Footballers' fancy footwork to lead parade
Their fancy footwork on the sports field has already led them to victory.
Now a cup-winning football team is preparing to kick start next weekend's Northern Pride celebrations by leading the colourful Pride Parade through the streets of Newcastle.
Northern Pride, the region's biggest gay pride event, takes place next Saturday (July 16) and is a chance for members of the LGBT community and their families and friends to gather together for a huge celebration.
The event starts at 11.30am with a parade from Newcastle Civic Centre to Leazes Park, where an afternoon of fun and entertainment has been lined up.
And at the head of the parade will be one of Newcastle's most successful football teams of last season - the Newcastle Panthers.
The Panthers saw off other teams from the GFSN league - the world's biggest league for 11-a-side LGBT squads - to lift the GFSN National Cup.
In a nail-biting final, which went all the way to sudden death penalities, the Newcastle team held their nerve to beat league champions London Falcons.
And now they're limbering up for what is set to be one of the most flamboyant victory parades ever.
"I'm really proud that we've been asked to lead the Pride march," said defender Rob Wood.
"Taking part in Pride is a great way of getting our name out there and encouraging others to join the ranks."
"Joining a football team is a great way of sharing an interest with like-minded people."
"Anyone with pre-conceptions that gay guys can't play football should come to one of our training sessions or watch one of our matches.
" The standard in the GFSN league is extremely high - teams in it are good enough to compete in a lot of amateur leagues."
Rob and his team mates will be showing off their skills at Pride's Sports Gay area, alongside Active Newcastle and Newcastle's gay rugby team, The Ravens.
Performing at this year's Northern Pride will be an exciting line-up, including the X Factor's Ruth Lorezo and Newcastle singer Lorraine Crosby, vocalist in Meat Loaf's 1993 hit single 'I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That).'
To find out more, visit www.northern-pride.com and follow Northern Pride on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact Simon Duke on simon.duke@npride.org.uk or call 07825 869 017
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