Everyone at Rotherham United has been incredibly proud to see our players and staff continue to show their support in the fight to bring to an end discrimination and social injustices across the world by continuing to express their desire to ‘take a knee’ before each and every fixture in 2021/22.
Supporters who attended games – both home and away – last season will have noted that the taking of the knee has become a regular fixture ahead of kick off for our players and staff, with the gesture’s purpose to highlight the fact that these problems still exist in our society and our need to utilise the platform provided by professional football to do everything that we can to ensure that these issues do not continue.
The taking of the knee began for us during the coronavirus pandemic during which time fixtures were being played out behind closed doors, but we know that our players have been incredibly grateful to supporters who have applauded the taking of the knee ahead of games this season, upon their return to the stands.
This was always something that our players felt strongly about doing and we have been so pleased with how our fans have not only recognised that, but also respected it."
Our club captain, Richard Wood, has made public statements on our club website on numerous occasions, trying to ensure that our supporters are aware that there is no political motivation whatsoever behind their thinking, and instead are outwardly showing their support to those members of societies across the globe who have been unfortunate enough to have to face and tackle the daily battles that come with social injustices in life.
We are aware that a couple of seconds before kick-off alone will not drastically change the landscape on an issue that requires us all as human beings to come together and ensure that everyone in the world has equal opportunities in life.
We do, however, believe that – with the support of the EFL – in making the gesture a part of our matchdays, we have managed to keep the conversation around the topic going, hopefully educating some people around the issue in the process.
We thoroughly believe that our gesture can play a small part in tackling a global issue, and we will ensure that we continue to do everything we can locally to work closely with people in our own community facing such problems.
On behalf of the players and coaching staff and as a club, we would like to thank everyone who has supported our players in their desire to tackle the global issues of discrimination and social injustice, here in our own small corner of South Yorkshire.