Watford Football Club principal sponsor Stake.com will change its LED and other stadium advertising to rainbow colours in support of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.

The move demonstrates the operator’s support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and a commitment to inclusivity within football. The group will join Watford and Proud Hornets in supporting the campaign for Wednesday’s match at Vicarage Road against Chelsea.

“Stake.com are committed to inclusivity,” said Dominic Rae, Sponsorships Manager for Stake.com. “We too believe that football is for everyone and we’re proud to support the Premier League and Stonewall’s campaign by updating our sponsorship assets at Vicarage Road for the visit of Chelsea.”

It is Stake.com’s first season as Watford’s principal sponsor, having previously celebrated its club-record deal by adding the Shiba Inu or Dogecoin logo to the shirtsleeves of the first team kit.

Paul O’Brien, Commercial Director at Watford FC, commented: “We're very proud of working with Stake.com on our Rainbow Lace activities for this year. At Watford Football Club we pride ourselves on our equality and diversity activities, therefore it is with great delight that our principal sponsor have also taken the Stonewall campaign to their heart.”

Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, added: “Football has a remarkable power to bring people together and it is a priority for the Premier League and our clubs to ensure everybody feels welcome and supported, from players and fans, to staff and all those involved in our many community programmes.”