Dear Mark Bullingham
In 1921 the Football Association banned women from playing football.
In 2025, you’ve done it again.
We represent the many women, non-binary people and male allies who are horrified, disappointed and deeply disturbed by the recent decision to ban all trans women from playing football.
The supreme court decision is, and will be, a stain on this country’s reputation. As a National Governing Body you had an opportunity to show leadership, empathy and humanity - instead what we see is a pitiful and weak response to the mounting pressure.
In a time when women’s football needed your leadership, allyship and resolve, you have once again fallen short.
Today, we walked 12 miles, from our training pitch in Haggerston to your front door. We did this as a collective of grassroots players who believe in one simple truth: trans women belong in football.
Trans women already face so many obstacles to access sport, healthcare and community with hate crime rising year on year in the UK, with transgender people being over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime. Our governing body should not be adding more barriers to transgender people to be welcomed into the beautiful game.
One of our trans players, Paula shared “I feel welcome and I feel accepted. I know I have people that I can turn to as allies. It’s made a massive difference to my life, it’s made me stronger. I saw someone for the first time in ages the other day and they asked if I’d gotten taller; it’s because I’m stronger and more confident in who I am now.”
This shows just how much grassroots football is a safe haven for trans women from the struggles and hatred they face on a daily basis.
We are demanding that you reverse this ban.
Clubs like ours thrive on community and acceptance. We love football, we believe it has the power to make the world a better place. The FA has an opportunity to lead in that direction.
Sincerely,
Goal Diggers Football Club and friends
Sign our open letter:
Signatories:
Ellie Fawcett "I don't want to play football without my trans siblings. I don't want to live in a society that doesn't give trans people basic rights. Do better FA!!"
Sammy Rees "I am so hurt and sickened by the news. Women’s football is a place of sanctuary for myself and so many others. The love and respect I feel from my team mates and opponents is overwhelming and will never change regardless of your heinous rulings"
Bradley Marsh "Trans women belong in sport. A blanket ban is just wrong."
Milly McEvoy "This reactionary measure harms more than just trans women. It harms the LGBTQ+ community, people of colour, women and society. It is a completely unnecessary action that lacks any empathy or care for one of the most persecuted and vulnerable groups in society. Shame on you."
Jennifer Howard "My life has been made richer by playing with all women, including non-binary and trans women."