Wembley Stadium's Learning Zone was the setting for the first of two lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB&T) workshops run by The FA.
Premier League and Football League clubs joined LGB&T supporter groups and County FAs for an all-day event to discuss strategies to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language and discrimination in football, as well as hearing from a range of organisations working on LGB&T issues.
Marc Elliott, Millwall FC's Community Manager, said: "It was a brilliant opportunity to engage with some groups familiar to us at Millwall, but particularly heartening to see some new groups emerging doing good work in this field, such as Just a Ball Game?.
"I learned in detail some of the good work being done and, from a club perspective, that's really important."
It was a message which resonated with Aslie Pitter from Stonewall FC, who was joined by two fellow members of the Gay Games winners', Eric Armanzi and Ben Biggs.
Pitter said: "I thought I knew a lot about the good work that goes on in raising awareness of LGB&T issues in football as I've been in and around this world for some time now, but even I was pleasantly surprised to see not only the great turn out, but the variety of good work being done.
"Finding out how diverse this community is is something I take great heart from.'
Chris Gibbons from The FA added: "We were delighted to see clubs, leagues and County FAs coming together with LGB&T and football equality experts to make sure LGB&T people can enjoy participating in football free from fear of discrimination – a first for football and for sport.”
Chris Paouros, from Tottenham Hotspur's LGB&T supporter group, the Proud Lilywhites, is part of a growing number of groups of its kind, with the likes of Arsenal and Norwich City boasting their own LGB&T supporter groups.
She said: "People have been discussing these issues in a very real way. I can tell simply by seeing how passionately people have been engaging which each other that people haven't simply come to tick a box.
"We are a relatively new group but in terms of visibility I think we're getting there. We want our fans to understand that there is a LGBT fanbase at Tottenham Hotspur.
"With that as our springboard we want to create the conditions in which homophobia in football grounds everywhere isn't acceptable and not just because you shouldn't do it, but because they understand the damage it can do.
"I think groups like ours can help in creating the conditions for a male gay player to come out and feel comfortable in doing so.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if a player could look at our Proud Lilywhites flag at White Hart Lane and say it helped him on his journey?"
The second event of its kind, which takes place St George's Park, is now fully booked.
