The EFL and PUMA teamed up last year to launch football’s ever Rainbow Ball to mark February being LGBT History Month. This campaign is continuing in 2025 with a newly-designed ball which will feature in the Spireites’ clash with Doncaster Rovers

The Spireites will be the first club to host a match with the new ball, when the match is played on Thursday night, with all 72 EFL clubs across the Championship, League One and League Two using it during the month.

The ball features the rainbow and progress colours, symbolising that football is for everyone and representing the League’s active support for inclusion throughout the game.

For every goal scored with the Rainbow Ball across the Championship, League One and League Two PUMA will donate to an LGBTQ+ Fans for Diversity Fund. The money raised will be utilised to support LGBTQ+ supporters and their projects which may include initiatives to raise awareness about inclusion in football, events promoting diversity, or providing resources for LGBTQ+ fans within the football community.

Rainbow Spireites is the official LGBTQ+ supporters group for Chesterfield FC. As part of a project with the PLCF Fans Fund, the group was set up to ensure fans from the LGBTQ+ Community felt connected to Chesterfield FC. Darren Yates and 1866 Sport’s Ellie Yates were involved in the launch.

Commenting on how far the group has progressed, Ellie commented: “It’s been really amazing. Within the last two years, we’ve had two stalls at Pride that have been really well received, and the interaction we’ve had with the club has just been amazing. We couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone so far.

“I think it’s really important to show that the League itself backs such a campaign like this, because it’s just important that people feel safe coming to games and know that they’re going to be welcome.

“I think it’s really important and for Chesterfield to be hosting the first game of the month of action, that’s really good for the club as well. The ball looks really cool, to be fair. We were quite pleased when we saw it.”

On the game against Doncaster, Darren said: “We’re really looking forward to it. We were a bit worried to start with, that we were not even going to get a home game in February, but it has been rearranged for the 6th, which is the first day of the Rainbow Ball campaign. We’re hosting an event before the game over in the Chesterfield College (East) Stand. It should be a good game.”