Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Reading FC & Manly Sea Eagles
Every week we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT - READING FC
It’s been a bit hot in England this summer.
Record temperatures have been felt across the country with some places hitting 40 degrees and concerns that global warming is now one of the biggest threats to humanity.
So when Reading unveiled their home kit for the 2022/23 season, their traditional blue and white hooped short included 'climate stripes' created by the University of Reading’s Professor Ed Hawkins in 2018.
They have been adopted in a number of ways, including featuring on the cover of a book by Greta Thunberg, on badges worn by US senators, displayed 10 metres tall on the Main Stage at Reading Festival, and inspiring a range of clothing launched at London Fashion Week.
Each stripe signifies the average temperature for a single year, where shades of blue indicate cooler-than-average years and red shows years that were hotter than average.
The stripes on the sleeve even more unique is that they show the climate change in Reading over the club's 151 year existence.
The shirt itself is made from Eco-Fabric – 100% of which comes from recycled plastic bottles in collaboration with kit manufacturers Macron to make eco-sustainable products.
A club statement read: “We can’t do everything, but we can’t do nothing. And by incorporating the university’s ‘climate stripes’ infographic into the design of our new home shirt, we hope to help visually demonstrate to our supporters how temperatures have risen over a long period of time in Reading.”
Given the profile of the local university, it is little wonder that Reading created “a new, progressive partnership with the University of Reading which will guide the club into a more environmentally aware and sustainable future” earlier this year.
It’s to the club’s credit that even before this summer’s heatwave occurred, they took up this partnership to showcase the importance of a sustainable planet.
As part of the collaboration, members of the University sustainability team were invited to audit the club’s practices and built on what they are already doing, which includes electric mowers and LED lighting at the stadium and training ground.
According to their partnership announcement, the Royals plan to “embark on a number of wide-ranging carbon-reduction initiatives as part of an overarching Environmental Sustainability strategy which we believe will help us begin to play our small part:
Exploring opportunities to use technologies that generate renewable electricity or heat at the stadium and training ground
Working with our Principal Partner, Select Car Leasing, to establish the viability of installing EV charging points
Improving cycle facilities for supporters and raising awareness of these facilities amongst our fans
Presenting home and away fans with the knowledge and the tools to recycle within the concourses
Reducing paper use, recycling glass bottles and minimising food waste levels at the stadium
Proactively monitoring the water, electricity and gas we use as an organisation
Implementing reusable or recyclable cup solutions from the stadium service kiosks
Sourcing food and supplies more carefully and sustainably
Educating our supporters and our key stakeholders in sustainability best practice
And, perhaps most importantly, we can educate ourselves and our supporters by championing the achievable methods we can all adopt to make our way of life more sustainable for the future.”
What makes this commendable is the long-term planning rather than short term headline-grabbing activity that lies at the heart of good communications.
It’s not what you say but how you back it up with tangible actions that make a difference.
As the statement continued: “This is the beginning of a long journey, not an ego-trip. We will not aim to change the world overnight, nor greenwash our stakeholders; blind our fans with complex science, nor preach to our supporters – but instead make coherent and cost-effective steps, where we possibly can, to reduce our carbon footprint. It’s important that we give you the opportunity to come with us on that journey.
“Let’s also be clear…we are not the new Forest Green Rovers. And we will not pretend to be, nor assume we will immediately rival the sustainability progress they have made in recent seasons. We may not be perfect, but, much like the majority of our fans in our stands, we can be better and help achieve a brighter future for our planet.”
There’s a humility and realism to that statement for which the club and its communications team deserve great praise.
Following the shirt launch, Professor Ed Hawkins said, “The climate stripes are intended to start conversations about climate change - and making them visible to thousands of football fans across the country every week brings that to a new audience.
“Support is a powerful thing in football and this collaboration makes it a key theme for the season. We hope Reading Football Club’s fans will push them on to success this season, while at the same time the players and the club will be supporting climate action and recognising the science.”
MISS – MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Diversity and inclusion is fundamental in sport – and it’s important that clubs and players lead the way and set a positive example to their fans and followers.
So when Australian National Rugby League (NRL) team Manly Warringah Sea Eagles announced that they would become the first team in the competition to wear a kit promoting LGBT inclusivity in the sport, it should have been a cause for celebration and approval.
The ‘Everyone in League’ jersey was launched by the club two weeks ago in collaboration with Dynasty Sport to be worn for the crunch game against the Sydney Roosters at 4 Pines Park.
Their founder, Tyler Rakich, said: “Sport is one of those great things where people come together from all walks of life and participate in something without exclusion. This jersey is a celebration of that and the first of its kind in the NRL.
“The ‘Everyone in League’ Jersey is something we’ve wanted to do for a number of years now. As soon as we got the concept locked in, all parties have contributed to make it what it is and it’s something we’re all really proud of.
“The design itself maintains the iconic Manly DNA with the striped design and maroon but with the subtle inclusion of the rainbow colours which are a nod to inclusivity for Everyone in League.”
Interim Manly CEO Gary Wolman agreed and said the club was proud of the jersey.
Wolman added: “The Sea Eagles have such a rich and diverse history in rugby league and in the community.
“To be able to bring this concept to life with Dynasty sport is a fantastic achievement and we are pleased to be able to share such an important message that means so much to many people in the community.”
Notably, the shirt sold out in men’s and women’s sizes within days.
And that should have been the end of it – some nice photos and perhaps some supportive comments from the players extoling the virtues of inclusivity and the celebration of acceptance.
But that’s not what happened.
Instead, the club have been in crisis mode with almost half the team refusing to play in the shirt for religious and cultural reasons.
Granted, the squad should have been informed about the Pride shirt, and it turned out that the preparations for the shirt’s release, including gaining the support of Hollywood movie star Hugh Jackman, had been more than a year in the making.
Manly coach Des Hasler ended up having to apologise for what should have been a great initiative and in a press conference, on Tuesday, he revealed that none of the coaching staff nor the players had been made aware of the jersey before it was launched.
Hasler said: “We are here to apologise for a significant mistake made by the Manly Sea Eagles football club..
“The intent of the rainbow colour application of our jersey was to represent diversity and inclusion for all, utilising the symbolic colours of pride to embrace all groups who feel marginalised and faced discrimination and have a suppressed share of voice.
“The jersey intent was to support the advocacy and human rights pertaining to gender, race culture, ability and LGBTQ rights. Sadly, the execution of what was intended to be an extremely important initiative was poor.
“There was little consultation or collaboration with key stakeholder, both inside and outside the club. Sadly, this poor management … has caused significant confusion, discomfort and pain for many people. In particular, those groups whose human rights we were, in fact, attempting to support.
“We have even adversely affected our player group, a wonderful group of people comprising of many different racial and cultural backgrounds. We wish to sincerely apologise for the mistakes we have made.
“We wish to apologise to the LGBTQ community who embrace the rainbow colours, to use these colours for pride, advocacy and human rights issues which have played an integral role in the inclusion and diversity of all minority groups.
“We also wish to apologise to the Australian Rugby League Commission, all the NRL and the other 15 NRL clubs for creating negative news, shifting the spotlight from the launch of the Women in League round.”
Hasler went on to defend those who refuse to wear the shirt, adding: “They [the players] are not wearing the jersey as it conflicts with their cultural and religious beliefs, and I am concerned for their welfare.
“Their spirituality is a central part of their wellbeing. The club has made an error from which it will learn. The players will not play on Thursday and we accept their decision.
“These young men are strong in their beliefs and convictions. We’ll give them space and the support they require. The playing group are solid and understanding of each other’s views.”
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys had mixed feelings about the player boycott.
He said: “One of the things I love about Australia is we have this freedom. We don’t live in Russia.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we are treated equally. We’re not going to back away from that, but at the same time we respect the players’ position.
“Our policy, and it doesn’t matter who you are, I hope they change their minds because that is the beauty of rugby league — it is the greatest game for all.
“In my view, we’re all the same. We should recognise that. However, I do respect the Manly players’ right to freedom.
“This is not a political issue. This is about human beings and respecting watch other. I heard this morning this is a political issue. I don’t believe this is a political issue. I believe it is human beings being human beings.”
It’s not the first time an Australian team has been faced with this scenario, with AFLW GWS player Haneen Zreika stood down from the Giants’ clash with the Western Bulldogs after deciding not to wear the club’s Pride guernsey on religious grounds in January this year.
Ian Roberts, who became the first rugby league player to come out as gay while playing for Manly in 1995, was shocked by the actions of the players.
Roberts lamented: “I try to see it from all perspectives but this breaks my heart.
“It’s sad and uncomfortable. As an older gay man, this isn’t unfamiliar. I did wonder whether there would be any religious push back. That’s why I think the NRL have never had a Pride round.
“I can promise you every young kid on the northern beaches who is dealing with their sexuality would have heard about this.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a friend of Roberts, wants the situation resolved.
He commented: “It’s a good thing sport is more inclusive. Roberts] showed incredible courage. He wasn’t the first gay man to play rugby league – I’ll give the tip – he was the first to have courage to come out and pave the way for others to do so. It’s important that in Australian society we respect everyone for who they are.”
Ahead of the game, Manly owner Scott Penn has revealed the club’s rainbow-trimmed pride jersey will be back next year — and the seven players who stood down are open to donning the kit.
Following meetings between the group and the club’s owner, the players have revealed they would be willing to take part in representing members of the LGBTQIA community, according to 9News.
Penn also made a statement which said: “The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles represent inclusiveness.
“We do not discriminate between an individual’s race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or anything else that we should be celebrating collectively as an evolved society.
“We respect all individuals. These values and beliefs were the motivation behind why we wanted to create a jersey that represented EVERYONE IN LEAGUE.
“It should have been an acknowledgement that celebrated differences under the banner of inclusiveness.
“I stand with the club’s management and the inspiration for why we wanted to do this.
“But whilst the intention of why we wanted to do this was authentic – and still is - we must learn from how the message was lost in translation through the process of implementation.
“I accept that our own genuine narrative of why we wanted to celebrate inclusiveness has been lost. Our promotion of inclusiveness – and why we were doing it - needed to start more broadly internally - with all staff and players engaged before it was communicated publicly.
“We have learned lessons from this and we hope others may learn lessons from this also, but we will make no apologies for why we were motivated to do it.
“I accept that Manly Warringah Sea Eagles now has the job to unite its club, players, supporters and become the leader of inclusiveness that we whole-heartedly desire to be.
“As reported, a portion of the proceeds from the match will be used to make a difference to the mental health of members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
The boycotting players were reportedly told to stay away from the ground in New South Wales before the game.
"For the safety and wellbeing of the players, the club has decided that it's best that they don't attend the game," Manly interim chief executive Gary Wolman told The Australian newspaper.
Manly were already missing players ahead of the crunch match against eighth-placed Roosters – and the their depleted side lost 20-10 to dent their final hopes for the season.
New Manly CEO Tony Mestrov, who started his new role on August 1, certainly has work to do to restore harmony and reputation at the Sea Eagles.