Bedford Town can confirm we will be joining the professional ranks of English football in boycotting our social media in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received by players and many others connected to the sport.

Despite non-league football not being a part of the bigger movement of the coming weekend, we feel it is important that we show our support for our friends at the FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick it Out, Women in Football and the FSA in their action.

The club will not post any information from 3pm on Friday, April 30 to 11:59pm on Monday, May 3. Our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts will remain silent during this period.

The club appreciate and understand the benefits social media has brought to the sport, connecting with supporters around the world who remain at the heart of our game.

However, the boycott is a demonstration of English football coming together to emphasise our need for social media companies to do more to remove online hatred, and increase the importance of spreading the message that online discrimination is unacceptable in all cases.

Finally, we join all colleagues in the above-mentioned organisations in their message to the UK government to ensure that its Online Safety Bill brings in strong legislation to make social media companies more accountable for what takes place on their platforms.