledges, ensuring long-term impact.
- Actively promote opportunities for female sports participation.
- Ensure regular and engaging communications with stakeholders.
- Create and celebrate an inclusive environment by endorsing the non-acceptance of all forms of hate crime, misogyny, and other forms of discrimination.
Partnerships for inclusive football:
In October 2024, Lincoln City Foundation formed a strategic partnership with Lincoln Invictus Inclusive Football Club to enhance inclusive football opportunities in Lincolnshire. Lincoln Invictus is a two-Star England and Lincolnshire FA LGBTQ+ accredited club offering pan-disability, deaf and hearing-impaired, and inclusive football to individuals aged four and over.
The partnership aims to:
- Expand inclusive football programmes for individuals of all ages and abilities.
- Increase participation by signposting players between sessions and encouraging regular physical activity.
Co-host events, programmes, and initiatives to enhance football accessibility and inclusion across Lincolnshire.
The collaboration also focuses on developing new sessions, including Saturday Comets pan-disability football sessions, LGBTQ+ and allies' sessions, and offerings for deaf and hearing-impaired youth players.
Ways to report to Lincoln City Football Club:
We offer an anonymous online form for supporters to report any concerns around safety or inappropriate behaviour and chanting in or around the stadium. Use the QR code which is situated around the stadium or click here.
Club inclusion team:
If you have any concerns relating to EDI, please contact the club’s Inclusion team as follows:
Disabled liaison officer (DLO):
Heidi Langham
dlo@theredimps.com
Click HERE for Lincoln City's EDI policies.
Kick It Out
Telephone: Contact Kick it Out (0800 169 9414) or the Football Association (0800 085 0508)
Via the free Kick it Out app
EFL
EFL Director of EDI
David McArdle | 07815 691391 | dmcardle@efl.com
EFL Senior inclusion manager
David Hayhurst
01772 282969 / 07866 884169 | dhayhurst@efl.com
EFL Club inclusion manager
Olly Potter
01772 325966 / 07866 884158 | opotter@efl.com
Police
If you have concerns requiring the Police's immediate action, dial 999.
Policies and procedures
Copies of the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures can be found HERE.