Tom Smith

Senior Sports Event Producer at Elev8 🎱

[Laura Woods @laura_woodsy]

If you want to grow something, you don’t gate keep it. We want to encourage little boys and men to watch women’s football too, not just little girls and women. And when they see someone like Ian Wright taking it as seriously as he does - they follow suit. That’s how you grow a sport.

[ATHLOS @athlos]

Chasing Light: @HowLao ⚡️🧵

To showcase the best Track & Field athletes in the world, we brought in an extraordinary creative team — the best photographers, videographers and creators from the Track & Field space and beyond — to ATHLOS NYC.

First up, we are proud to showcase some of our favorite shots from lead live photgrapher How Lao.

"There was no shortage of passion and love for the sport, and when you build a team like this, wonderful work gets done."

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@djtonyperry SOO cool

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

Looking for a ticket for Saturday vs Luton 🙏 @ReeceDSport RT would be appreciated

[La Flamme Rouge @laflammerouge16]

#TDF2026 is going to finally feature Col du Jandri.

The climb, gravel after LDA, has been partially surfaced in 2023 for TDF debut

Jandri will be finish of Stage 20, on 25/7 starting from Grenoble and willl feature also Alpe d'Huez and Sarenne

(Philippe D’Avril - Le Dauphiné)

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

Two star Tuchel 💫💫🫡

[Bobby Manzi @BobbyManzi]

Wowza.

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

This is boxing’s Marine FC vs Spurs #PadleyStevenson

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@ReeceDSport 😂😂

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@KevinH1505 @1AaronPaul @5liveSport Never seen this at any stadium I’ve worked at / been to 😂

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@eurosport Philipsen, honestly 🤦‍♂️ The bloke would fail a sobriety test stone cold sober, he weaves all over the place

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

3 on the trot

[Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ @StevenageFC]

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

Two goals in a week, calm down #StevenageFC

[Marc Webber @marcwebber]

Hi @StevenageFC 👋.
I wasn’t there today, but I’m suggesting a 2024 remix to the Final Score bosses after your win.
“He’s Elliot List.
His goal was quite nice.
Roberts scored the second
And Reid made it thrice.
Stevenage beat the Rovers 3-nil!”
@BBCMOTD 🎶🎄@BettyGlover_

[Alex (C)raig @Alexcraiggh]

Happy Birthday Jesus Christ my good friend

[Lukáš Ronald Lukács @lucxsronald]

Wow, this is one of the best pictures of cyclocross like ever. Chapeau @gaetan_sportpic 👏🏼

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

Jonas v Hazabin with @boxxer 👊🏻

[Hugo Scheckter @HugoScheckter]

I’m really struggling to read the various stories of players, clubs and governing bodies clashing over the rainbow laces/LGBTQ+ support over recent days and weeks.

It’s so important that when asking athletes to back a campaign, that they are engaged with properly and allowed to discuss why it’s important, how it can help people and to ask any questions they may have - and ultimately opt out of they don’t decide they want to support the topic, especially if it affects their match equipment.

Too many times I’ve seen various issues dropped onto the players with little discussion or agreement and then they face the brunt of public scrutiny over poorly timed/thought out campaigns, even as well meaning as they can be.

As one of the few openly gay people working in professional men’s football, I’ve long struggled with this campaign. I’ve had players feel incredibly awkward telling me that they choose not to wear the laces, the warm up shirt or the arm band - to which I’ve always replied: “I don’t care if you do or don’t wear the rainbow gear. You treat me with respect, so do what you feel comfortable with.” I hated the fact that they felt that it may come between me and them, when my job was to remove distractions.

It’s very hard to win when two protected characteristics clash - and often it’s religion vs sexuality. My personal feeling is that life works best when we don’t worry to much what others say and do - this may come from a position of privilege but it’s my experience of life so far.

I know the power the Rainbow Laces can have too - I remember a young fan when I was at Southampton messaging as he was struggling with his sexuality - and how empowered he was seeing his heroes wear the armband and support him. It gave him the courage to come out to his youth football team shortly after.

However, I believe we shouldn’t force anyone to do anything they don’t want to, athlete or otherwise - but let’s put proper resource into working with them to answer their questions, understand their point of views and try to find a place where we can agree - often by meeting those from the LGBTQ+ community and getting to know them. Life is full of division and disagreement - and it’s too short for any of it.

The brilliant @LizMaryWard articulated her feelings in a thread on here recently - worth checking out.

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@drackers Ignore it mate, I can tell you from experience that every club gets this stuff and unfortunately bad results on the pitch will always synchronise with criticism... funny that!

[Tom Smith @tomjamesmith]

@StevenageFC Can't believe he said it with a straight face.