LGBeeT stories: Meet Ronald Mansveld | OneFootball

Brentford fan Ronald Mansveld has reflected on being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and how his love for the Bees began.

The Dutch supporter, who is a LGBeeTs Fan group member, shared his story as part of the club's celebrations for LGBT+ History Month.

“Growing up in the Netherlands, football was not the most welcome of environments," he said.

"There was often violence between sets of supporters, and discriminatory language and chants were used. The hyper-macho attitude is not something that make a young gay guy feel welcome or safe when attending matches.

“While football definitely has a history in my family, there were no avid match-goers in my family either. We watched the Dutch national team on television during international tournaments.

"The way it brings together the country during major tournaments, it certainly has ways where a lot of other problems disappear to the background.

"While it is obviously just a temporary band-aid, the bit of relief can be very enjoyable. I would also watch the Dutch version of Match of the Day at the weekend, but that was the extent of it.

"Despite that, I did keep an interest in football, albeit not always as much on the foreground. The main thing was definitely the national team."

Mansveld departed his home country to move to England, initially living in north London.

He explained why and how Brentford became his club.

“Moving to the UK, I quickly started to realise that football is not only much more ingrained in the culture, but the aftermath of dealing with hooliganism also made football a much more hospitable place for people from different backgrounds," he continued.

"Living in north London initially, there were well-known teams around me that I knew from television. Some of the players were from our national team or played there in the past.

"I gave it a shot and attended some matches. While enjoyable, I always felt something was missing, the emotion that I had always connected with football just wasn't there.

“After moving to west London, and making some local friends, one of them convinced me to join him at a Brentford game. After declining a few times, I finally agreed to go.

"From the moment I got through the turnstiles at Griffin Park - already a long way away from the modern turnstiles at the big clubs - there was an atmosphere on the concourse that was honest, open, genuine and above all else, welcoming.

“Walking onto the Ealing Road terrace was a bit of a shock initially. A terrace? No seats? What is this? Not long after the match started though, it all clicked.

"Standing instead of sitting, the energy of the stand, the chanting - it all made a night seeing a ‘big club’ seem like watching a play in the West End: sit down, watch the show, clap at the end and go home.

"But this, this was different, this had the pure emotion that was missing so far, this was what I had been looking for. Obviously, beating Preston North End 3-0 did help with that!"

Mansveld has been hooked ever since and discussed how Brentford is a welcoming and inclusive club for all.

“Brentford has been very helpful and open," he said. "Their willingness to listen to our advice and concerns has helped make Gtech Community Stadium a welcoming place.

"The club and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust helped set up football sessions for the wider LGBTQIA+ community, but also included us in sessions with the stewarding team around use of language and chants.

“I've been fortunate to have sat on the committee for Brentford Independent Association of Supporters (BIAS) for the past three years, as well as being part of the Fan Advisory Board (FAB), where I helped ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion was never forgotten about.

"The work and collaboration of the different stakeholders, both within and outside the club, has made football, as a whole, a much more inclusive place over the past couple of years, and a massive improvement compared to when I was growing up.”

If you’d like to join the LGBeeTs then email (lgbeetbrentford@gmail.com) or get in touch with the group on social media (X: @LGBT_Bees / Instagram: @lgbeet_brentford).