Sarah Watts 1965-2015
It is with great sadness that we hear today that our friend Sarah Watts has passed away at the age of 49.
Sarah was the long serving secretary and Football Supporters’ Federation representative for the Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club (BHASC) and in this role, together with her friend and colleague, Liz Costa, worked with the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) in an effort to end the homophobic abuse that Brighton & Hove Albion supporters had been subjected to for many years.
The BHASC/GFSN Report in 2013 found that Brighton supporters had been subjected to homophobic abuse by at least 72% of opponents faced that season, highlighting a problem that had blighted the game for decades. Since the Report came out, the BHASC has been delighted to report that the wide scale abuse has reduced considerably and the incidents of abuse in recent months have become sporadic and isolated. This dramatic change around has come largely from the hard work of the FA, the Football League, the clubs in the Championship, the police and, of course, the BHASC where Sarah and Liz acted as liaison officers with the Stadium Safety Officers and the Police at Brighton & Hove Albion games.
While work in this area continues, the improvements have greatly improved the match going experience for all supporters, especially Brighton & Hove Albion match going fans of all sexual orientations; but the LGB&T football community particularly owes them a debt of gratitude for helping to highlight and tackle the abuse.
Chris Basiurski, former GFSN chair, who worked with Sarah and Liz on the Report in 2013 says:
“Sarah made a huge contribution to the fight against homophobia in football, taking on an issue that had been ignored by the game for too long with great success. Sarah’s work in football over the years leaves a lasting legacy, none more so than in the passion and determination she showed in trying to end the abuse of Brighton fans. She was wonderful to work with and will be greatly missed”.
Sarah Watts (right), with Liz Costa and Chris Basiurski at the launch of the Report
