Rashford, Toney, Parris and Espirito-Santo all feature on the list announced today from the National Football Museum
Premier League stars Marcus Rashford and Ivan Toney, join England Lioness, Nikita Parris, and Tottenham Hotspur manager, Nuno Espirito-Santo on the Football Black List – an initiative shining a light on the most influential Black people in British football.
BBC Football Focus presenter, Alex Scott, Wrexham Chief Executive, Fleur Robinson and Steve Smithies, the only Black CEO at a County FA, also make the list.
The Football Black List, founded in 2008 by sports journalists Leon Mann and Rodney Hinds, highlights leaders working across all areas of the game from the Black community.
A panel of experts from the football industry and Black community vote independently on nominations made by the public to determine who makes the list. The panel included representation from the Premier League, The Football Association, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, English Football League, PGMOL, Sport England, BCOMS and Kick It Out.
The list was revealed today at the National Football Museum in Manchester a week after Walter Tull, the world’s first Black professional footballer, was named in the football Hall of Fame.
The Football Black List also features an LGBTQ+ Award recognising work by a Black individual in challenging homophobia in society through football. The winner this year is Amy Allard-Dunbar from Football v Homophobia.
The Voice Newspaper is the exclusive home of the Football Black List which creates an opportunity to celebrate the Black communities contribution to the industry, while also encouraging debate and discussion on how best to address the ongoing under-representation of people from African-Caribbean backgrounds away from playing.
Importantly, the list also helps to shine a light on deserving people working in the community and at the grassroots level of the game who often go uncelebrated.
The list recognises people across eight categories:
The Ugo Ehiogu ‘Ones to Watch’ category – which identifies talented, young people in the industry under 30 years of age – will be released later today during a special Football Black List Instagram broadcast from the National Football Museum.
An online celebration event is planned for broadcast next month.
Leon Mann MBE, co-founder of the Football Black List, said: “Black excellence in football is regularly talked about on the pitch – and we want to help highlight the contribution of Black leaders off the field in the sport, too.
“This list of influential game changers is a snapshot of the contribution Black communities are making to football. Those named today join an illustrious group who have featured on the list over the last decade – including the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ian Wright, Hope Powell, Rio Ferdinand, Herman Ouseley and Rachel Yankey.”
Fellow co-founder of the initiative, Rodney Hinds, added: “The Football Black List never ceases to amaze me! The quality of nominees and awardees goes from strength to strength.
“The Voice is delighted and proud that the list is published exclusively on our pages.
“Our community continues to play a major, and increasing role, within football. There is no room for complacency as the sport in terms of inclusivity still has lots of room for improvement.
“The Football Black List is here to stay and the goals remain; to promote black excellence and diversify the game.”
Please find the full Football Black List 2021 below:
Players:
Anita Asante, Aston Villa Women
Cyrus Christie, Fulham FC
Ivan Toney, Brentford FC
Marcus Rashford MBE, Manchester United and England
Nikita Parris, Arsenal Women and England
Administration:
Dayne Matthieu, Head of Safeguarding and Welfare – Tottenham Hotspur
Fleur Robinson, CEO – Wrexham FC
Paul Monekosso Cleal OBE, Equality Advisor – Premier League
Sarah Ebanja, CEO – Tottenham Hotspur Foundation
Steve Smithies, CEO – Cheshire FA
Coaching and Management:
Darren Moore, Manager – Sheffield Wednesday
Justin Cochrane, Head of Player Development – Manchester United
Nuno Espirito-Santo, Manager – Tottenham Hotspur
Paul Hall, B Team Manager – QPR; Assistant Manager – Jamaica FF
William Boye, Chairman and Manager – Ashford Town Women and Girls’ FC
Commercial:
Claudia Wilmot, Operations Director – Leaders in Sport
Gus Hurdle, Executive Producer – EA Sports
Javan Odegah, Strategic Account Executive – Leaders in Sport
Remmie Williams, Commercial Manager – The FA
Simbi Sonuga, Senior Account Manager – Octagon
Community and Grassroots:
Andrew Laylor, School Partnership Officer – Manchester United Foundation
Aneequa Prescod-Wright, Coach – Hackney Laces FC
Billy Grant, England fan/Podcast/Blogger – Beesotted
Jawahir Roble, Football Coach and Referee – Jason Roberts Foundation
Patsy Andrews, Grassroots Referee – The FA
LGBTQ+:
Amy Allard-Dunbar, Youth Panel Education Officer – Football v Homophobia
Media:
Ade Oladipo, Presenter – DAZN/talkSport/Sky Sports
Alex Scott MBE, Presenter – Football Focus
Andrew Spence, Series Producer – Unedited
Fadumo Olow, Social Media Sports Editor – The Telegraph
Helen Campbell, Multi-Camera Director – Premier League Productions
Practitioners:
Aji Ajibola, Referee – FA Council
Daniel Mills, Educator – Show Racism the Red Card
Drew Christie, Chair – BCOMS
Jackie Ferdinand, Director of Safeguarding & Inclusion – West Ham United
Liz Ward, Director of Programmes – Stonewall FC
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL – olga@timetorefresh.co.uk
