Birmingham Blaze Community FC was founded on 28th July 2005, when seven friends got together for a training session under the shadow of the National Indoor Area. Since then, we've enjoyed steady growth and are now an integral part of the Birmingham SLGBTI community. We play both national and international 11-a-side football as well as a number of 5-a-side tournaments. The club is built on respect: we don't align ourselves specifically to any single diverse group, and our membership reflects this. Additionally, despite the club's name, we draw members from across the West Midlands and beyond. Current regular members travel some distance - from Nottingham to Northampton, Warwick to Coventry, Whitehaven to Worcestershire because they enjoy the inclusive, respectful environment and opportunities Blaze presents. As one of the UK's largest clubs in the Gay National League (GNL), we also offer plenty of opportunity for progression to positions of responsibility within the committee or football management team. Blaze members are able to progress through coaching and referee qualifications, the cost of which is sponsored by the club.

There are twice-weekly kickabouts in Birmingham, held every Sunday and Wednesday. The club also holds a number of sessions each season '...around the region' to widen access and participation: everyone is welcome, male and female, from seasoned veterans to those who've never kicked a ball in their lives: choose Blaze to keep fit, to make new friends or to enjoy an alternative from the bars and clubs on the LGBT scene. A strength of the club is members' ability to enjoy their favourite sport in a hassle-free environment. There's a real mix of ability, yet everyone has a great laugh!

We promote equality and inclusion as our core value, and, importantly, success is measured in terms of the club's social, developmental and supportive environment for members, which are considered of equal importance to winning games. Email the club for more information or why not pop into the Blaze Sports Lounge (opening December 2009) the club's own venue, within The Village Inn, Birmingham, to find out more?