BOLTON WANDERERS Football Club were recently awarded the Intermediate level of the Racial Equality Standard Award.

Wanderers are one of only four Football Clubs to have achieved such an accolade.  The award, which has been developed by Kick It Out with the support of the Premier League, consists of graded measures for clubs to achieve.

The award recognises the efforts and initiatives that the Club are undertaking to ensure that equity policies are implemented in all areas of the business, from the Club's fan base, to stewarding and through to the recruitment of the playing squad.

Commenting on Bolton Wanderers receiving the intermediate level of the Racial Equality Standard Award, Chief Executive Allan Duckworth said:

"It is a fantastic achievement that we have been granted the intermediate level of the Racial Equality Standard.

"At Bolton Wanderers, we are committed to providing a football club that is truly accessible to supporters from all sections of the community as we strongly believe that there is no place for racism at the Reebok Stadium or in society as a whole.

"Over the years, we have worked hard in implementing this fundamental policy and we are dedicated more than ever to actively eradicating any such behaviour and we urge all our supporters and citizens in the community to embrace this idea.  At Bolton Wanderers, we wish to uphold the principles of anti-racism and equal opportunities in all our dealings, both public and private.

"As a professional football club, we are committed to achieving and maintaining a strategy which broadly reflects the communities within which we operate and are conscious that we are in an industry with a very high profile."

Lord Herman Ouseley, Chair of Kick It Out, said

"We are pleased to congratulate Bolton Wanderers on achieving the Intermediate level of the Racial Equality Standard for Professional Clubs.

"This achievement underlines their commitment to ensuring that equality of opportunity, inclusion and fair treatment are central to all operations at the club."